Sleep is one of the biggest challenges of early parenthood. Every baby is different, but understanding the basics of infant sleep and safety can help bring more rest and peace to your whole family.
Babies sleep 16-17 hours per day; the catch is they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time. Until newborns are back to their birth weight, I encourage families to feed at least every 3 hours, including overnight. Once they are above birth weight, feeding can be on demand with the expectation of 8-12 feedings per day for a while.
Overnight, keep the environment dimly lit, quiet and your interactions calmer and more subdued. This helps babies learn the difference between day and night. Soothe your infant with white noise, shushing, rocking, swinging, swaying, sucking on a pacifier or thumb. Some babies like to be soothed while laying on their side or stomach.
Back to Sleep: At night and naptime, always lay your infant on their back on a flat surface like a crib or bassinet. Keep soft objects including pillows, blankets, bumper pads and stuffies out of your baby’s crib for the first year of life.
Never sleep with your baby. It is not safe to share your bed with your baby.
In the first year of life, sleeping decreases to 14-15 hours and napping occurs in longer stretches. As early as 4 months, parents can begin a bedtime routine. Lay your baby down when they are drowsy but awake. The ability to fall asleep without being held is one of the first ways children learn to self-soothe.
Infant sleep cycles are only 50 minutes long which means they may stir often in the night. Waiting until they are fully awake before going to them can allow them to fall back into that deeper sleep and sleep in longer stretches. Over responding can easily train a child to be a light sleeper. By 6 months, most infants do not need to eat overnight to grow and thrive.
Formal sleep training may be helpful:
- Parental fading means placing baby to bed while awake, gradually decreasing parent involvement. Start with a hand on them, then standing next to the crib, sitting a bit away, then further away.
- Parental extinction means putting the infant in bed awake, checking on them at regular intervals until they fall asleep. An extinction burst – crying and escalated behavior – is to be expected. In the first 3-4 days, your baby may cry for about 45 minutes. Do not go to them each time they cry. Once they learn it will not get them the desired reward, they will stop.
Do not start sleep training during travel or illness. After travel, illness or teething, training may need to be repeated.
At every well-baby visit, your pediatrician or healthcare provider will discuss your baby’s sleep patterns. Between visits, reach out if sleep is a struggle. We understand how important sleep is for babies and parents! We are here to help.
This article is intended for general information and education purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
