Babies go through more growing and learning than any other age, and at a faster rate. Therefore, they need adequate amounts of sleep throughout this stage in order to ensure they are learning and growing as fast as they should. There are many milestones that babies should hit in their first year, and getting good sleep can help ensure they stay on track. 

it can take some time for both parents and kids to get into a good sleep routine and learn how to ensure that babies are getting the adequate amount of sleep they need. Continue reading to find out more about babies' sleep and how to improve your child's sleep. 

How Much Sleep Babies Need

Sleep patterns will change a lot throughout a baby's first year of life. The biggest changes will be how many total hours they sleep and for how long throughout the day and night. 

For the first three months, newborns will spend anywhere from 14 to 17 hours asleep in a 14-hour period broken into smaller periods of time for adequate feeding, diaper changes and family interactions. Breastfed infants normally eat more than frequently than bottle-fed infants.

After that, until about six months, infant sleep needs drop to about 12 to 15 hours a day. Sleep begins to lengthen in time and babies can go longer without feeding. Sometimes during this period, most babies begin to sleep throughout the night. However, there are most certainly exceptions to this. 

For the last six months of their first year, babies do most of their sleeping throughout the night. However, teething, growth spurts illnesses or sleep regressions can interrupt nighttime sleeping. 

Why sleep is important

Sleep is vital at every age. During sleep, the brain undergoes an immense amount of activity - learning, memory formations, growth, language development, etc. - mostly during the third stage of sleep. In addition to this activity, our brains release growth hormone which can assist with bodily development. 

Without adequate sleep, mood regulation, immunity, and behavioral management all become much harder. Babies demonstrate this by becoming more fussy, excessively crying, yawning, or rubbing their eyes. These are all cues for sleep. 

Helping Your Baby Fall and Stay Asleep 

The best way to help your baby get to sleep is to set a consistent routine and follow it to the best of your ability. During the first few months, this is going to be extremely difficult as your baby is just getting used to life outside of the uterus. However, as they grow and will be able to go longer and longer periods without eating, they can establish sleeping patterns. 

In order to help them establish a circadian rhythm, you can start by making sure your baby gets plenty of daylight and stimulation during the day. This will help regulate their cycles so they are more active during the day, and ready to wind down at night 

Leading up to bedtime, it's important to set a calming atmosphere and carry out the same bedtime routine every night. The following practices can help wind a baby down to get them ready for bedtime: 

• Bath 
• Fresh diaper 
• Reading 
• Lullaby 
• Nighttime feed
• Goodnight kiss 
• Dimming the lights 
• Turning down the thermostat 
• Creating a quiet environment

Another important part of establishing their sleeping patterns is allowing them to fall asleep on their own. Many babies like being cuddled or rocked, but it's best to put them down before they fall asleep. They will be less anxious during the night if you are not there and more likely to fall asleep without needing your help throughout the night. 

When Your Baby Has Trouble Sleeping 

Every baby is different, so don't worry if your child marches to the bet of their own drum. It's normal for newborns to wake up several times throughout the night, but don't hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician if you have any questions about your baby's sleep patterns. 

If your baby wakes up crying and doesn't quickly fall back asleep on their own, they could be communicating a need - hunger, wet diaper, discomfort, etc. Quickly and quietly take care of their needs using minimal light. You may have to soothe an anxious baby by patting them or saying a few reassuring words. Try not to pick them up unless absolutely necessary. 

Also remember, sleep regressions are totally normal, and normally temporary. If you're a new parent, then you may know how hard it is to get sleep yourself. It's nearly impossible to deal with a crying baby when you yourself are sleep deprived. Try to get in some good sleep when the baby sleeps, even if that means little cat naps. 

If you and your child are having an abnormally hard time getting to sleep, please click the orange button below to take a free online sleep test and talk with one of our sleep health professionals. 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep