As a parent, we are always worried about the babies sleep pattern and few questions keep coming to our mind- how much sleep does my baby needs?
How long should she sleep for? Whether I should soothe her or CIO(Cry it out method)? Is she sleeping less or more?
How much sleep is okay for afternoon nap or night sleep? Is it okay to co-sleep or putting in the cot?
Last but not least when she will learn to sleep throughout the night !!!
For a newborn, the day and night clock is still not adjusted and for them, there is no difference in day and night but as a mom, it is really a difficult time to adjust with baby’s time clock and breastfeeding sessions.
I am sure you all the new mums will agree that with a newborn you can’t have undisrupted sleep. I used to get up after every hour to see is baby comfortable at home, sleeping or not, hungry, cold and so on..
After my 2nd one is born, I tried to recollect and compare it with my 1st one.
This is where I went wrong as no two babies are same and neither their sleep pattern is same nor the number of sleep hours.
With my son putting him to the sleep was like a big affair rocking, singing, putting off the lights and not to forget pin drop silence..shhhhh !!!!!
Sometimes even we watched the TV with mute mode but slowly he learnt to sleep and with my girl I don’t need to rock her but she soothes herself and sleeps while breastfeeding only.
She gets up at the night few times as she doesn’t take a bottle ( read hate it) and then settles down.
Babies can feel you even when they can’t see you, so don’t be surprised.
Why I am writing this because yesterday night when i put my baby on the bed and switched off the light, I hid behind the doors and my little girl was holding her head high and looking for me.
So best I did and would recommend is to see that you have a happy and cheerful baby who is active, as babies are smart to cover up their sleep in form of a nap.
Few tips and tricks which I have tried are to have the same bedtime routine so that baby is aware that now it is sleeping time for them.
Making a routine helps them – you can start with giving them a shower or pat dry before sleeping, gently massaging, putting the night suit. Everyday doing the same will make them familiar with the routine.
Singing their favourite lullaby or putting the soothing song for them. I think all Mumma have their own way to put babies to sleep. Whatever you try for babies mum is the best !!
I have searched various sites and books to find out the sleep time for babies and the approx time is somewhat like this
Babies Sleep Pattern
Age Daytime Sleep Night sleep Total Sleep
Newborn 7 hrs 30 min (2-3 naps) 8hrs 30 mins 16hrs
1 Month 6 hrs 45 min (2-3 naps) 8hrs 30 mins 15hrs 15mins
2 Months 5 hrs 30 min (2-3 naps) 10hrs 15hrs 30 mins
3 Months 5 hrs (3 naps) 10 hrs 15 hrs
6 Months 3 hrs ( 2 naps) 11 hrs 14 hrs
9 Months 2 hrs 45 mins ( 2 naps) 11 hrs 15 mins 14 hrs
12 Months 2 hrs 15 mins ( 2 naps) 11 hrs 30 mins 13 hrs 45 mins
Do remember there is nothing like spoiling your baby with carrying or cuddling them, all they need is the love and warmth they used to get inside the tummy. Babies feel comfortable and confident with this environment full of love.
Babies will not be babies forever , so treasure those lovely moments of cuddling, squeezing them..
Great guide on baby sleep patterns for all new mums