Baby Sleeping Guideline
Author: Angela Heidt
Sleeping is one of your baby's habits that you will spend the most time worrying about, assuming you've had enough sleep yourself to form a coherent thought. So how do you know if your little one is getting enough sleep? Here is a rough guideline:
Age |
# of Naps |
Total Length of Naps |
Overnight Sleep Hours (Avg.) |
Total Amount of Sleep |
Newborn |
Newborns sleep 16-18 hours per day over 6 or 7 sleep periods |
|||
1 month |
3 |
6-7 |
8 ½-10 |
15-16 |
3 months |
3 |
5-6 |
10-11 |
15 |
6 months |
2 |
3-4 |
10-11 |
14-15 |
9 months |
2 |
2 ½-4 |
11-12 |
14 |
12 months |
1-2 |
2-3 |
11 ½ -12 |
13-14 |
Of course, this is just an average. You will always find a few babies that either don't need as much sleep or for some reason need much more. The important thing is that your child should have ample opportunity to nap several times a day as well as have a long, quiet stretch at night. When they are awake they should be interactive and energetic, not irritable or sleepy.
If you think that your baby needs more sleep, you can take steps to encourage him or her to sleep for longer periods. At bedtime, keep the volume low and set up a routine. This could mean a bath, a book and a cuddle in a rocking chair, or anything that will help your little one to settle down and sleep more deeply. At night, the room should be dark and quiet. Consider playing soft music or a source of white noise, like a humidifier, at night so your baby can get back to sleep easier if he or she wakes up.
For babies who sleep fine at night, but need longer naps during the day, there are things you can do that may help them sleep longer. Try making their space less stimulating - no bright colors, toys, etc. If your child wakes up after 15 minutes or a half hour, try soothing them back to sleep instead of getting them up.
Hopefully after about 10 days you will start to see a difference in the sleeping pattern of your baby, and both you and your baby will be happier and healthier. If you are still having difficulties, speak to your doctor about other things you can try.
Pantley, Elizabeth. 2002. The No-Cry Sleep Solution. New York. McGraw-Hill
