Sleep Patterns in Babies
What is a normal sleep pattern for a baby?
New sleeping patterns are one of the biggest changes brought about by a new baby’s arrival. New parents can experience bleary eyes and sleepless nights. Getting to know your baby’s schedule and communication cues takes time. Try not to feel rushed or pressured into having your baby sleep through the night or follow a particular nap schedule.
How long do most babies sleep?
Newborn babies sleep an average of 16 hours a day. Most of the time a new baby sleeps in 3 to 4 hour spurts. Unfortunately, that usually does not match an adult sleeping schedule. At first, babies do not know the difference between day and night. As time goes on, your baby will develop his or her own internal clock to guide wake-sleep cycles. Eventually your baby will shift to being awake more in the day and sleeping longer at night.
Most babies start sleeping through the night (a 6 to 8 hour stretch) at about 3 months of age or 12 to 13 pounds. By 6 months of age, many babies will sleep 8 to 10 hours at night. If your baby is still not sleeping through the night, don’t worry. Each baby is unique and has his or her own temperament and personality that affect their sleep patterns. Some babies do not sleep through the night until 1 year of age or older.
What about naps?
A baby’s sleep time is divided between nighttime sleep and daytime naps. The total sleep time is usually similar for babies, whether divided in longer or shorter periods or more or fewer sessions. So if a baby is sleeping well at night, it is fine to let him or her have the length of nap his or her body naturally takes. If your baby isn’t sleeping at night as long as you wish, it may help to wake your child from the nap early and shorten the naptime. A baby usually takes 2 naps at 6 months of age and 1 nap after 1 year of age until school age.
How can I help my baby develop good sleeping habits?
Babies learn associations with sleeping. For example, if your baby is fed and always falls asleep in your arms, this may be the only way the baby is able to fall asleep. When your baby awakens during the night, he or she cannot fall back to sleep without being fed and held. Other associations may include rocking, walking, and being with you. Eventually, babies need to learn to fall asleep on their own. If your baby can fall asleep without assistance when first laid down, chances are more likely your baby will fall asleep easily after waking in the middle of the night.
After 2 months of age, you may want to encourage your baby to fall asleep without your assistance. Here are some ideas that may help:
- Consider feeding your baby ahead of bedtime rather than just before putting your baby to bed. Some babies do not sleep as well on a full stomach.
- Establish a routine at bedtime, such as a bath and quiet time 1 hour before bedtime
- Put your baby to bed awake but drowsy. This will help associate bed with the process of falling asleep.
- Distinguish nighttime from daytime. For example, use a soft, subdued voice if you talk to your baby in the middle of the night to let the baby know it is nighttime and not time to play.
- Expect some crying as your baby falls to sleep. Crying is a comforting mechanism and it may take a few minutes for baby to find a comfortable position, settle in, and fall asleep.
- Make sure your baby is safe and comfortable. Avoid having too many plush toys or blankets in the crib to prevent suffocation.
- Never put a baby in bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or any sweetened liquid in the mouth can damage your baby’s teeth.
- After your baby’s first birthday, introduce an object such as a stuffed animal or blanket that will give your child a sense of security at night.