A Healthy Child Needs a Healthy Brain, A Healthy Brain Needs Healthy Sleep

Think of “drowsy but awake” as somewhere between the extremes of fully awake and completely asleep. Please don’t overthink or obsess about the exactitude of what “drowsy but awake” means. 

Just watch your baby for drowsy cues.  Blog Post 83 and the video on Blog Post 115X will help you identify Drowsy Signs.

Here is a report by a parent:

Drowsy in this context doesn’t mean about to fall asleep (half closed eyes, barely able to keep open). When my son was a baby he would become very still about 10 minutes before he fell asleep—-he is a wiggle worm, so it was noticeable. He would also gaze for long periods of time at something. This was the window when he needed to be put down for his nap. If I waited until it passed and he was really tired, he would fight sleep. So when “the stare” appeared, I would check his diaper, swaddle him, and put him down. He would gaze at his mobile for a while and then fall asleep.

During the first several days or few weeks, drowsy signs might not be apparent, so practice brief intervals of wakefulness.

As your baby begins to show signs of becoming drowsy, you should begin a soothing–to–sleep routine in any way that calms him. These signs usually appear after one or two hours of wakefulness.  Your baby may become drowsy after being awake only forty–five minutes; if so, begin your soothing–to–sleep routine then.  If your child often shows signs of fatigue, note how long he has been awake and the next time begin the soothing–to–sleep routine about twenty minutes earlier.  

You might be more successful if you try this within one hour of the baby waking in the morning, because your baby will be best rested from night sleep. That is, do the changing, feeding, a little playing, and soothing all within one hour. Look at the clock when your baby awakens to start the day; this time may vary from day to day. 

On a weekend, have Dad, if available, put him down in a dark and quiet room, drowsy but awake. For these attempts, maybe Mom should leave the house. This often produces more sleep and less crying.

You are using the start of his natural sleep rhythm as a tool to help him sleep better. When you do not let your child become overtired, then easier naps and bedtimes and uninterrupted nighttime sleep occurs. 

Think of surfing: You anticipate the wave, you move as the wave approaches to catch it as it rises, and then you have a long, easy ride. Here the wave is drowsiness, the ride is slumber, and remember, the key to catch the wave is timing. Try to not miss the wave. 

Please be patient; it may take some practice.  Put your baby down, drowsy but still awake, as often as you feel comfortable. You may do this once a week, once a day, or more often. If your baby cries hard after being put down, immediately pick him/her up and resume soothing. Try again some other time, but this time, shorten the interval of wakefulness before the expected sleep period. If your baby quietly whimpers, immediately pick him/her up and resume soothing, or, if you are comfortable with this, wait a very brief moment to see if he/she drifts back to sleep. Or, instead of just waiting, send in Dad for brief and minimal soothing such as gently patting or rubbing the baby, jiggling the crib, or shushing, but not picking up. There is nothing wrong if your newborn sometimes or usually falls asleep at your breast, in your arms, on Dad’s chest, or in the swing, car, or stroller. If he falls asleep during feeding, do not awaken him, just gently put him down.

After you put your baby down, and there is no crying, you may wish to stay in the room awhile, but your baby will learn how to self-­ soothe faster if you leave the room (Blog Post 16).  Put your phone down; watch for drowsy signs. Be emotionally available (Blog Posts 17, 57, and 90 )when soothing to sleep.