Ask the midwife | Baby Dribble the Podcast episode 13

Hello and welcome to Baby Dribble, brought to you from Sweet Dreamers HQ by the SweetDreamers team. Baby Dribble is a fun, friendly, and FREE parenting advice “channel” for new and expectant parents and caregivers. We aim to offer knowledge, support, and insight into the wonderful world of parenthood with industry expert guests and medical professionals.

 

Lynda and Lucy here again—welcome to this week’s podcast! Today, we are honored to have a special guest with us in the studio – Katie Hilton.

Katie is a dual-qualified nurse, midwife, and health visitor, so we are in safe hands here on the Baby Dribble podcast. We’ll be covering everything from newborn sleep to our Instagram ‘Ask the Midwife’ questions.

Before we dive in, Katie, would you mind sharing a bit about your background and current roles?

‘I am a nurse, midwife, and health visitor with 17 years of experience—though it feels like much longer! I’ve worked in various areas, but mainly labor and postnatal wards. I’ve also spent time in community midwifery, helping parents from birth through early childhood. I even spent a few years in Vancouver, Canada, working as a perinatal nurse in maternity wards. Now, I work with MAM as their expert midwife and health visitor, attending baby and toddler shows and offering parents advice.’

That’s amazing! As you can see, we’re in for some fantastic advice from a true expert. Let’s dive into newborn sleep. While we can offer general guidelines based on years of baby sleep research, every baby is different. Sleep patterns and personalities vary, and outside factors can affect sleep. If anything feels off, consult your pediatrician, midwife, or healthcare provider. Now, let’s get started!

How much sleep is normal for a newborn per day?

‘This is a common question, and as we mentioned, every baby is different. Some parents say their newborns sleep all the time, while others say their baby barely sleeps. On average, newborns sleep about 16-18 hours in a 24-hour period. It might not seem like that to parents, though! Newborns wake up for feeding, diaper changes, and cuddles. As they grow, they’ll have longer awake periods and need more stimulation. That’s when black-and-white toys or high-contrast objects can help with early development.’

Can you sleep train a newborn?

‘Newborns don’t know the difference between day and night yet. Their circadian rhythm starts developing around 12-16 weeks. I wouldn’t recommend sleep training a newborn, but I do encourage setting a consistent bedtime routine from birth. Things like dimming lights, turning off screens, giving a bath, reading a short story, and feeding before bed help establish a predictable pattern. Once babies are older (4 months+), gentle sleep training methods may help, but it’s best not to start too early.’

Should you wake your newborn to eat?

‘It depends on the baby. If your baby was born premature or with low birth weight, they may need scheduled feeds to support growth. For healthy, full-term newborns, most pediatricians recommend feeding on demand. If a baby sleeps longer stretches at night (around 3 months old), I wouldn’t wake them. However, during the daytime, if they sleep too long between feeds, I would wake them to ensure they’re getting enough nutrition. More daytime feeds can sometimes help babies sleep longer at night!’

When should a baby start sleeping through the night?

‘This is such an individual thing! Some babies sleep through at 3 months, while others still wake at 12-15 months. Most babies need night feeds until around 8-10 months. Even after solids are introduced at 6 months, portions are small, and babies still rely on milk for nutrition. It’s important to have realistic expectations—most 3-month-olds do not sleep through the night yet.’

How can you help an unsettled baby sleep better?

‘Start by evaluating your baby’s sleep environment. Are they too hot? Too cold? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines recommend using a firm crib mattress with a fitted sheet and keeping the sleep area free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Sleep sacks are a great alternative to loose blankets and help regulate body temperature.

Another key factor is using a pacifier (soother) at bedtime. The AAP recommends pacifiers to reduce the risk of SIDS. Some babies find them very soothing. MAM offers glow-in-the-dark pacifiers, which I love because they’re easier to find in the crib at night. I always tell parents—scatter a few pacifiers in the crib for easy access!

White noise can also be helpful. Ewan the Dream Sheep, with four soothing sounds and a heartbeat noise (which mimics the womb), is great for calming babies. I love that it has an auto-cry sensor, so parents don’t have to rush in immediately. If your baby stirs, wait a few minutes before intervening—sometimes, they’ll settle back to sleep on their own!’

Those are fantastic tips! Now, let’s move on to some Instagram "Ask the Midwife" questions from our followers:

Any tips for an aspiring midwife? What do you think of new apprenticeships? @paige.ah

‘You’ll need high school math, English, and science for a midwifery program. It’s very competitive, so apply to multiple schools. If possible, shadow a community midwife or private midwife for firsthand experience. If you get an interview, stay updated on the latest AAP and obstetrics research to show your knowledge!’

I had gestational diabetes in my first pregnancy. Am I likely to get it again? @Janface09

‘Not necessarily, but you are at higher risk. Your healthcare provider will monitor you early in pregnancy for signs of gestational diabetes. Keeping a healthy diet and staying active may help reduce the risk.’

Do you have any tips for turning a breech baby? I’m 29+2, but she’s in an awkward position. @Tiff.i.am

‘At 29 weeks, there’s still plenty of time for baby to turn! If baby is still breech at 36 weeks, you might try exercises like spending time on all fours, bouncing on a birthing ball, or seeing a chiropractor trained in the Webster technique. If baby is breech at full term, your provider may discuss external cephalic version (ECV), where they attempt to turn baby manually.’

Thank you to all our listeners and to Katie for sharing her expertise! We hope this podcast was helpful.

Baa for now! x