Deciding how much sleep your baby needs varies from parent to parent. There is no actual set standard for the exact amount of rest that babies need. But you can bet your baby will rest more when they are newborns than any other time.
Sleeping is how they grow and regain strength for their little bodies. Read for:
- Baby sleep schedule
- How long should baby sleep
- Is your baby awake at night for hours
How long should baby sleep
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Although there is no magic number of hours that is set in stone for a perfect night’s sleep for babies, there is still a baby sleep chart that helps guide you on what is commonly known as the norm in a baby’s sleep pattern.
Remember these are just basic guidelines for sleeping. Many babies may sleep more or less and that is normal for them.
- Newborns will rest a combined total of 15 hours a day. This is nighttime and nap times combined.
- 3-month-old babies will start to sleep a little longer at night with shorter nap times but will still use about 15 hours a day
- By the time they reach 6 months old, they will sleep almost 11 hours a night with only 2 nap times per day.
- A 9-month-old will slumber 11-12 hours per night and take two naps during the day for 2-3 hours.
These are basic guidelines and will vary from baby to baby. But they will give you a good idea of whether your child is getting enough rest.
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Baby sleep schedule
By the time they are twelve months old, your baby will be sleeping about 11 hours a night and many times will only take one nap per day.
This is when you might start wishing they would sleep more. When they hit that toddler stage you may see a change in nap times.
To be exact, they will not want to take one. If you can get them to sit quietly for just a few minutes, you might even find that they will fall asleep on their own.
It takes at least six months for a newborn to develop their unique circadian rhythm. If yours, on the other hand, appears to be ignorant to the difference between night and day, a little assistance may be all they need to get used to feeding at regular intervals and thrive.
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Sleepy baby when to worry
There are a few good indicators that will let you if your baby is not getting enough rest.
If you notice them always yawning or being excessively cranky, there is a good chance they are not getting enough sleep either during their nap time or at night.
Your child will let you know if they have had enough sleep or need to get more. Do not panic if they seem like they are sleeping more than they should.
Learning exactly how much sleep your baby will need is not hard. It sometimes seems difficult when we first bring them home, but just have some patience and know that things will get better and easier.
Is it normal for babies to sleep a lot?
There is no reason to worry about your baby sleeping too much suddenly unless there are other symptoms.
In general, newborns shouldn’t be sleeping through feedings for longer than 19 hours a day, unless they are not feeling well or have feeding difficulties.
The following are some of the most prevalent reasons why baby sleeping too much suddenly occurs:
- They can go through a growth spurt.
- They could be suffering from a minor sickness, such as a cold.
- They could be suffering from a major infection. This is a rare occurrence, although it can occur.
- Because of their jaundice, some newborns sleep excessively. The skin of a newborn with jaundice will be yellow, and the whites of their eyes will have a yellow cast. Being tired, having difficulty eating, and being fussy or angry are all signs of more severe jaundice.
- A baby may have another medical problem that leads them to sleep excessively in rare cases. Premature babies often have different sleep habits than full-term babies due to breathing and heart problems.
- Because they are not receiving enough feeding, newborns may sleep excessively. They could become dehydrated, lose too much weight, or possibly fail to flourish.
Sleepy baby syndrome: what should I do if my baby is sleeping too much
Before calling a doctor, consider the following strategies:
- ensuring that the baby is not overheated or underheated
- feeding the baby whenever they show signs of hunger
- ensuring proper food intake, provide the baby the breast, the chest, or a bottle every 1–2 hours.
- keeping a log of the baby’s sleep schedule
Is your baby awake at night for hours
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Is your baby awake at night but not crying? Some babies begin sleeping on a day/night reversal pattern at a young age. During the day, your baby sleeps well, but at night, he or she is awake and active. It’s aggravating and exhausting, but it’s just for a short time.
Moreover, some babies are so enamored with their parents that they can’t sleep. Your infant is curious about what you’re doing. And the infant is itching to play with you, even in the middle of the night. Some parents find that sleeping in the same room with their infant allows them to feel close to them while also allowing them to get some rest.
Lastly, babies are extremely sensitive. They may be thrown off their sleep schedule if they are exposed to too much stimuli. When you eat too much chocolate, this gets transferred to your baby through your breastmilk, or maybe there was just too much daytime play. These can all be sources of stimulation.
The fact that a baby is awake at night is typically a sign that something in the mother’s diet isn’t agreeing with the baby’s stomach. Other parents report that a hectic day full of noise and activity makes it difficult for their infant to relax.
When to call your doctor
If you’re unsure, get medical advice. Only a specialist can accurately diagnose why a newborn is napping excessively.
Excessive sleep in a baby is usually not a cause for concern unless they are simultaneously exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. If any of the following apply, contact a doctor or go to an emergency room:
- Your baby is gasping for air or is breathing very loud.
- Skin around your baby’s ribs sinks in when they breathe.
- Baby’s nostrils flare when they breathe.
- Your baby has a fever.
- Baby may have inhaled, touched, or eaten something toxic.
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.