How long do babies nap

Sleep Schedule for Your Baby’s First Year – Happiest Baby

On This Page

• Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule: Year One
• Baby Sleep Schedule: Birth to 2 Months
• Baby Sleep Schedule: 2 to 4 Months
• Baby Sleep Schedule: 4 to 8 Months
• Baby Sleep Schedule: 8 to 12 Months
• Baby Sleep Schedule: 12 Months
• Final Thoughts on Baby Sleep Schedules

While newborns and sleep schedules don’t necessarily go together (a new baby’s sleep is all over the place!), I assure you that eventually you’ll fall into a rhythm with your baby’s sleep! It’s all about knowing what to expect, reading your baby’s sleepytime cues, and setting your little one up for sleep success. Read on to learn what a baby’s first-year sleep schedule generally looks like—and how to get there.

All parents want their infants to sleep well, but many don't know the nitty gritty details needed to achieve great baby sleep. They want to know:

• How long will my baby nap?

• What time should my baby go to bed?

• How many hours of overnight sleep can I realistically expect from my baby?

• When will my baby sleep through the night?

• How does a baby's sleep schedule change over time?

And I'm here to help answer those questions—and more! I’m also here to dispel some common baby sleep myths. For instance, everyone knows that their new baby won't sleep a lot during the first weeks. But the biggest new-parent misconception is that once Baby ekes into their second month, sleep gradually but consistently improves. Many new parents expect sleep to simply get better and better until—poof!—their baby is sleeping an eight-hour stretch at 4 months old. Not so fast! The reality for many—if not most—babies is a bit of a roller coaster, complete with happy victories and frustrating regressions!

That said, there are some reasonable expectations you can have for your baby’s sleep…and those expectations include some common zigs and zags that many babies experience during the first year. And while this first-year sleep schedule works for many little ones, remember each baby is unique and sleep schedules can vary widely.

Here’s the thing with newborns: Their natural day-night circadian rhythms have yet to develop. Plus, their bellies are teeny, so they need to eat a lot, including during the night. In fact, breastfed newborns wake up to nurse about every two to three hours and formula-fed babies do so roughly every three to four hours.

Total Sleep for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: These teeny babies sleep 14 to 18 hours a day. During the first months, babies sleep in bits and pieces, waking throughout the day to feed. In the early weeks, you can expect your little one to fuss from hunger 10 to 12 times a day.

Wake Time for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your baby’s day usually starts around 7am.

Napping for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your wee sleepyhead will take lots of little naps—totaling up to eight hours a day. A newborn’s daytime wake/sleep cycle is 45 to 60 minutes of awake time, then one to two hours of napping. And for babies between 1 and 2 months old, that wake window opens a wee bit wider, landing between one and two hours.) During the second month, if your baby’s nap goes over an hour-and-a-half to two hours, it may be a good idea to wake them for a feeding. While waking a snoozing baby seems like a big no-no, know that long naps mean less eating during the day, making babies hungrier at night.

Bedtime for Newborns to 2-Month-Old: Babies this age often go down around 10pm.

Nighttime Sleep for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your baby will drift on and off throughout the night, punctuated by occasional feedings. Remember, breastfed babies this age often wake to eat about every two to three hours and formula-fed babies wake about every three to four hours. This is 100% normal and to be expected!

• Activate Baby’s calming reflex: White noise, swaddling, and motion work wonders starting from the first day of life to help babies sleep better, naturally. That’s because these sleepytime helpers are all integral parts of the 5 S’s for soothing babies and helping them sleep. White noise (shushing), swaddling, and motion (swinging) all mimic the soothing sensations babies experience in the womb and trigger what’s known at the calming reflex, or nature’s “off switch” for crying and “on switch” for sleep.

• Consider SNOO: SNOO—the smart bassinet developed here at Happiest Baby—was designed to provide those three important S’s. SNOO provides responsive white noise and motion—and swaddling—all in one bed, helping babies fall asleep faster and sleep longer. Don't worry, SNOO does not keep babies asleep who need to eat! Babies will always wake up and let you know when they are hungry.

By the time your baby reaches 4 months old, they will have finally sorted out their days and nights, making napping and night sleeps a bit easier. The womb-like trifecta of white noise, gentle rocking, and swaddling are still important…but one of these sleep-savers may need to stop soon. Once your baby shows signs of rolling, it’s no longer safe to swaddle them (however, you can continue to use SNOO’s special built-in swaddle which keeps babies safely on the back to prevent risky rolling). And be warned about the possible 3-month sleep regression! It can suddenly appear, with your baby starting to wake up like a newborn—every few hours—and wanting to play or cuddle…but refusing to sleep alone. 

Total Sleep for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Babies this age are still sleeping a ton, usually around 13 to14 hours of ZZZs a day.

Wake Time for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Your little one will most likely wake up little earlier now. Most babies this age start their day around 6am.

Napping for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: When babies first emerge from newbornhood (between 2 and 4 months), they settle into two to three daily naps, totaling four to eight hours of sleep.

Bedtime for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Lights out shifts a bit earlier, with most babies going down around 9pm.

Nighttime Sleep for 2- to 4-Month-Olds:  Babies are able to sleep a little longer now, but they still wake for a feeding or two. Longest unbroken sleep can range from around five hours to up to eight hours.

• Tweak naptime. Once your baby is 2 months old, gently wake them up if their morning or afternoon nap stretches over one-and-a-half to two hours. Long naps mean less daytime eating…making babies hungrier at night.

• Try a dream feed. Consider adding a dream feed to your nightly routine to help delay Baby’s night-waking. Here you you gently rouse your baby (without fully waking them) right before you go to bed for the night (between 10pm and 12am) to feed one more time before you turn in for the night.

• Assess swaddling. At 2 to 3 months of age—or when your baby learns to roll—it’s time to stop swaddling. Without the swaddle, your baby may start to startle more, roll more, and wake many times a night. To help, it’s extra important to use white noise as a sleep cue for all naps and all nights. PS: If your baby is sleeping in SNOO, however, you can continue to safely swaddle until your little one graduates to the crib. (Our patented swaddle secures to the bed to prevent rolling, so you can safely swaddle without worry.)

When your baby passes the four-month mark, they’ve finished what I call the fourth trimester. Many of your new-parent friends may still be desperate from exhaustion. So, if your little one is a great sleeper, don’t brag too much! All babies are different.

Total Sleep for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Your growing baby often clocks 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day.

Wake Time for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: The day starts between 6 and 8am for babies between 4- and 8-months old, depending on your baby, of course!

Napping for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Babies this age may still be eking out three naps a day or they may have settled into a comfortable two-nap schedule, totaling three to five hours of sleep a day.

Bedtime for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Night-night often starts around 7 to 9pm.

Nighttime Sleep for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Your baby may have unbroken sleep of six to 10 hours, which most anyone would call “sleeping through the night!”

• Continue with the 5 S’s. At around 4 months old, your baby’s natural calming reflex fades…but don’t worry! Once you start using white noise in the background during your baby’s bedtime routine, they’ll start to expect it and make the connection that white noise means sleepytime is here. That means every time you turn on white noise, your baby thinks, “Hey, I know that sound! It must mean it’s time to sleep.” (It’s like magic!)

• Help with teething. Teething commonly starts between 4 to 6 months, but like everything, your baby may be earlier or later to the game. Gum pain can make your baby fussier and disrupt sleep. Loud, rumbly white noise can be very helpful to help your baby tune out distractions, both internal, like teething, and external, such as sudden noises. (Learn more on how to safely and effectively combat Baby’s teething pain.)

Baby sleep is a little like a roller coaster with it’s ups and downs, thrills, and scaries. And right now, smack in the second half of your baby’s first year, a frightening dip might be fast approaching! (You can read more about the 8-month sleep regression here.) At this age, some little ones start developing separation anxiety and bedtime and others are so excited about their newly developing skills, that they find it more difficult to settle down.

Total Sleep for 8- to 12-Month-Olds:  By the time your baby hits 8 months, they should be snoozing between 12 to 14 hours a day.

Wake Time for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: The day often starts around 6 to 7am for these tots.

Napping for 8- to 12-Month-Olds:   Your little one will likely still be taking two naps a day. For some babies, those naps are brief (we’re talking 30 minutes), while other babies may nap for up to two hours at this age.

Bedtime for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: Night-night often falls somewhere between 7 and 9pm now.

Nighttime Sleep for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: .Your baby's longest stretch is likely a glorious seven to 10 hours a night! Wooo!

• Tackle hunger. If you think a hungry tummy is the root of your tot’s wake-ups, add some extra fat during your evening feeds. For instance, try avocado or a smidge of olive oil or butter mixed into their baby food). And make sure your child is getting enough breastmilk or formula during the day.

• Offer extra pacifiers. For babies who use pacifiers, placing a few extra pacifiers in their crib for naps and night sleeps can make it easy for them to get comfort when they need it. (Sucking lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels.)

• Consider a night light. While a dark bedroom is very important for sleep, sometimes a night light positioned a distance from your baby’s sleep space can help an older baby sleep. (When they wake up, they’ll see their familiar room…not an endless abyss!)

Happy birthday to your little one! You made it through an entire year—and many sleep cycles. You’re now entering a whole new stage of sleep—toddler sleep!

Total Sleep for 12-Month-Olds: At 1 year old, most babies sleep 12 to 14 hours in a full day’s cycle.

Wake Time for 12-Month-Olds: Rise and shine often occurs between 6 and 7am.

Napping for 12-Month-Olds: Your little one is likely still clocking two naps a day, totaling two to four hours. (FYI: Most babies drop the second nap between 12 and 24 months. )

Bedtime for 12-Month-Olds: Now your “big kid” will be hitting the hay between 7 and 9pm…early enough for the grownups to get some alone time!

Nighttime Sleep for 12-Month-Olds: The longest sleeping stretch for 12-month-olds usually averages seven to 10 hours at night.

• Communicate differently. Communicating with kids this age requires a whole new set of tools and expectations. And figuring this out will make bedtime easier. For starters, explore the ins and outs of Toddler-ese and bedtime sweet talk. (You’ll find more fast-acting tips to boost sleep—and reduce tantrums—in the bestselling The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

• Offer a lovey. You can now introduce a lovey to your tiny tot! Loveys are fantastic go-to-sleep helpers, offering toddlers much-needed comfort, confidence, and security. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics even attests that every child “needs” a comfort object in their early years for emotional support. (Try my SNOObear, which does double duty as a lovey and a white noise machine.)

• Be flexible. One-year-olds (and days with 1-year-olds) can be unpredictable. So, if your bub is a two-naps-a-day kid, but only got one, offer a slightly earlier bedtime on those days. In general, consider lengthening your tot’s wake window between naps and see how that goes before rushing to a fixed one-nap-a-day schedule.

Every baby is different, so your little one’s schedule might vary slightly from the ones outlined above. However, if you’re armed with the right information and resources, you should be snoozing sweetly in no time!

• All About Baby Sleep Cycles
• What to Do When Your Baby Won't Sleep in a Bassinet
• How to Sleep Train a Baby
• How to Sleep Train a Toddler
• Why Toddlers Won't Sleep
• Is it Time to Transition Your Baby From Two Naps to One?

3 naps a day seems odd, no?

About Dr.

Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.

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Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Connect with us at customercare@happiestbaby. com.

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

Baby Nap Length & Number of Naps by Age

Before you have a baby, naps (and how long they should be) can seem pretty basic. It’s daytime. My baby seems tired. I will put them in the crib and they will fall asleep. Right?….Right?!?!? Ummm…no. 

Once you become a new mom, naps are suddenly more complicated than deciding whether or not to pull your starting pitcher, who’s throwing a no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh…..ya, my point exactly.

I mean, how many naps is my baby supposed to be taking, anyway?! When do I “drop” a nap? (whatever that means!) And how long are naps supposed to be?? You would think that the hospital would give you some sort of manual on this. Actually, it’s quite possible that they did, but I was so overwhelmed and already exhausted from labor that I could have misplaced it. Forgot it there. Deliriously told them I didn’t need it. It’s anyone’s guess, really.

But now that I’ve had years to muddle through the naps of my four babies, and read *every* book on baby sleep, I can now pass on all my nap wisdom to YOU! Here is everything you need to know about baby nap lengths, and when your baby should be taking a nap.  

Baby Nap Length and Number of Naps 

When your baby is an itty bitty newborn, all sleep is a total dumpster fire. Who can possibly tell the difference between a nap and nighttime sleep. It all just melds together (or not, for that matter). The best thing you can do is to try and orient day and night, so your baby can understand the difference.

For newborn naps, you can expect anywhere between 4-7 a day, and ideally we want them to be 45-60 minutes.

Now, don’t stress too much about this, because it’s likely going to be all over the place. You can’t spoil a newborn, so do whatever you need to do to get those naps in and prevent overtiredness. But do make sure your newborn is not napping for longer than 3 hours at a time, or else you might find yourself with an annoying flatmate who starts the party back up at 3am. 

Number of Naps and Length for 4 Months Old

Once your newborn is around 4 months, they should be having 4 naps a day. Each nap should ideally be longer than an hour (but again, not longer than 3 hours). Now this is also when the 4 month sleep regression hits, so you’re probably thinking, “Naps longer than an hour?!? Who are you trying to kid?!?” However, it IS possible! And the way to make it happen is…… sleep train!

My Sleep Training Essentials Course walks you through FOUR different methods AND teaches you how to tailor each method to best fit YOUR baby. Or, if you want to make sleep training as fun as a girl’s night out, join our monthly Group Sleep Training. We will spend the weekend sleep training everyone’s baby, making individual sleep plans, and by the end of the weekend you will have a solid sleep foundation. Not to mention the support you will get from other like-minded parents going through the exact same thing as you. Either way, sleep training also teaches your little one to lengthen their naps, so you can have your baby taking 3-4 solid naps a day. 

Number of Naps and Length for 5 Months Old- When to Drop Fourth Nap

Around 5 months, your baby will drop to 3 naps a day. These naps should continue to be at least an hour long. If you have sleep trained, then this shouldn’t be an issue! If your little one wakes up from a crap nap, then give them some time to try and put themselves back to sleep. Ideally, you would let them chill in the crib for the rest of the hour. This is a not-so-subtle signal that naps are supposed to be longer than it takes a moderately educated person to do the daily Wordle. It’s totally normal to have days where squeezing in a fourth cat nap works best to keep babe from getting overtired and to make it to bedtime. 

Number of Naps and Length for 6-10 Months Old

Between 6 months old and 9 months you will find that the third nap of the day gets tricky and is often just a cat nap, and by 9-10 months that third nap should drop completely, and your baby should be having 2 solid naps a day. Like, solid enough that you can clean the house AND workout fine, fine, I mean binge Netflix. If this isn’t the case, and you HAVE sleep trained, then it could be that your schedule is off, or there is something else going on; grab a consultation, we would love to help! 

Number of Naps and Length for 12-16 Months Old

Somewhere around 12-16 months (but closer to 16 months) you will find that your baby is fighting naps, or nighttime sleep has become less than ideal. This means you are entering the transition from 2 to 1 naps a day. I’m not going to lie, it can be a long and rocky transition. It’s best to expect it to take about a month to shake out. You can offer 2 naps a few days a week when you feel your little one needs to catch up on some sleep. That 1 nap a day should ideally be around 2 hours. 

Once you have made the transition, you are going to want to hang on real tight to that 1 nap a day. Trust me, it is in BOTH of your interests. Once they are 3 years old, you can transition the nap into more of a “quiet time”. Stay consistent, set boundaries, and have the expectation that this quiet time is for an hour a day. Your little one still needs that rest in order to reset their little body and make it to bedtime. (And there will ALWAYS be Netflix shows, demanding your binging attention). 

Dropping Naps 

Dropping a nap means removing the nap from your baby’s schedule and having them move most of that “sleep time” to the other nap(s) and/or nighttime. Some babies do not do this naturally, and there can be a bit of growing pains while they adjust and figure out their new sleep schedule. Hang in there! You’ve got your caffeine, your wine, and our amazing community of parents going through the exact same things as you here, ready to problem-solve and support you. We’ve got you! (If you haven’t joined us yet, you can find everyone here!)

How to Drop a Nap

I find the easiest way to drop a nap, is to lengthen the wake window before the last nap you are keeping. So if you are transitioning from 3 to 2 naps, the first nap will be at the same time, and then extend the next wake window before the second nap. So your baby will be adjusting to a longer wake window before nap 2 and before bed.

Generally, babies do best when their wake windows get longer throughout the day, which is where the 2-3-4 schedule comes in. This schedule is a framework for wake windows while you are on 2 naps a day.

1. So the first wake window (when they get up for the day) is 2 hours
2. The next wake window (after nap 1) is 3 hours
3. The last wake window before bed is 4 hours

Remember, this is a general rule, which means it doesn’t work for every baby. Some babies do best with 3-3-3. So use 2-3-4 as a guide and play around with it until you find the schedule that works best for YOUR baby. Need help making tweaks and reading your baby’s cues? Our amazing Sleep Consultants are always here to help! 

When to Drop a Nap

Now, in case you haven’t been told yet, your baby was born with an impressive trickster skill. Which they love to use, just to confuse the heck out of you. What I am referring to, is when they trick you in to thinking it is time to drop a nap, when in reality, that’s about as poor of a decision as those 3am “end of the night” McDonald’s trips always were.

So allow me to arm you with the information you need to outsmart your little one. Don’t drop to 2 naps until at least 7 months, and don’t drop to 1 nap until around 14 months. This means at the 10-month regression AND the 12-month regression you are going to think your smart little monkey is ready for 1 nap, however DON’T DO IT! Stay strong and power through, and they will go back to happily taking 2 naps until much closer to 14 months. 

Recap of Nap Length & Number of Naps

There you have it. The “Naps 101” crash course that really should have come as an instruction manual with your baby. I hope you feel confident in knowing how many naps your baby should be having, and how long they should be.

Of course, babies are not robots, so there are going to be ups and downs, as well as questions that come up along the way. So for ALL the information you need on dropping naps and troubleshooting the hiccups, I have a troubleshooting guide called “Dropping Naps” which you can find in my 4-24 Month Guide Pack and my Toddler Guide Pack. And of course, we are always here to work one-on-one with you, to get you fast and effective help. Click here to schedule a consultation now! 

Happy Napping! 

Have you signed up for our Free Email Series yet? I send you the exact sleep tips, recommendations, and advice that you need, right when you need it! Click here and enter in your little one’s birthday for perfectly timed sleep help!

Children's Clinical Medical Center of Chita

Sadly, pediatricians are increasingly stating the fact that modern children do not get enough sleep. And the lack of sleep in a child is much more dangerous than the lack of sleep in an adult. Children who sleep significantly less than normal grow more slowly and develop worse than their peers. This is easily explained.

First, growth hormones are produced during sleep.

Secondly, a good sound sleep contributes to a better memorization of previously received information. nine0005

Thirdly, general weakness due to lack of sleep makes it difficult to fully assimilate information.

In addition, the immune system is weakened in children with little sleep and the likelihood of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system increases. Sleep-deprived children become nervous, absent-minded, fussy. This applies to all children, regardless of their age: Babies and teenagers alike should sleep well.

Parents are obligated to provide their child with adequate and healthy sleep. nine0005

For children, as for adults, the normal amount of sleep is individual. Some kids sleep more, some less. The figures given by doctors are an average. In general, they should strive for. These figures reflect the total amount of sleep per day, that is, taking into account both night sleep and daytime sleep.

- Newborn baby sleeps an average of 18-22 hours a day.
- Baby from 1 to 3 months old sleeps 18-20 hours. nine0025 - A 3-4 month old baby can sleep 17-18 hours.
- A 5-6 month old baby must sleep at least 16 hours.
- Baby 7 to 12 months old sleeps 14 to 16 hours a day.
- A child from 1 to 1.5 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. In general, at least 14 hours a day.
- A child from one and a half to 2 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. In general, at least 13 hours a day. nine0025 - Child 2 to 3 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 2-2. 5 hours during the day. In general, at least 12.5 hours a day.
- Children 3-4 years old should sleep at least 10 hours at night and 2 hours during the day. In general, at least 12 hours a day.
- Children 5 to 7 years of age should sleep at least 9-10 hours at night and 1.5-2 hours during the day. In general, at least 10.5-11 hours a day.
- Pupils of elementary school may not sleep during the day. At night, they should sleep at least 9 hours, preferably 10 hours. nine0025 - Adolescent needs at least 9 hours of sleep per night.
- high school students should sleep an average of 8 hours per night.

In order for the child to get enough sleep, it is necessary to follow the regimen and put him to bed at the same time. This is especially true for night sleep. Make it a rule to put the child to bed, for example, at 21 o'clock. And never deviate from this rule. Let there be guests in the house, let the child become interested in the game, let the parents have things to do - everything should be postponed for the sake of the child's sleep. If he gets used to going to bed at the same time, nothing will prevent him from relaxing in time and wanting to sleep. No game will seem more attractive to him than a fresh warm bed and a cozy pillow. nine0005

2. Preparation for sleep, relaxation, rituals.

In order for the child to fall asleep easily and quickly, already an hour or two before bedtime, he must be in a calm atmosphere. Noisy games, difficult puzzles, intellectual tasks, homework preparation, computer games, watching noisy long movies and cartoons, listening to loud music, etc. - all this should end an hour or two before going to bed. The kid at this time can calmly play with toys or listen to a fairy tale read by his mother. An older child can read by himself, chat with his parents, watch a calm movie. Yes, and not so much time will be left for quiet leisure, because direct preparation for sleep will require a lot of time. It is necessary to take a shower, brush your teeth, straighten the bed, change into pajamas, drink some water, etc. The same actions performed day after day before going to bed become a kind of ritual, the performance of which also helps the child tune in to sleep. And this, in turn, contributes to faster and deeper falling asleep and, as a result, better rest. If, for example, a few sips of water before bedtime suddenly become a habit, do not try to wean your child from it. Let this be your ritual helper. If a child is used to parents reading a fairy tale to him, then he needs to read, regardless of employment. nine0005

3. Lightness in the stomach.

The last meal should be 2 hours before bedtime (this does not apply to infants and children who are breastfed). Shortly before bedtime, a child can drink a cup of tea with 1-2 cookies or a glass of kefir, but not with a high-calorie sandwich. Firstly, with ease in the body falls asleep more soundly. Secondly, dense high-calorie snacks before bedtime are bad for the stomach.

4. Comfortable atmosphere in the room.

The room must be well ventilated before putting the child to bed. If the room is dry, after airing it is worth turning on the humidifier and bringing the humidity level to an acceptable level. When the child goes to bed, you need to turn off the light, you can leave a dim nightlight if the baby asks for it. In no case should children be put to bed with the TV turned on or a flickering computer monitor. However, it is impossible to turn on the TV, the overhead light and the sound of the computer speakers even after the child falls asleep. Light noises and light may not wake him up, but they will make the child's sleep superficial, because of this, the body will not get proper rest. If this happens consistently, the child will show signs of sleep deprivation. That is, he seems to be sleeping as much as necessary, but still does not get enough sleep. The reason is the lack of conditions. The room where the child sleeps should be fresh, dark and quiet. nine0005

Sleep is very important for a child's normal growth and brain development, and regular lack of sleep can lead to serious illnesses. Create the conditions for your baby to fall asleep and carefully make sure that nothing interferes with his full sleep.

How much sleep does my baby need?

Your baby will learn to distinguish between day and night only gradually...

Each child has his own individual rhythm of sleep and nutrition, as well as an individual need for them. Just in newborns in the first weeks of life, the ability to distinguish between day and night has not yet been developed. Opportunities to influence this rhythm are extremely limited. nine0005

Parents can support the child in his development, but the child determines his own biorhythm. Some newborns have a pronounced tendency to a regular daily routine. Such children begin to sleep early at night without waking up. Other babies experience the need for food and sleep at completely different hours of the day and night for months. They need the support of their parents in order to develop a systematic or compatible biorhythm with the whole family.

It is important to have a consistent, relaxed daily routine with regular meals, bedtime, and other activities such as walking or rituals. nine0104 A constantly recurring daily routine, including bathing, feeding, an evening story or a lullaby, soothes. Please don't forget to replenish your energy reserves too: make sure your diet is balanced, drink enough fluids and give yourself some rest during the day.

In the first weeks of life

During the first weeks, it seems to you that your baby sleeps almost all day - in fact, newborns sleep about 18 hours a day, most often 4 hours. Sleep is interrupted by wakefulness phases during which the baby is fed, swaddled and played with. nine0005

In the first 4-6 months of life

In the first 4-6 months of life, the baby learns to distinguish between day and night. After all, children are not born with this skill, and their internal clock is adjusted after birth, focusing on the daily routine of the family. Over time, frequent short sleep phases will be replaced by longer sleep. At the same time, the phases of wakefulness gradually become longer.

From 6 to 12 months

From 6 to 12 months, most children sleep about 11 hours at night and 2 times a day for 1-1.5 hours. Longer daytime naps are not recommended as this may interfere with your baby's nighttime sleep. nine0005

Some parents are reluctant to wake up their baby, believing that the baby's body needs sleep. However, in order for a healthy biorhythm not to be disturbed, babies who sleep too long during the day should be slowly awakened. It's better for your baby to be a little naughty after that than if he stays up at night and demands attention. Use your baby's daytime wakefulness phases for intensive activities with him. The longest phase of wakefulness - 4-5 hours - should be before a night's sleep. This will help your baby fall asleep easily in the evening and sleep soundly at night. nine0005

In the second year of life

In the second year of life, children need about 13 hours of sleep per day. If at the same time 11 hours fall at night, then there is time for daytime rest. Some children already at the age of 10 months sleep only once a day, others are not in a hurry with this innovation until 1.5 years.

In the third year of life

The older the child, the less sleep he needs. In their third year of life, babies sleep only about 12 hours. Many give up naps altogether, some keep this habit until kindergarten. nine0005

Data for individual age groups

The following data for individual age groups are averages while individual sleep needs vary. Deviations within 1-2 hours are not a cause for alarm. And some children need even less sleep.

nine0143

Age	This is the amount of sleep your child needs per day (=24 hours)
Newborn	16 - 20 hours
3 weeks	4 - 6 pm
6 weeks	15 – 16 hours
4 months	9-12 hours at night plus 2 naps (2-3 hours each)
6 months	about 11 hours at night plus 2 naps (1-1. Learn more How to make child speak in public Sleeping disorders infants How young can a child learn guitar What helps with nausea and vomiting while pregnant How to surprise your child with a vacation Pregnancy at the age of 38 Complications with pcos Pregnancy at the age of 38 Complications with pcos Bleeding during 8 months pregnant 36 week pregnant check up