Sleep is an essential part of your baby’s happy, healthy,
development. In fact, baby’s are born with twice the number of neurons as
adults, in a brain that’s less than half the size. Your baby is born primed for
learning and growing, a time ofrapid cognitive, linguistic, social,
emotional and motor development – most of which happens when they sleep.
As a new parent, you may be wondering what to expect in
terms of your baby's sleep patterns during this crucial time. Rest assured the
disorganized sleep that accompanies a newborn baby starts to organize around
3-4 months and while schedules will shift, by their first birthday things will
start to settle down.
In this article, we explore the typical sleep patterns and
schedules of babies during their first year of life and provide tips and
strategies to help you ensure that your baby gets the rest they need to thrive
and provide tips on how you can promote healthy sleep habits as your baby
grows.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Sleep Patterns in the First Year of Life
Know what to expect during the first year of your baby’s
life with this simple breakdown by age. It is important to note that since
sleep is bioligcial, you should use your baby’s adjusted age if they were born
early.
Sleep Patterns for Babies Aged 0-2 Months
The
sleep patterns of newborns
can be unpredictable, and they can vary
from one baby to another – it’s no wonder newborn sleep is often described as
disorganized! Naps of 10-20mins to naps lasting a couple of hours – both are
completely normal and expected. In fact, it’s sometimes easier to look at
newborn sleep over a 24 hour cycle vs daytime naps and overnight sleep – since
they need to wake to eat every 2-4 hours anyway.
Most newborns also don’t yet understand the difference
between night and day, this is because their circadian rhythm (their internal
body clock) hasn’t developed yet – hence they just aren’t biologically ready to
be ‘scheduled’.
Day and night confusion tends to resolve after a few weeks,
you can help your baby with this by offering lots of daylight during awake
hours and ensuring naps and overnight sleep are in a pitch dark sleep space.
Tracking your newborn’s sleep using the Smart Sleep Coach by
Pampers™
helps you see patterns as they emerge and will sync
sleeps with your baby’s biological rhythms – so you know when your baby’s sleep
drive is the highest and it’s time for a nap. This is an absolute life saver
during these first weeks an months!
Healthy sleep habits for your newborn:
- Follow their baby's sleep
cues, such as yawning, rubbing their eyes, or becoming fussy.
- Offer lots of daylight
during awake hours, to help with day / night confusion.
- Create a calm and quiet sleep environment, that
is pitch dark and using white or brown noise.
- Swaddle, to promote a
senses of security.
- Keep nighttime feedings
quiet and calm, to avoid overstimulating your baby.
- Always ensure your
newborn’s
sleep space is safe,
following the AAP safe sleep guidelines.
Sleep Patterns for Babies Aged 3-5 Months
Just about now your baby’s circadian rhythm is reaching
maturity and they are producing enough melatonin to better regulate bedtime.
Where as before a later bedtime may have been the norm, you want to consider
bringing bedtime earlier now, around 7pm.
With this progression, sleep patterns are adjusting and if
your baby seems to be waking more frequently during the night you may be going
through the
4-month sleep regression –
fear not, this too shall pass. Your baby is now fully waking between sleep
cycles and this can cause some sleep disruption if they don’t yet know how to
fall asleep independently.
Healthy sleep habits for babies aged 3-5 months:
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine
that includes a bath, book, or lullaby and always ends with baby drowsy but
awake.
- Use a white or brown noise machine
to help drown out loud noises and promote sleep.
- Avoid feeding or rocking your
baby to sleep, as much as possible you want to give your baby the space to
practice falling asleep on their own.
- If you’re ready to start
sleep training, it’s best to start around 4-months. Start your
free sleep consultation
now to get started!
Sleep Patterns for Babies Aged 6-8 Months
Your baby should be in a pretty solid
3-nap
schedule
just now and won’t transition to 2 naps
(dropping that 3rd catnap) until around 8 months – this transition can
benefit from an earlier bedtime to help bridge that last wake window between
nap 2 and bedtime until your baby settles into their new rhythm.
It is also very possible your baby is still
feeding
overnight
once or twice, many babies don’t night wean until closer
to 9 months of age. The great news is that overall sleep should be much more
predictable now, but if night wakings are a struggle outside of feeding, the
Smart Sleep Coach app can help you establish ‘ok to feed’ times.
Healthy sleep habits for babies aged 6-8 months:
- If your baby still needs
support to fall asleep, as much as possible try to give them the space to
practice doing that themselves.
- Encourage plenty of daytime
play and outside time to help burn off energy and fuel their sleep drive.
- Be mindful of overtiredness.
As they get ready to transition from 3 to 2 naps at
around
8 months
, move bedtime earlier to avoid them becoming overtired.
Sleep Patterns for Babies Aged 9-12 Months
By now your baby should have settled nicely into a 2-nap
sleep schedule and sleep should be somewhat more predictable. That said, their
increased mobility could be causing some disruption at night, many babies like
to practice their new found skills at bedtime, pulling up on the crib and cruising.
It’s also likely that your baby no longer feeds to feed
overnight YAY! (it goes without say that you should always check with your
pediatrician before night weaning).
That said, the
8-month sleep regression can
linger and sleep may not be where you want it to be. Start your free sleep
consultation now to get sleep back on track fast.
Healthy sleep habits for babies aged 9-12 months:
- Avoid over-stimulation
which can make it difficult for your baby to fall asleep, such as playing with
electronic toys or watching television before bed.
- Encouraging self-soothing,
if your baby isn’t already an independent sleeper, give them the space to learn
to fall asleep on their own and learn to put themselves back to sleep if they
wake up during the night.
- Regular exercise can help
your baby expend energy and sleep better at night. Engage in age-appropriate
activities that encourage your baby to move and explore.
Sleep Schedules from 0-12 months
The schedules shared below are a simply a representation
using baby sleep averages. Every baby has a slightly different sleep drive, so
your baby’s schedule may be different from what is shown. Use these as a guide
and if you have concerns about your baby’s sleep, you can always reach out to
your pediatrician.
Newborn Sleep Schedules 0-2 months old
Newborns need a lot of sleep, typically around 14-17 hours a
day, and wake up frequently to feed. Newborns aren’t biologically ready to be
scheduled, but if you use the
Smart
Sleep Coach by Pampers app
to track sleeps, the app will help you
understand your baby’s natural biological rhythms as sleep starts to organize.
As babies get closer to the 2-month mark, they may start to sleep for longer
periods at night, but it is still really important to wake your newborn to feed
every few hours!
Sample 2-month old baby sleep schedule
2-month olds follow approximately 75-90 minute wake windows
08.00am
|
Wake Up
|
09.15am
|
Nap 1
|
11.30am
|
Nap 2
|
2.00pm
|
Nap 3
|
4.30pm
|
Nap 4
|
7.15pm
|
Nap 5
|
9-9.30pm
|
Bedtime
|
Note: At this age, babies will sleep for shorter
periods throughout the day and night, with frequent waking periods to feed.
It's important to establish a consistent feeding routine but there is no need
to establish a strict sleep schedule at this age.
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might
look like? Check out our schedules for a
1-month old and 2-month old.
Babies 3-5 months old Sleep Schedule
At this age, babies typically need around 14-15 hours of
sleep per day, with most of their sleep consolidated into longer stretches at
night. By around 4-months they should be settling into a solid 3-nap schedule.
Sample 4-month old baby sleep schedule
6-7.00am
|
Wake Up – if not awake by 7am wake them up
|
09.00am
|
Nap 1
|
1.00pm
|
Nap 2
|
3.00pm
|
Catnap (don’t offer this later than 4pm and don’t let your
baby sleep past 4.30pm)
|
6-7.00pm
|
Bedtime
|
Note: At this age, babies will start to consolidate their
sleep, and have longer stretches of sleep at night with fewer nighttime
feedings. Many babies will still require one or two feedings at night until
9-months of age.
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might
look like? Check out our schedules for a
3-month old , 4-month old and 5-month old.
Babies 6-8 months old Sleep Schedule
At this age, babies typically need around 14 hours of sleep
per day, with most of their sleep occurring at night. Babies may take 2-3 naps
during the day, with each nap lasting around 1-2 hours. By 6-8 months of age, many
babies may be able to sleep through the night without waking up for feedings,
but others will still need to wake for 1-2 feedings. You can expect your baby
to transition to 2 naps by around 8 months.
Sample 8-month old baby sleep schedule
6-7.00am
|
Wake Up – if not awake by 7am wake them up
|
09.00am
|
Nap 1
|
1.00pm
|
Nap 2
|
6-7.00pm
|
Bedtime
|
Note: You can expect your baby to transition to 2 naps by
around 8 months, use an earlier bedtime to help with this change.
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might
look like? Check out our schedules for a
6-month old , 7-month old and 8-month old.
Babies 9-12 months old Sleep Schedule
Babies at this age typically need 2-3 hours of daytime sleep
across 2 naps and around 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep.
Sample 12-month old baby sleep schedule
6-7.00am
|
Wake Up – if not awake by 7am wake them up
|
09.00am
|
Nap 1
|
1.00pm
|
Nap 2
|
6-7.00pm
|
Bedtime
|
Note: Your baby’s schedule doesn’t change after 8 months
until they transition to 1-nap which won’t happen until somewhere between 15-18
months.
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might
look like? Check out our schedules for a
9-month old , 10-month old, 11-month old and 12-month old.
Common Sleep Challenges in the First Year of Life
Despite the typical sleep patterns of babies during their
first year of life, many parents find that their babies do not sleep as much or
as well as they would like. There are several reasons why babies may have
difficulty sleeping, and some of the most common challenges include:
Sleep Regressions
Sleep regressions are
periods when a baby's sleep patterns suddenly change, and they may begin to
wake up more frequently at night or have difficulty settling down to sleep.
These regressions can occur at around four months, eight months, and they are closely related to
changes in your baby's physical or cognitive development.
Sleep Associations
Sleep associations are habits or behaviors that a baby
associates with falling asleep. For example, a baby may need to be rocked or
nursed to sleep, and they may have difficulty falling asleep without these
associations. Over time, these associations can become a source of sleep
problems, as
baby
may wake up during the night
and need the same associations to fall
back asleep.
Falling asleep is a learned skill and your baby needs the
space and time to practice this skill. You can wean them off any sleep support
/ association using a consistent sleep training approach and the Smart Sleep
Coach by Pampers will guide you step by step through that process.
Teething
Teething can be a painful
process for babies, and it can cause discomfort and disrupted sleep. Teething
typically begins around six months of age, and it can last for several months,
during which time the baby may experience disrupted sleep.
Colic
Colic can also cause disrupted sleep patterns for babies.
Colic is a condition that causes a baby to cry excessively and inconsolably,
often for several hours per day. This condition can be challenging for parents
to manage, and it can make it difficult for baby to sleep.
FAQs
At what age should you start a sleep schedule?
Babies are not biologically ready to be scheduled until they
reach at least 3-4 months of age – 4-months is ideal and that’s why we
recommend sleep training starts at 4-months.
What is the 2 3 4 nap schedule?
The 2,3,4 nap schedule uses increasing wake windows to
manage your baby’s schedule – so nap 1 is 2 hours after wake up, nap 2 is 3
hours after that and bedtime is 4 hours after the end of nap 2. The problem
with this schedule is it can push bedtime into the forbidden zone, that’s why
we recommend following biological sleep waves instead.
What age needs 12 hours of sleep?
All babies 0-12 months need more than 12 hours of sleep.
What is the best baby sleep schedule?
The best sleep schedule is one that is developmentally and
biologically appropriate for your baby’s age. It should start by 7am in the
morning and follow relevant wake windows with an early bedtime.
Sources:
Baby Sleep: What to Expect in the First Year." American
Academy of Pediatrics, 2020.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Getting-Your-Baby-to-Sleep.aspx
Baby Sleep: 4-6 Months." National Sleep Foundation,
2020.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/baby-sleep-4-6-months
Baby Sleep: 7-9 Months." National Sleep Foundation,
2020.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/baby-sleep-7-9-months
Baby Sleep: 10-12 Months." National Sleep Foundation,
2020.
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/baby-sleep-10-12-months
Infant Sleep." Stanford Children's Health, 2021.
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=infant-sleep-90-P02629
Newborn Sleep Patterns: What to Expect." Mayo Clinic,
2021.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/newborn-sleep/art-20046556
Sleep Training for Babies: Techniques and Guidelines."
Cleveland Clinic, 2020.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9618-sleep-training-for-babies-techniques-and-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.