Babies spend most of their time sleeping. In 24 hours, your kid will probably be asleep for 16-18 hours. This should not alarm you. The Sleep Foundation recommends infants sleep for 14 to 17 hours. But while they sleep this much, they also sleep for short periods. Their internal clock is still adjusting to this new environment, meaning they can’t sleep the way older kids or adults sleep. As a parent, it’s only natural to worry about your child’s sleeping patterns. Is the time they sleep and wake up important? This article explains what you need to know about babies’ sleeping patterns.
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What Are the Sleeping Patterns of a Child?
Most parents often wonder whether there’s a specific sleeping pattern their child should be following. Although babies are different, take note of the following three things.
1. Babies Don’t Sleep for Long Hours
Newborns cannot sleep for the 16 to 18 hours mentioned without waking up. Usually, they will sleep between 30 minutes to 4 hours. Most kids cannot go up to six hours of sleep without waking up until they are like three months old or weigh 12 to 13 pounds. However, this is relative as some babies don’t sleep much until they reach one year.
2. Babies Wake up Easily
Kids wake up easily because a big part of their sleep time is ‘active sleep.’ You may have heard something called rapid eye movement sleep or REM. This is light sleep, where dreams occur. It’s characterized by rapid eye movements, irregular breathing, vocalization, and occasional body movements. As much as babies get 16 hours of sleep, about half is spent in active sleep.
3. Sleep Times Can Vary
In the first couple of weeks, a baby will sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day. After a month, they will sleep for about 14 hours. But this isn’t a written-on-stone rule. Some kids may sleep even 19 hours a day after birth, and others, for nine hours after four weeks. If your child exhibits such signs, don’t be alarmed.
Baby Sleeping Problems
Most kids experience difficulty sleeping, especially in the first year. If this is happening to you, you are not alone. In most cases, it’s just temporary as the child continues adjusting to the new environment. In other cases, spits and gas can also contribute to your child having problems sleeping at night. You can check here how to help address the issue of gas and spits. Other common sleeping problems in kids include:
- Sleep deprivation: Some babies don’t get enough sleep. If you notice your child is cranky or fussy at night, they may not be getting quality nap time.
- Separation issues: Other babies will have difficulty sleeping if they can’t feel your presence around. Try a long cuddle during bedtime. You can also use a security object like a stuffed animal or blanket to give them a sense of comfort.
- Nightmares: Babies also experience nightmares, especially after a stressful emotional or physical event. This can make them wake up at night more than usual. In such cases, try soothing or cuddling your child back to sleep.
Why Do Newborns Sleep and Wake Up All the Time
An adult’s sleeping pattern is controlled by circadian rhythms. This is your sleeping and waking-up pattern over 24 hours. The circadian rhythm is controlled by exposure to light and darkness, which helps you fall asleep during the night and stay awake during the day. In newborns, sleep isn’t controlled by circadian rhythms. In fact, kids develop a circadian rhythm after a while, mostly three months. Because of this, their sleeping patterns aren’t that stable. That’s why you cannot predict your kid’s sleeping and waking up time.
How to Help Newborns Adjust to the Natural 24-Hour Day
You can take a few steps to help your baby get in sync with the natural 24-hour system. Here are a few suggestions.
Expose Your Child to Natural Lighting Patterns
Light cues will not immediately help the child’s sleeping patterns, but they eventually do. With time, your child will associate nighttime with sleep, and this will help them sleep for longer.
Let Your Infant Be Part of Your Routine
Include your newborn in your daily activities. This will help them adjust to the 24-hour day. Newborns who are active at the same time as their mum will develop circadian rhythms quickly.
Try Massaging Your Child
Try massaging your child with lotion before bedtime. After a couple of weeks, your child might start falling asleep quickly and staying asleep for longer. The massage helps release melatonin which helps the babies relax and fall asleep.
Just like adults, kids need to get adequate sleep. But when they are newborns, their sleeping patterns are still developing. That is why they sleep and wake up all the time. When your child exhibits such signs, there’s no need to be alarmed. They are adjusting, and within a few months, they will get in tune with the natural 24-hour day.