Baby Sleeps
For the first six to eight weeks, most babies aren't able to stay up much longer than two hours at a time. If you wait longer than that to put your baby down, he may be overtired and have trouble falling asleep.
During these early months most babies wake for a feed and then go back to sleep.
New babies tend to sleep a lot, but without any set pattern - 16 hours out of every 24 is average, although it varies hugely. They wake regularly, both day and night, because they've yet to develop their circadian rhythm, and because they have tiny tummies which need frequent feeds to keep hunger at bay. So you may well be up at least four times a night.
New babies tend to sleep a lot, but without any set pattern - 16 hours out of every 24 is average, although it varies hugely. They wake regularly, both day and night, because they've yet to develop their circadian rhythm, and because they have tiny tummies which need frequent feeds to keep hunger at bay. So you may well be up at least four times a night.
Baby Sleep duration
- 0-3 Months: most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake. Their total daily sleep varies, but can be from eight hours, up to 16-18 hours. Babies will wake during the night because they need to be fed. Being too hot or too cold can also disturb their sleep.
- 3 to 6 Month: as your baby grows, they'll need fewer night feeds and be able to sleep for longer. Some babies will sleep for eight hours or longer at night. By four months, they could be spending around twice as long sleeping at night as they do during the day.
- 6 to 12 Month: at this age, night feeds should no longer be necessary, and some babies will sleep for up to 12 hours at night. Teething discomfort or hunger may wake some babies during the night.
- 12 months: babies will sleep for around 12-15 hours in total
- 2 years: most two-year-olds will sleep for 11-12 hours at night, with one or two naps in the daytime.
- 3 to 4 years: most will need about 12 hours sleep, but this can range from 8 hours up to 14. Some young children will still need a nap during the day.
Step to sleep training Tips
- Set a sleep schedule
- Decide where baby sleeps best.
- Lots of babies share a bedroom with older siblings.
- Make a night routine so that baby can recognize time to go bed.
- Noise less room.
- Don't rock your baby to sleep after about age 4 to 6 months.
- Put your baby down for a nap as soon as he or she acts sleepy
- Music to sleep by
- Make sure the sleeping area is dimly lit as bright lights
- To sleep well and safely, your baby needs to be dressed in bed time clothes so she's not too hot or too cold.