Babies and Sleep

A baby’s first year of life is filled with a great number of milestones. Sleeping through the night on a regular basis may be one that parents look forward to the most.

It can take some time for parents to adjust to a new baby’s sleep routine and learn how to help ensure their baby is getting a healthy amount of sleep. It’s natural to have questions about what is considered normal sleeping habits and what changes might occur over the first 12 months of your child’s life.

How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?

Sleep patterns will change over the first year of a baby’s life, including the number of hours of sleep needed and the duration of sleep periods throughout the day and night.

• 0 to 3 months: It’s normal for newborns to spend 14 to 17 hours Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source asleep in a 24-hour day, broken into shorter periods to accommodate feeding, diaper changes, and interaction with their family. Breastfed infants usually need to eat more frequently than bottle-fed infants Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source , about every 2 hours versus every 3 hours. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source advises parents not to worry if their newborn’s sleep pattern doesn’t match the projections, as these amounts can vary before the first 4 months.
• 3 to 6 months: Starting at around 3 months of age, an infant’s daily sleep needs drop to 12 to 15 hours. Around this time, sleep also starts consolidating into longer periods Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source as babies are able to go longer without feeding. Sometime during this period is when most babies start to sleep through the night, though there are exceptions to the rule.
• 6 to 12 months: From 6 months onward, babies do the bulk of their sleeping at night. However, other issues such as teething, growth spurts, illnesses, or sleep regressions may start leading to nighttime awakenings. Parents may opt to use more specific sleep-training strategies if babies aren’t sleeping through the night at this stage.

Sleep is essential for human development. During sleep the brain experiences intense activity, building the foundations for how we learn and grow, including the development of our behavior, emotions Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , and immune system Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Poor sleep in infancy has been linked to problems Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source with cognitive performance, social skills, obesity, and quality of life later in childhood.

Your baby will usually let you know they’re ready to sleep by fussing, crying, yawning, or rubbing their eyes. You can use these cues to establish a schedule that works for them. Deviating significantly from these recommendations may have adverse effects on your baby’s health or indicate an underlying problem.

A realistic goal is to help your baby sleep consecutively throughout the night by the time they reach their first birthday. As they grow into toddlers and school-age children, their sleep needs will become more similar to those of adults.

How To Help Your Baby Get To Sleep (and Stay Asleep)

Setting a consistent routine Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source is key to helping your baby learn to sleep through the night. During the first few months, your baby’s sleep schedule will largely be dictated by their eating pattern. However, as they grow, they’ll be able to go longer and longer between feedings. At this point, you can start to adhere to a day-night schedule.

To help your baby establish a healthy circadian rhythm, start by making sure your baby gets plenty of daylight and stimulation during the day. While young infants need several naps during the daytime, you can experiment to find a napping schedule that makes your baby tired enough to get to sleep at night without being overtired.

In the lead-up to bedtime, try to set a calming atmosphere and carry out the same bedtime routine every night. The following rituals can help your baby associate nighttime with sleeping:

• Taking a bath
• Changing into pajamas and a fresh diaper
• Reading a book
• Singing a lullaby
• Having a nighttime feed
• Giving a goodnight kiss
• Dimming the lights
• Turning down the thermostat
• Creating a quiet environment

An important part of developing healthy sleeping habits for your baby includes teaching them to fall asleep on their own Trusted Source American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)|National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information View Source . Many babies find it soothing to be rocked or cuddled, but it’s best to put your baby to bed before they actually fall asleep. This way they will be less anxious if they wake up during the night and you are not there, and they will be more likely to fall back asleep without needing your help.

What To Do if Your Baby Isn’t Sleeping Well

Every baby is different, so don’t fret if your baby isn’t following all the rules. While it’s normal for newborns to wake up multiple times throughout the night, don’t hesitate to talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s sleep patterns.

If your baby wakes up crying and doesn’t fall back asleep after a few minutes, they might be hungry, uncomfortable, or need their diaper changed. Quickly and quietly take care of their needs, using a nightlight instead of the overhead light if possible. You may soothe an anxious baby by patting them or saying a few reassuring words, but try not to take them out of the crib unless it’s strictly necessary.

Giving your baby plenty of love and attention during the day and encouraging them to be independent at night may ease the separation anxiety Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source that many babies start to feel around the 6-month mark. Your baby may also feel more comfortable with a pacifier.

It’s not uncommon for babies to revert to an erratic sleep schedule once in a while. These sleep regressions are a normal (and often temporary) part of healthy infancy and can happen due to teething, illness, growth spurts, changing naptimes, or when they are learning new skills such as how to talk or walk.

If you’re a new parent, you’ll know firsthand how difficult it is to soothe a baby to sleep when you yourself are feeling sleep-deprived Trusted Source American Psychological Association (APA) PsycNet|National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information View Source . Many caregivers find that the best time to grab a few winks is when the baby is sleeping, even if this means napping during the day. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family and friends for help taking care of the baby if you feel overwhelmed.