There's nothing like the sight of
a peacefully sleeping baby. But as
many new parents can tell you, it's
a sight they don't see nearly often
enough.
No child "sleeps through the
night," but babies do reach the
point where they get themselves back
to sleep when they wake up
periodically.
Parents have a lot of questions
when it comes to sleep and their
baby. The first and most important:
How much sleep does my baby need?
Here are some general guidelines.
| AGE |
Approx.
amount of sleep needed: |
| Newborn |
16
to 20 hours per day |
| 3
weeks |
16
to 18 hours per day |
| 6
weeks |
15
to 16 hours per day |
| 4
months |
9
to 12 hours plus two naps (2
to 3 hours each) |
| 6
months |
11
hours plus two naps (1 1/2
to 2 1/2 hours each) |
| 9
months |
11
to 12 hours plus two naps (1
to 2 hours each) |
| 1
year |
10
to 11 hours plus two naps (1
to 2 hours each) |
| 18
months |
13
hours plus one or two naps
(1 to 2 hours each) |
| 2
years |
11
to 12 hours plus one nap (2
hours) |
| 3
years |
10
to 11 hours plus one nap (2
hours) |
| 4
to 5 years |
10
to 12 hours. Usually no nap. |
•
The amount of sleep needed varies
individually with the baby and with
the age and circumstances. Some
babies are long sleepers and some
are catnappers. Some are very
regular and others are very
irregular.
Click on your baby's age below to
learn more about her sleep patterns.
Newborn
3 Weeks
2 Months
4 Months
6 Months
9 Months
1 Year
18 Months
2 Years
3 Years
Preschool
Newborn
Your newborn baby doesn't know the
difference between night and day.
She needs to sleep and feed around
the clock to grow and develop
correctly, so night and day don't
matter much to her anyway. In
general, your newborn will sleep
about 16 to 18 hours out of every
24. A newborn usually sleeps two to
four hours at a time and wakes up
hungry. She needs to eat around the
clock at first but will gradually
sleep more at night and less during
the day.
You can begin to teach your baby
the difference between night and day
by behaving differently at different
times. During the day, talk to your
baby more while you feed her. Keep
it light and bright. At night, be
more subdued and quiet. Keep the
lighting down. Eventually, she'll
catch on and begin to sleep more at
nighttime.
Remember, if you're
breastfeeding, your hormones have
reorganized your sleep patterns to
match your baby's. These hormones
will help you avoid sleep
deprivation if you give yourself a
chance. Nap during the day when the
baby sleeps.Formula-fed babies may
sleep longer because formula tends
to stay in their stomachs longer,
but in general, their sleep patterns
mimic those of their breastfed
peers'.
Tip: When your baby was in
the womb, your walking motions
lulled her to sleep. It's no
surprise that your newborn still
loves to be gently rocked and
swayed. Swaddling also helps make
her feel "at home." Many
babies also find comfort in music.
But remember: She's supposed
to feed every two to three hours
around the clock.
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3
Weeks
Although your baby still wakes up to
eat during the night, she's probably
sleeping for longer stretches at a
time, maybe for three or four hours.
She'll also start to stay awake for
longer periods.
Remember, if you're
breastfeeding, your hormones have
reorganized your sleep patterns to
match your baby's. These hormones
will help you avoid sleep
deprivation if you give yourself a
chance. Nap during the day when the
baby sleeps. Formula-fed babies may
sleep longer because formula tends
to stay in their stomachs longer,
but in general, their sleep patterns
mimic those of their breastfed
peers'.
Tip: If your baby tends to
sleep all day, dozing through her
feedings, try waking her up to eat.
She needs to learn that the longest
sleeping period is during the night.
Help her get a little bit more
organized at this point by taking
her into the center of family
activity at around 4 p.m. Even if
she dozes, keep her upright in an
infant seat, carrier, or bouncy
chair. Then give her a bath around 7
or 8 p.m. This will simultaneously
keep her awake and relax her for her
long sleep (3 to 4 hours) ahead.
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2
Months
Your baby is starting to settle
herself down to sleep but probably
still needs to wake up to eat during
the night. Although her pattern is
starting to become more regular,
it's also starting to vary. Follow
her lead. It's too early for a set
schedule, and trying to force one on
her wouldn't be healthy.
Babies at this age sleep a little
less than they did as newborns,
about 15 to 16 hours on average.
Your baby will sleep most of these
hours at night and will stay awake
much longer during the day, although
she'll be working her way toward
three naps a day. As always, this
varies with the baby.
Contrary to what your mother or
mother-in-law may tell you,
2-month-old babies don't usually
sleep through the night. There are
huge differences among babies at
this age, but most 2-month-olds
still need to eat during the night.
Don't be surprised if your baby
starts to be "hyperawake"
and crying in the late afternoon or
evening. This fussiness is normal.
When she does settle, she's likely
to sleep longer.
Tip: A little whimpering
upon waking is normal. Although you
should still go to your baby when
she cries, give her a little time
(five minutes or so) to whimper and
cry. She may settle down on her own
and go back to sleep.
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4
Months
The average 4-month-old baby sleeps
about nine to 12 hours each day and
takes about three two- to three-hour
naps each day. This is a time of
gradual transition toward two
regular daily naps. On days when
your baby has just two naps, she'll
probably sleep more during the
night.
Most babies this age have put
most of their sleep into the
nighttime hours and are more awake
during the day.
Your baby is now capable of doing
a lot more to settle herself to
sleep. It's time to set up a pattern
of putting her to sleep that will
work for her during the night and at
naps. Routine is very important to
your 4-month-old, so try to make
sure things like naps and bedtime
happen at pretty much the same time
and in the same way every day. You
don't have to be rigid, just as
consistent as possible.
Tip: Your baby will now
roll a bit and will probably move
around her crib. Consider a blanket
sleeper, or she'll often end up
outside of her covers — and wake
up cold. Check the label to be sure
it's flame retardant.
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6
Months
Everyone's sleep patterns are
different, and the same goes for
your 6-month-old. Special
circumstances such as sickness or
sleeping in a strange bed at
Grandma's could affect your baby's
pattern; otherwise, her sleeping
patterns are settling down.
The average 6-month-old sleeps
about 11 hours each night and has
settled into two naps of about one
to two hours, usually in the morning
and afternoon. Almost all healthy
6-month-olds can sleep through the
night, with no need for midnight
snacks or early-morning
conversations unless you want to
spend this time with your baby or
are trying to keep up your milk
supply.
Your baby is starting to get more
opinionated, however. This is your
last chance to decide where you want
her to sleep without her becoming a
vocal part of the decision-making
process. Developing firm bedtime
routines will help her get herself
to sleep and stay asleep.
Tip: Here are a few good
habits to help make bedtime easier:
• Put
your baby to bed while she's still
awake. This way she'll have practice
falling asleep in her own bed. If
she's fed or rocked to sound sleep,
she'll expect the same service in
the middle of the night.
• Give
your baby a favorite soft toy or
"lovey" to help her get to
sleep. Although you'll want to keep
your baby's crib free of lots of
toys (and no large ones), one
special blanket or stuffed animal is
fine. It'll help her comfort herself
to sleep.
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9
Months
Sleep concerns are very common at 8
or 9 months. Your baby may wake
herself in the middle of the night
and then wake everyone else in the
household after previously sleeping
through the night. This can put a
big strain on parents and make them
feel that life with their little one
is backsliding.
Babies at 9 months sleep about 11
to 12 hours at night. Just as
before, your baby will wake up every
few hours all night long. The
difference now, however, is that she
remembers you and misses you when
she awakens. Additionally, if she's
used to being rocked or cuddled to
sleep, then she'll expect the same
in the middle of the night. It's up
to you to decide whether you're
prepared to be a part of this
routine or want her to learn to fall
back asleep on her own. If she
cries, give her a chance to settle
back down on her own. If she's
frantic, settle her back down as
simply and quietly as possible. Try
to avoid picking her up if you want
her to regularly sleep in her own
bed.
Your baby will usually take two
naps at this age. Both the afternoon
and the morning nap typically last
one to two hours. As her parent, you
know best how much sleep your baby
needs. But no matter what her
personal average, she'll sleep less
at night if she takes extra-long
naps. If this happens in daycare,
discuss it with the daycare provider
to adjust your baby's schedule.
Tip: Children tend to
sleep longer when they're ill. But
adding more than an hour to a
regular nap is unusual. If your baby
is sleeping more than an hour longer
than normal due to illness, check in
with your health care provider right
away.
Tip: Crawling, climbing,
and standing at the crib rail are
normal at this age. Be sure your
baby's crib is safe,
and know that she will learn that
she can get down from a standing
position on her own.
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1
Year
At 1 year, the bedtime struggles
begin. Your baby is so excited by
her new abilities to move, say
words, and feed herself that
settling down for bed gets harder
and harder. She may tease you and
try to get you to come pick her up
— and she's so cute that she's
hard to resist! Maintain your
bedtime routine, though, as this
structure will help you both in the
coming months.
The typical 1-year-old will sleep
between 10 and 12 hours at night and
take a couple of one- to two-hour
naps during the day. As always, the
amount of sleep depends on the
individual baby.
Many children adopt a "lovey,"
a blanket or stuffed animal, to help
them settle. This is a positive step
toward independence. A pacifier is a
bad choice and should be removed at
this age.
Tip: You may notice that
your baby's afternoon nap is getting
a little shorter, but that she seems
content to play in her crib a bit
before calling for you to come get
her. Put a few small toys in her
crib to encourage this behavior. But
make sure they're not too big —
she could learn how to stack them
and climb out of her crib.
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18
Months
Life is so fun and intense for your
1-and-a-half-year-old that going to
sleep is the last thing she wants to
do. She needs your help to quiet
down at night so she can get her
much-needed rest.
Babies at 18 months typically
need 13 hours of sleep every 24
hours. This is often less sleep than
their parents think — and wish —
they needed.
Because sleeping needs are
different from child to child,
you'll have to figure out what's
right for your child. Here are a few
suggestions to help you out:
• Your
child may soon need only one nap
each day. But she will probably need
two rest periods, even if one is
short.
• Many
kids in day care get two naps, even
if they don't need them. That means
your child will need less sleep at
night. If you don't want to deal
with a late bedtime or early wake-up
time, you may want to talk to your
day care provider about changing the
amount of sleep your toddler gets
during the day.
• If
you have an older child, she may
actually need an earlier bedtime
than your 18-month-old. This is
especially true if the older one
doesn't nap during the day. Your
baby's naptime is a good chance to
spend some quality one-on-one time
with your other child(ren).
Tip: A bottle at night is
a bad habit. It's bad for your
toddler's teeth and her ears, and if
it becomes part of her routine,
she'll always need it to fall
asleep, even when she wakes up in
the middle of the night. Get rid of
it now if you haven't done so
already.
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2
Years
Your 2-year-old is still trying to
bend the rules to be sure they're
real, and struggles over getting to
sleep are common. Your toddler
doesn't want to leave you or her
exciting day. What to do? Establish
rituals and routines for bedtime.
It's the best way to encourage good
sleeping habits and still make her
feel secure.
Different toddlers need different
amounts of sleep. But in general,
2-year-olds need 13 hours of sleep
per 24 hours. Typically, they'll
sleep 11 to 12 hours at night, with
maybe one nap each afternoon of one
to two hours.
Toddlers are big on refusing to
go to bed. Being consistent every
day about bedtime rules and routines
is the best way to teach your child
good sleeping habits and make things
easier on you. Here are a few tips:
• Start
winding down after dinner. Slowing
the pace for yourself and your child
will help make the transition to
bedtime easier. Reading, singing,
and quiet play are better than
running around.
• Keep
the before-bed routine short and
sweet. Bathing, brushing teeth, and
going to the bathroom shouldn't take
more than a half hour or so. Any
longer and your child will start
getting wound up and you'll start
getting frustrated.
• Your
toddler will probably refuse to go
to bed at least some of the time. Be
firm and consistent about bedtime
rules.
• Toddlers
don't need their own rooms. In fact,
many children this age sleep more
soundly with someone else in the
room. Another child between the ages
of 3 and 5 would make a good
roommate. Older children can usually
sleep very well through almost any
kind of ruckus.
Tip: Leave a book or one
other quiet toy in your child's bed
so she can amuse herself for a
little while after awakening. She
can't understand the concept of
"too early," but you can
tell her to stay in her room until
the light comes in the window or she
hears you say good morning (or some
other specific signal).
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3
Years
The average 3-year-old sleeps about
12 hours each day. This usually
means 10 or 11 hours at night and a
one- to two-hour nap. Naptimes are
more variable for 3-year-olds than
for 2-year-olds. Your 3-year-old may
need more or less sleep depending on
the day's events, an illness,
changes in her routine, or any
developmental changes she's going
through. Whatever amount of time
your child naturally sleeps in a day
is the amount she needs.
Your 3-year-old leads a very busy
life, fueled by her improving
language ability and active
imagination. At night, these can
also set the stage for vivid dreams
and nightmares. You can't and
shouldn't want to prevent her wild
dreams; they help her deal with the
challenges of her day. But you can
help her settle down each night by
keeping her bedtime routine calm and
simple. Other types of nighttime ups
and downs are pretty routine at this
age — click
here for more.
Tip: If your child has
trouble sleeping without a light on,
put a dimmer on the switch and let
her adjust it. Praise her as she
turns it down, and in a few weeks
she'll be used to a very dim light.
Or try gradually lowering the
wattage of a table lamp bulb over
several weeks.
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Preschool
Your preschooler will have sleep ups
and downs: Sometimes she'll be very
resistant to go to bed, and other
times she'll test your patience by
bouncing up again and again, now
accompanied by arguments and
negotiations.
At this age, most children will
give up napping. But if they do nap,
that will reduce nighttime sleep,
which is about 10 to 12 hours.
If you have to drag your
preschooler out of bed in the
morning, she may need an earlier
bedtime and/or no nap during the day
to get in a more balanced schedule.
Also avoid altered bedtimes on the
weekends. She'll have a hard time
adjusting on Monday.
Night awakenings at this age are
less frequent, as most preschoolers
can get themselves back to sleep.
They can remember dreams more than
at a younger age, too, so they may
recall these upsets in vivid terms.
Don't be too worried by the dream
content unless your child seems
stuck on it.
Tip: Watch TV carefully at
this age, particularly in the
evening. Most children — and
particularly bright, sensitive ones
— take those images to bed, making
it hard to get to sleep or to banish
those monsters from under the bed.
Tip: Some medications can
disrupt sleep. If there's a new
sleep problem and a new medicine,
ask your health care provider if
they're related.
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