21 September 2025
Okay, let’s talk baby sleep—aka the thing that keeps every new parent just slightly on the edge of losing it.
There’s SO much advice out there (thanks, internet + everyone who’s ever had a kid), but not all of it’s true. Here are 5 super common newborn sleep myths that seriously need to go.
1. “If you hold your baby too much, you’ll spoil them.”
Nope. 100% false. Your baby literally spent 9 months being held constantly in the womb. They need snuggles to feel safe and loved. You are not creating bad habits—you're just being a good parent. So if you want to cuddle them all day? Do it. Guilt-free.
2. “They should be sleeping through the night by now.”
Unless your newborn is some kind of magical unicorn baby, nope. Waking every few hours is totally normal (and necessary) in those early months. They’ve got tiny tummies and need to eat often. Most babies don’t do longer stretches of sleep until around 3–6 months. Even then, it’s not every night.
3. “Keep them awake during the day so they’ll sleep at night.”
This one sounds logical but it actually backfires. An overtired baby = a cranky baby who won’t sleep well. What really helps? Letting them nap when they need it. Sleep actually helps them sleep better later. Wild, but true.
4. “Put cereal in the bottle—they’ll sleep longer.”
Old-school advice that’s just not safe. Pediatricians are totally against this—it's a choking risk and not helpful anyway. Babies don’t need anything but breast milk or formula until around 6 months. No shortcuts here (sadly).
5. “You don’t need a bedtime routine this early.”
Even newborns can start picking up on patterns. A super simple routine—like bath, PJs, feed, snuggle, lights down—can signal “hey, it’s time to chill now.” It won’t work overnight, but it helps big-time in the long run.
Bottom line?
Newborn sleep is a wild ride, and no one has it totally figured out. Just do what works for you and ignore the pressure. The myths? Toss ‘em. You’re doing great—even on 3 hours of sleep and a cold cup of coffee 💛