The Ultimate Guide To Helping Babies Sleep

Sleep patterns will change over the primary year of a baby’s life including the number of hours of sleep needed and therefore the duration of sleep periods throughout the day and night.

What is sleep?

Sleep is how you are able to move from one state of consciousness to another. You cannot wake up, as it’s impossible. When a baby is awake and active during the day, this is called wakefulness. But when a baby falls asleep, they are in the ‘fourth sleep’ which lasts between 12 and 36 hours. Sleep is not static like waking up and falling asleep. When babies sleep, they are still breathing and their heart rate is also low. So this type of sleep is not conducive to learning but is actually very important for physical development and calming the baby. Fifty per cent of brain growth occurs during sleep, so it is extremely important to encourage these periods of deep sleep. What is sleep deprivation? Sleep deprivation is a dangerous process of a baby's development.

What is Normal Sleep for Babies?

Baby’s sleep is governed by their biological age and developmental level (1, 2). For a baby, between 6 and 18 months of age, the patterns of sleep will become more irregular. For example, babies from 6 months can sleep for long stretches with 2 or 3 naps during the day. At 18 months, infants will begin to sleep for a long time during the night with about 30-45 minutes of sleep, not in 15 minute naps. From 18-36 months of age, infants sleep 3 naps lasting about 2 hours. After 36 months, a baby will sleep for short periods of time during the night which may increase as they reach adolescence (3). In older children, the sleep patterns are variable, usually resulting in nocturnal awakenings and irregular sleeping patterns.

The first six months Feeding and sleeping

Breastfeeding is a full-time job for the mother. There are a number of additional factors to consider for a baby to grow and thrive. After the first six months the mother's milk will cease and it is recommended that babies are given infant formula from 6 to 12 months for the increased nutrition. Food is the second important factor in determining how much sleep babies get. At this age, parents must take into account how much their baby is eating at each mealtime. The average number of feeds each day varies but generally is four. If your baby is eating more than four feeds it may be worth putting the mattress on its side to help baby sleep.

The second six months Sleep and daytime routines

Baby’s sleep patterns gradually shift away from the four-hour routine to more shorter cycles of about 3 to 5 hours, which is enough to fit in a long-lasting nap, in contrast to the previous nap length of 2 to 3 hours. The daytime patterns of sleep need start decreasing in the six months after the first six months, and are almost gone by the time a baby turns one. The change in baby’s sleep patterns has caused us a lot of issues in the past. But after you have gotten used to these changes, it becomes easier to understand what is normal for babies and when to be worried. Here are the general sleep patterns for babies. Ideally, babies should be awake for at least one hour during the day and they should sleep for 3 to 4 hours at a stretch.

The third six months More routines, sleep patterns, and development

helps to establish the foundation of a baby’s learning in the first two years of life. Babies who are awake more will be taking more feedings, and consequently, will need to go to sleep more frequently.

Conclusion

Feeding schedules, environment, and childcare routines should be prioritized over a sleeping schedule and the timing of every feed/change of routine. The best quality sleep for baby should be tailored to each family and their needs. Let me know what you think in the comments section below!