|
<<
back to SLEEP topics
When can you expect your baby to sleep through
the night? Is your baby sleeping enough? Should you let your baby
cry or run to his every whimper?
An adjustment for you and your baby
The first several months of life are
an adjustment for your baby. Because babies sleep and wake at all
times of the day and night when in the womb, it takes some time
for them to get used to night and day. While adults and older children
are used to being active in the day and restful at night, he must
learn this pattern. To begin this adjustment, keep him awake more
during the day or make his bedtime a little later to get him to
sleep at night. Sleep is tied to many daily routine activities,
including feedings, observing new surroundings, and learning to
be separated from you. Patience on your part is an important part
of this adjustment period.
Newborns
Newborns can sleep 16 hours or more
each day. Although this may seem like a long time, this is normal.
They often sleep in stretches of 3 to 4 hours at a time, and sometimes
in shorter periods of only 1 or 2 hours. Your baby will wake to
be cared for, fed, and for brief periods of interaction. During
the beginning months, your new baby will need regular sleep and
regular feedings. “Regular” will mean different things for different
children. It’s helpful to follow his cues for when he is sleepy
or hungry.
1 to 3 months of age
Many infants will sleep through the
night by 3 months old. This means they may sleep 7 or 8 hours without
waking up. Some babies start to fuss, squirm, or cry when they
are sleeping. This is a light sleep. It’s best not to try to comfort
your baby during these moments—some babies actually need to let
off energy by crying in order to settle into sleep or rouse themselves
out of it. As much as 15 to 20 minutes of fussing won’t harm your
child, but be sure he isn’t crying out of hunger or pain or because
his diaper is wet.
4 to 7 months of age
At this age your baby’s nighttime sleeping
will regulate to be more like your own. Most babies will sleep
at least 7 to 8 hours during the night. Nighttime wake-ups are
usually infrequent and brief. Many still need a nap or two per
day. Unless his long naps make him unable to sleep at bedtime,
it’s best to let your baby sleep as long as he wants.
8 to 12 months of age
Your baby may start to become anxious about not
being with you when he reaches this age. Separation anxiety is normal.
However, this anxiety may make the bedtime routine more difficult
to keep. The new feelings your baby is experiencing may cause him
to resist going to bed, and he may wake up more often in the middle
of the night. Keep your bedtime routine as best as you can, and remember
that it helps to be patient during this time. See Sleep
Disturbances for more information.
1 to 2 years of age
With a well-established bedtime routine,
your child has a good chance of sleeping regularly through the night.
Between 12 and 14 months your baby will begin dreaming. Dreams
may cause your child to wake up suddenly in the middle of the night,
and it may frighten him. Limit his exposure to videos, cartoons,
and books that may be scary, especially before bedtime. Nightmares
and night terrors can be a very difficult sleep problem. Click
here to learn more about them.
3 to 5 years of age
Most children need 10 to 12 hours of
sleep every night, so you should continue with the bedtime routine.
In preparation for school years, you may choose to start an early
morning wakeup time to help your child get used to waking up early
and avoid a difficult adjustment period when he enters school.
|
