Sleepy But Supported: Helping Caregivers Navigate Newborn Sleep.

Normal newborn sleep is significantly disruptive to caregiver routines because of shortened total sleep duration, fragmented sleep, and longer periods of nighttime wakefulness. Although these disruptions may be normal and healthy for a newborn, they can make it difficult for caregivers to meet their own daily demands. Nurses can promote health among caregivers of newborns through emotional support, proactive education, and discussion of evidence-based strategies to support sleep and the newborn adjustment period. Beyond individual family care, nurses have a critically important role in advocating for policy changes that support caregivers of newborns. Efforts in both the clinical setting and policy arena are essential to supporting healthy sleep patterns for caregivers of newborns.