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\nIf you’re breastfeeding, in the early weeks your baby is likely to doze off for short periods during a feed. Carry on feeding until you think your baby has finished or until they’re fully asleep. This is a good opportunity to try to get a bit of rest yourself.<\/p>\nIf you’re not sleeping at the same time as your baby, don’t worry about keeping the house silent while they sleep. It’s good to get your baby used to sleeping through a certain amount of noise.<\/p>\n
How can I get my baby used to night and day?<\/p>\n
It’s a good idea to teach your baby that night-time is different from daytime from the start. During the day, open curtains, play games and don’t worry too much about everyday noises when they sleep.<\/p>\n
At night, you might find it helpful to:<\/p>\n
keep the lights down low
\nnot talk much and keep your voice quiet
\nput your baby down as soon as they’ve been fed and changed
\nnot change your baby unless they need it
\nnot play with your baby
\nYour baby will gradually learn that night-time is for sleeping.<\/p>\n
Where should my baby sleep?<\/p>\n
For the first 6 months your baby should be in the same room as you when they’re asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).<\/p>\n
Particularly in the early weeks, you may find your baby only falls asleep in your or your partner’s arms, or when you’re standing by the cot.<\/p>\n
You can start getting your baby used to going to sleep without you comforting them by putting them down before they fall asleep or when they’ve just finished a feed. It may be easier to do this once your baby starts to stay alert more frequently or for longer.<\/p>\n
If you use a baby sling to carry your baby, make sure you use it safely. The Lullaby Trust has information about swaddling your baby and using slings safely.<\/p>\n
Establishing a baby bedtime routine<\/p>\n
You may feel ready to introduce a bedtime routine when your baby is around 3 months old. Getting them into a simple, soothing bedtime routine can be a great opportunity to have 1-to-1 time with your baby.<\/p>\n
The routine could consist of:<\/p>\n
having a bath
\nchanging into night clothes and a fresh nappy
\nputting them to bed
\nreading a bedtime story (see more in Baby and toddler play ideas)
\ndimming the lights in the room to create a calm atmosphere
\ngiving a goodnight kiss and cuddle
\nsinging a lullaby or having a wind-up musical mobile you can turn on when you’ve put your baby to bed
\nbrushing their teeth (if they have any)
\nAs your child gets older, it can be helpful to keep to a similar bedtime routine. Too much excitement and stimulation just before bedtime can wake your child up again. Spend some time winding down and doing some calmer activities, like reading. <\/p>\n
How much sleep does your baby need?<\/p>\n
Just as with adults, babies’ and children’s sleep patterns vary. From birth, some babies need more or less sleep than others. The list below shows the average amount of sleep babies and children need during a 24-hour period, including daytime naps.<\/p>\n
Newborn sleep needs<\/p>\n
Most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake. Their total daily sleep varies, but can be from 8 hours up to 16 or 18 hours. Babies will wake during the night because they need to be fed. Being too hot or too cold can also disturb their sleep.<\/p>\n
Sleep requirements at 3 to 6 months old<\/p>\n
As your baby grows, they’ll need fewer night feeds and will be able to sleep for longer. Some babies will sleep for 8 hours or longer at night, but not all. By 4 months, they may be spending around twice as long sleeping at night as they do during the day.<\/p>\n
Baby sleep at 6 to 12 months<\/p>\n
For babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary and some babies will sleep for up to 12 hours at night. Teething discomfort or hunger may wake some babies during the night.<\/p>\n
Sleep requirements from 12 months<\/p>\n
Babies will sleep for around 12 to 15 hours in total after their first birthday.<\/p>\n
2-year-old sleep needs<\/p>\n
Most 2 year olds will sleep for 11 to 12 hours at night, with 1 or 2 naps in the daytime.<\/p>\n
Sleep requirements for 3 to 4 year olds<\/p>\n
Most children aged 3 or 4 will need about 12 hours sleep, but this can range from 8 hours up to 14. Some young children will still need a nap during the day.<\/p>\n
Coping with disturbed nights<\/p>\n
Newborn babies invariably wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months, and disturbed nights can be very hard to cope with.<\/p>\n
If you have a partner, ask them to help. If you’re formula feeding, encourage your partner to share the feeds. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your partner to take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep.<\/p>\n
Once you’re into a good breastfeeding routine, your partner could occasionally give a bottle of expressed breast milk during the night. If you’re on your own, you could ask a friend or relative to stay for a few days so you can get some sleep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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