What is Answerbag?

Ask questions and share your knowledge with the world here on Answerbag. Get the best answers where there are no duplicate questions and questions are always open - our community of over 1,142,000 will find your answer!

Join For Free!
 

How to Calculate How Much Sleep a Baby Needs

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Related Tags: sleep | babies | baby | routine | day
 

Instructions

  • Step 1:
    Newborn babies nearly sleep the days and nights away and can sleep in excess of 16 hours per day! Preterm babies may require more sleep than full term babies. Babies with jaundice or other medical issues may sleep more.
  • Step 2:
    Babies aged 3 to 6 months sleep about 13 to 16 hours per day. Their sleep is divided between night sleep and daytime naps. By the end of six months, your baby should be sleeping about five to six hours straight over the course of the night and sleep smaller stretches throughout the day.
  • Step 3:
    Babies aged 6 to 12 months sleep about 12 to 14 hours per day. During this phase, babies begin to transition to a sleep schedule, working towards taking two naps per day.
  • Step 4:
    If your baby tends to fall asleep off and on throughout the day, chances are your baby isn't getting enough quality sleep. By 3 months of age you should be working toward securing a sleep routine for your baby. Your routine should include creating a calm and soothing sleep environment, a bedtime routine and a consistent time for putting your baby to bed.

Tips & Warnings

  • Always put your baby to sleep on her back and avoid using loose bedding.

Resources


Related Content
Restless Sleeping in Babies
Restless sleeping might be one of the more frustrating problems parents can encounter. Each baby has different sleeping patterns. Be patient and try different techniques until you find something...
How Many Hours Do Children Need to Sleep?
Babies are born with no internal clock to regulate their sleep. It is important to maintain a good sleep schedule for your child, so he learns healthy sleep habits as he grows up. As individuals,...
How Much Sleep Should Babies Get?
Your baby's age and temperament both play a role in determining how much sleep he needs. Here are some guidelines on the appropriate amounts of shuteye for babies of various ages.
Does My Baby Sleep Too Much?
During their first year if life, infants typically have irregular sleep patterns. This is especially true during the first two months. Here we describe the typical sleep patterns of babies through...
How to Break a Newborn Baby out of Sleeping Habits
Newborn babies can sleep up to 16 hours per day. (See Reference 1) Typically a baby will take several naps that can range from two to four hours in length. Unfortunately, the sleep habits of your...