Over the first year of life, your baby will sleep and nap a lot
– from 12 up to 18 hours a day. The amount of sleep an infant gets at any one
stretch of time is mostly ruled by hunger. Newborns will wake up and want to be
fed about every 3 to 4 hours at first. Do not let your newborn sleep longer than
5 hours at a time in the first 5 to 6 weeks. Then, you can keep the following
general milestones in mind:
- By 4 months, most babies begin to show some preferences for longer sleep
at night.
- By 6 months, many babies can go for 6 hours or more without the need to
feed and will begin to "sleep through the night."
- Daytime naps reduce in number as the baby grows. A 2 month old may nap
up to 4 times a day, whereas an older infant may nap only 1-2 times a day.
Where should our newborn sleep?
Your newborn can sleep in a bassinet or a crib in a parent’s or
sibling’s bedroom, or in the newborn’s own bedroom. The American Academy of
Pediatrics 2005 Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission recommend against having your infant sleep with
you in your bed due to the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS). The baby may be brought to the parental bed for feeding
but should be returned to the crib after this is done. Important: your newborn
should sleep on his or her back to reduce the risk of SIDS (read more about SIDS
in the sidebar at right).
Sleep and nighttime awakening during the first 12 months.
During the first 12 months, babies develop fast, and their sleep patterns change
rapidly as well. It is also important to understand that all babies briefly
awaken several times (up to 6) a night. Some babies are able to soothe
themselves back to sleep after they wake up. Other babies learn to signal their
parents for help (ie, rocking, holding, cuddling) to settle them back to sleep
if they wake up in the middle of the night. However, it is best to let the
newborn comfort him or herself back to sleep rather than develop a need or
association with a parent or guardian.
What are some ways to help my newborn sleep well?
There are a number of ways you can help your baby become a
better sleeper. These include: