Newborn baby sleep and facts you may not know

Newborns need sleep to grow well. But newborns' sleep needs vary, just like older children and adults. Your baby may sleep more or less than other babies his age. Here's what you need to know about your newborn's sleep cycle .

Newborn baby's sleep needs by stage

A baby's sleep cycle will change during the first year of life, including the number of hours of sleep needed and the amount of sleep during the day and night.

• 0 to 4 months: Newborns' sleep needs vary widely and can range from 11 to 19 hours in a 24-hour day, broken up into shorter periods to accommodate feedings, diaper changes and family interactions. Parents should not be concerned if their newborn's sleep patterns do not match expectations, as these periods can change.
• 4 to 6 months: Starting around 4 months of age, your baby's daily sleep needs decrease to 12 to 16 hours. Around this time, sleep also begins to consolidate into longer periods of time as your baby can no longer feed. At some point during this period, most babies begin sleeping through the night, but there are exceptions.
• 6 to 12 months: From 6 months onwards, babies sleep most of the night. However, other issues such as teething, growth spurts, illness or sleep disorders can start to lead to nighttime waking. Parents may choose to use more specific sleep training strategies if their baby is not sleeping through the night at this stage.

Sleep is essential for human development. During sleep, the brain is highly active, laying the foundation for how we learn and develop, including behavioral, emotional, and immune system development. Poor sleep in infants has been linked to problems with cognition, social skills, obesity, and quality of life later in childhood.

Babies will often let you know they are ready to sleep by fussing, yawning, or rubbing their eyes. You can use these cues to establish a schedule that works for them. Not establishing a consistent sleep schedule can have negative effects on your baby’s health or be a warning sign of an underlying problem.

A realistic goal is to help your child sleep through the night consistently by the time they are a year old. As they grow into toddlers and school-age children, their sleep needs will become more like those of adults.

How to help your baby sleep well

Establishing a consistent routine is key to helping your baby learn to sleep through the night. During the first few months, your baby's sleep schedule will largely depend on his or her feeding habits. However, as your baby gets older, he or she will be able to go longer between feedings. At this point, you can start to stick to a day-night sleep schedule.

To help your baby establish a healthy circadian rhythm, start by making sure he gets plenty of daylight and stimulation during the day. While newborns need plenty of sleep during the day, you can experiment to find a nap schedule that will keep him settled into a nighttime sleep without over-tiring him. Before bed, try to create a calm atmosphere and follow the same bedtime routine every night. The following routines can help your baby associate nighttime with sleep:

• Take a shower
• Change pajamas and diaper
• Read a book
• Lullaby
• Nighttime feeding (but make sure baby doesn't fall asleep while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding)
• Kiss good night
• Dim the lights
• Reduce temperature by 1-3 degrees
• Create a quiet environment

An important part of developing healthy sleep habits for your baby is teaching him to fall asleep on his own. Many babies find comfort in being held or cuddled, but it's best to put your baby down before he actually falls asleep. This way, he'll be less anxious if he wakes up in the night and you're not there. He'll be able to fall back asleep without your help.

The Truth About Baby Sleep