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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 4 months: Sleep needs of newborns vary widely and can range from as few as 11 hours to as many as 19 hours in a 24-hour day, broken into shorter periods to accommodate feeding, diaper changes, and interaction with their family. Parents shouldn’t worry if their newborn’s sleep pattern doesn’t match the projections, as these amounts can vary before the first four months.
- 4 to 6 months: Starting at around 4 months of age, an infant’s daily sleep needs drop to 12 to 16 hours. Around this time, sleep also starts consolidating into longer periods 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.
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How To Help Your Baby Get To Sleep (and Stay Asleep)
Setting a consistent routine 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.
Sleep Training
An important part of developing healthy sleeping habits for your baby includes teaching them to fall asleep on their own . 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. Using a lamp with a red light bulb is beneficial for infants in the newborn period because they cannot see the red light waves but the caregiver can see clearly to change the diaper or feed. 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 that many babies start to feel around the 6-month mark. Your baby may also feel more comfortable with a pacifier.
Sleep Regressions
It’s not uncommon for babies to revert to an erratic sleep schedule occasionally. These sleep regressions are a normal (and often temporary) part of healthy infancy and can happen due to teething, illness, growth spurts, changing nap times, 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. 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.
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Danielle is originally from Vancouver, BC, where she has spent many hours staring at her ceiling trying to fall asleep. Danielle studied the science of sleep with a degree in psychology at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Vyas is a pediatrician and founder of Sleepless in NOLA. She specializes in helping parents establish healthy sleep habits for children.
References
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