Your baby's sleep environment

Any sleep your baby gets regardless of location or lighting will be restorative. Babies with busier minds may benefit from a dimly lit room to help shut their minds off. While your baby is younger it is beneficial for your baby to sleep during the day in daylight to help develop their cardician rhythm. Babies are not born with a cardician rhythm which can mean that some babies are up at all hours and some babies will naturally put themselves into more of a routine. Around 8 weeks a babies cardician rhythm starts to develop and you will see your baby naturally fall into more a sustainable day/night pattern. 

As with all babies sleep it will depend on your individual child and for some babies their cardician rhythm and their day/night patterns take longer to mature. This is developmentally normal. 

Darkness is essential for helping babies develop their circadian rhythm, as melatonin (a sleep hormone) is only produced in darkness and begins to rise in the evening. Babies start producing melatonin around 8 weeks old, and their sleep is regulated by light exposure. While a dark room is unnecessary for newborn naps, it is beneficial for overnight sleep.

White noise can help babies sleep by mimicking womb sounds, masking household noises, and creating a consistent environment. It should be kept at a safe volume (around 50-60 decibels).

For sleep safety, maintaining a comfortable room temperature (18-21°C) is important. The room temperature can drop early in the morning, so using a thermostat can help keep it consistent. Dressing babies in breathable fabrics like cotton and merino aids in regulating body temperature, and swaddles or sleep sacks with tog ratings help guide how to dress a baby for sleep. Overheating increases the risk of SUDI, so avoid overdressing, ensure the baby’s head is uncovered, and watch for signs of overheating like sweating or flushed cheeks.

Read more in our 'Your Baby' publication.