Sleeping Baby
Your Baby’s Sleep Patterns During The First Six Months
One of the challenges new parents face is to help their babies develop good sleep habits. An infant’s sleep schedule is completely different than that of adults. Her cycles are shorter. While she spends more time sleeping, she wakes up more often, which can cause frustration for her already-tired parents. The sooner she can be trained to fall (and stay) asleep according to a “normal” schedule, the more sleep her mom and dad will be able to enjoy.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at an infant’s typical sleep patterns, noting how they change during the first six months of her life. While every baby is different, most exhibit similar sleep habits during this early stage. We’ll also provide several tips you can use to help your little one establish a reliable routine.
Months One Through Three
During the first week of your infant’s life, expect her to sleep up to eighteen hours a day. By the second week, she’ll spend up to sixteen hours asleep each day, a habit that may continue for a few more weeks. During this time, your little one will awaken every three or four hours due to hunger, noise, or other stimuli. For moms and dads attempting to sleep through the night, this can quickly become trying.
By the time your infant has reached five or six weeks of age, she’ll have begun to stay asleep longer during the evenings. However, she will continue to awaken due to hunger. From weeks six until twelve, your baby will spend less and less time sleeping during the day, and continue sleeping longer during the night.
Months Four Through Six
By the fourth month, most babies will have started sleeping throughout the evening without waking. They will still sleep from ten to twelve hours a day, taking two or three naps during the daytime. This continues throughout the fifth month. Your little one will likely spend nearly as much time sleeping, but may transition from three naps each day to two.
By month six, most babies are still sleeping up to eleven hours per day. Some may take a single nap in the daytime for two or three hours while others will continue to take two shorter naps.
Helping Your Infant Develop A Healthy Routine
Throughout the first six months, your baby will begin to adopt a “normal” sleep schedule. However, much of her routine will depend on the steps you take to teach her.
First, note what your little one does when she becomes tired. Does she pull her ears or rub her face? Does she clench her fists or jerk her legs? When she begins to do these things, provide a quiet environment so she can sleep.
Second, start to train your baby to sleep during the evening, and stay awake during the daytime. At night, keep the noise level down and the lights dimmed or turned off. If she awakens, avoid rushing to pick her up. Allow her the chance to coax herself back to sleep. During the daytime, take the opposite approach. Talk, sing, or play with your infant. Keep your home well-lit. If she begins to doze, gently encourage her to stay awake. By doing these things, you’ll help your little one create a sleeping routine that accommodates day and nighttime hours.
Third, put your baby to sleep each night at the same time; wake her up in the morning at the same time; and help her take daytime naps at the same time. This further helps her to establish a schedule. If she has trouble falling asleep during the evening, give her a warm bath, and read to her in a quiet setting. This will relax her, drawing her to sleep.
Some babies can establish, and stick to, sleeping routines on their own with little help from their parents. Others need guidance. With your help, your infant can get the sleep she needs while giving you a chance to do the same.
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