As a new parent, you may be wondering about
your baby's sleep patterns and cycles. Understanding baby sleep cycles is
important for ensuring that your little one gets the rest they need for healthy
growth and development. In this article, we will discuss what baby sleep cycles
are, how they change over time, and how to establish healthy sleep habits for
your baby.
If you’re struggling with your baby’s
sleep, maybe you’re trying to get your baby to nap for longer or wondering when
your baby will start connecting sleep cycles, start your
free sleep consultation and get step
by step support from the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
What Are Baby Sleep Cycles?
Baby sleep cycles refer to the different
stages of sleep that babies go through during the night. There are two main
types of sleep: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) or ‘active’ sleep and Non-Rapid Eye
Movement (NREM) or ‘deep’ sleep. REM sleep is the stage of sleep where we dream
and is thought to be important for brain development and memory consolidation.
NREM sleep is a deeper stage of sleep where our bodies rest and recover.
A Baby’s Sleep Cycle Has Five Main Stages:
Stage 1 Drowsiness, when your baby just falls asleep and is in a very light
sleep from which they can easily wake – lasts just a few mins.
Stage 2 Slightly deeper REM cycle in which your baby can still wake easily.
Stage 3 Deeper REM sleep in which your aby will be quiet, still and harder
to wake
Stage 4 Deep NREM stage in which your baby may move or make noise, possibly
from dreams, but is much harder to wake. During this stage your baby’s
breathing and heart rate will slow down and their muscles will relax. This is
the most important stage of sleep, as it’s when your baby’s body repairs and
grows.
Stage 5 A light sleep that transitions into your baby waking or connecting
to the next sleep cycle for a longer nap or overnight sleep.
After each sleep
cycle, your baby may briefly wake up or move around before falling back to
sleep. This is normal, and it's important not to rush in to
soothe them unless they're crying or seem uncomfortable.
Babies spend a larger portion of their
sleep time in the REM stage of sleep than adults do. This is because REM sleep
is important for their brain development and the consolidation of memories. As
babies grow and develop, the amount of time they spend in REM sleep decreases and
the amount of time they spend in deep sleep (NREM) increases.
Not every sleep cycle has the same mix
of NREM and REM sleep, that’s why the right balance of daytime and overnight sleep
is so important. When your baby sleeps can be just as important as how much
they sleep.
Mandy
Treeby
, Pediatric Sleep Coach and Co-Founder of the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers
How To Know When Your Baby is Tired and Ready for Sleep?
As your baby nears the end of their wake
window, start looking for sleepy cues.
Sleepy Cues include:
- Rubbing eyes
- Getting
fussy
- Zoning out
- Eyes glaze
over
- Pulling
ears
- Turning
head side-to-side
Tracking your baby’s sleep, with tools like
the Smart Sleep Coach app, is a great way of staying ahead of their sleep
needs. It includes handy reminders to start looking for sleepy cues and automatic
schedule adjustments as your baby’s sleep happens.
What’s A Newborn Sleep Cycle?
A newborn’s sleep cycle will last 30-45mins.
Newborns spend most of their time sleeping, but their sleep patterns can be
unpredictable and may not follow a regular schedule. Newborns sleep for shorter
periods, and spend most of their time in the REM stage of sleep. This is
because REM sleep is important for their brain development and memory
consolidation.
Newborns tend to follow a 24 hour sleep
cycle, waking to eat at least every 2-3 hours.
Should My Newborn have a Sleep Schedule?
Newborns are not biologically ready to be
scheduled, their circadian rhythm won’t fully mature until they reach around
4-months of age. Until then, they will wake to feed continuously every few
hours through an entired 24 hour cycle.
Download the
Smart Sleep
Coach by Pampers app
to track your newborn’s sleep and manage sleeps using biologically
appropriate
wake
windows
.
Why is My Newborn Nocturnal? Why Can’t I get my Newborn to
Sleep During the Night?
It is not uncommon for newborns to have
their days and nights mixed up, leading to more wakefulness and activity during
the night. This is often referred to as "nocturnal" behavior, and it
can be a challenge for new parents who are already struggling to adjust to the
demands of caring for a newborn.
There are several reasons why newborns may be more active
at night:
- 1.They
are not yet able to distinguish between day and night.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, newborns have not
yet developed a circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that tells us
when to wake up and when to sleep. As a result, they may be more alert and
active
during the night
, when you would prefer them to be sleeping.
- 2.They
may be experiencing discomfort from hunger, gas, or other digestive issues.
According to a study published in the journal Acta Paediatrica,
newborns who experienced colic or other digestive issues were more likely to
have disrupted
sleep
patterns
. If your newborn is showing signs of discomfort during the night,
it may be worth discussing these symptoms with your pediatrician to rule out
any underlying medical issues.
- 3.Newborns
have much shorter sleep cycles than adults
.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, newborns typically sleep in short
periods of 2-4 hours at a time, waking to feed, and they may need to feed or be
changed during the night. This means that even if your newborn is not
particularly active during the night, they may still be waking up frequently
and requiring attention.
If you are struggling with a nocturnal newborn, you can
try to encourage better sleep habits by:
- 1.Establishing
a consistent bedtime
routine that limits
stimulation in the hour or two leading up to bedtime and ends with them drowsy
but awake.
- 2.Ensuring
your baby’s sleep environment encourages sleep
–
pitch dark, playing background white or brown noise, 68-72F and calm.
- 3.Being
patient and understanding
, as newborn sleep
patterns can be unpredictable and take time to develop.
How Much Should My Baby Sleep?
Baby Age
|
# hours sleep in 24-hours
|
Day/Night Split
|
0-6 weeks
|
16-20 hours
|
50/50 split of sleep between night and day, waking every 2-4 hours
to feed.
|
7-12 weeks
|
14-17 hours
|
3-6 months
|
14-15 hours
|
4-5 hours during the day across 3 naps, 10-11 hours overnight waking
2-3 times per night to feed
|
6-12 months
|
14-15 hours
|
4-5 hours during the day across 2-3 naps, 10-11 hours overnight
(night feeds usually stop around 9 months)
|
12-24 months
|
12-14 hours
|
2-3 hours during the day across 1-2 naps, 11-12 hours overnight,
without interruption
|
It's important to note that every baby is
different, and the recommended sleep duration for each age range can vary
slightly depending on the individual baby's needs. Additionally, the total
amount of sleep a baby gets may be spread out over several naps during the day
and night, rather than one continuous block of sleep.
Do Sleep Patterns Change As My Baby Gets Older?
Babies go through a lot of changes in their
sleep patterns during their first 2 years of life. Understanding these changes
can help parents stay one step ahead of sleep, tools like the Smart Sleep Coach
app is like having a Sleep Consultant in your pocket and can support you every
step of the way.
Newborns (0-3 months) Experience A Higher Mix of REM Sleep
Newborns sleep a lot, but their sleep is
not very structured – in fact it is usually very disorganized. They typically
wake up every 2-3 hours to eat, and then go back to sleep. Their sleep is
characterized by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is thought to be
important for brain development. According to the American Academy of Sleep
Medicine, babies may spend up to 50% of their sleep time in REM sleep during
the first few months of life.
Babies (3-6 months) Develop More Regular Sleep Patterns
At around
3
months
of age, babies start to develop more regular sleep patterns. They
may sleep for longer stretches at night, but still wake up to eat. Many babies
will begin to take
short
naps
during the day, as well.
Babies (6-12 months): Most Babies Can Start to Sleep
Through the Night
Between 5 and 9 months of age, most babies
are capable of sleeping through the night without waking up to eat. However,
they may still wake up due to teething, illness, or other factors. They will
transition from
3
to 2 naps
around 8 months and stay on that 2 nap schedule until 15-18
months – this morning nap being more mentally restorative and the afternoon nap
being more physically restorative.
Toddlers (12-24 months): Getting to 1 Nap a Day
As babies become toddlers, their sleep
patterns continue to change. They will start to transition to one nap per day somewhere
between 15 and 18 months, which typically lasts 1-3 hours. It's important to continue
to instill healthy sleep habits, such as setting consistent bedtimes and
creating a calming
bedtime
routine
, as well as reasonable sleep boundaries to ensure toddlers get the
sleep they need.
It's important to keep in mind that every
baby is different, and sleep patterns can vary widely from child to child. If
you are concerned about your baby's sleep habits or have questions about how
much sleep they need, it's always a good idea to speak with your pediatrician.
Babies’ sleep patterns change significantly
in the first 24 months of life. It's important to establish
healthy
sleep habits
early on, such as setting consistent bedtimes and creating a
calming bedtime routine, to ensure babies get the sleep they need for their
growth and development.
If you are concerned about your baby's
sleep habits, it's always a good idea to speak with your pediatrician, as they
can provide guidance and support. By understanding the changes that occur in
babies' sleep patterns during the first two years of life, parents can help
their little ones get the restful sleep they need to thrive.
FAQs:
What are the stages of baby sleep cycle?
Stage 1: Drowsiness, baby falls asleep.
Stage 2: Light REM Sleep. Stage 3: Deep REM Sleep. Stage 4: Deepest NREM Sleep.
Very hard to wake baby, breathing is slower and muscles relax. Stage 5: Light
sleep that transitions to your baby waking or connecting directly to the next
sleep cycle.
Do babies have 45 minute sleep cycles?
Yes. Babies’ sleep cycles are shorter than
adults and typically last 45mins, with the last 15mins of that cycle being
light sleep where it is easy for baby to wake up.
When can babies link sleep cycles?
Somewhere between 4 and 6 months babies
start to be able to connect sleep cycles, resulting in longer naps and longer
stretches of sleep overnight.
How many sleep cycles does a 3 month old have?
3 month olds typically need to sleep 15-16
hours a day across 4 daytime naps and around 12 hours of overnight sleep.
Sources:
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015).
Newborn Sleep Patterns.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Newborn-Sleep-Patterns.aspx
Pinelli, J., & Symington, A. J. (2005).
Non-nutritive sucking for promoting physiologic stability and nutrition in
preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001071.pub2
National Sleep Foundation. (2021). Newborn
Sleep.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/newborn-sleep
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/babies-and-sleep/understanding-baby-sleep-4-6-months
https://www.babysleepsite.com/newborns/newborn-sleep-patterns-evolve/
American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2017).
Infant Sleep.
https://aasm.org/resources/factsheets/infantsleep/
National Sleep Foundation. (2021). Infant
Sleep.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/infants/sleep-patterns
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015).
Bedtime Routines for School-Aged Children.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Bedtime-Routines-for-School-Aged-Children.aspx
National Sleep Foundation. (2021). Toddler
Sleep.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/toddlers/sleep-guidelines
Disclaimer:
How We Wrote This Article
The information in this article is based on
the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the
American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below.
The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always
consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.