As a new parent, you will this hear phrase way too much: “sleep when your baby sleeps.” If you have heard it already or are going through this for a second or third time, you know that simple-sounding task is impossible. It is even more unlikely as your little one experiences sleep regression or separation anxiety. There are many reasons your baby has trouble sleeping and there are a few things that you may be able to do that can help with the nighttime transition.
Jump to Sections:
- How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?
- Benefits Of Rest For Babies
- Common Reasons & Remedies
- Our Take
- Sources and Further Reading
How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?
Below is a chart that shows how babies’ daytime and nighttime sleep cycles should be balanced from newborn to one year. Of course, each baby is unique, and their unique pattern will change and develop over time. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t sleep for the recommended amount of time or if their daytime and nighttime sleep patterns aren’t balanced in this way; they will eventually settle into a routine as they get older. Some babies can get by on less sleep, while others may need more.
It is recommended that babies sleep for more than 11 hours but less than 19 when they are 0 to 3 months old, and for more than 10 hours but less than 18 when they are 4 to 11 months old. You should speak to your child’s pediatrician if you believe your baby is sleeping too much or not enough.
Benefits Of Rest For Babies
During their sleep babies grow and nurture major parts of their development process. These include physical growth, immune system development, weight gain, and mental aptitude.
Physical Growth
Babies’ and adolescents’ physical development is greatly aided by sleep. The pituitary gland releases the “growth hormone”, somatotrophin, while children are sleeping. Even though this hormone is released throughout the day, about 80% of it occurs right after a child or adolescent enters the Non-REM stage of sleep. A child’s physical development may be hampered if they don’t get the necessary amount of sleep at night.
Immune System
Even though sleep is essential for our immune systems at every age, babies’ immune systems are particularly vulnerable and need extra care. Immunity takes time to build, and sleep is a factor in this. A baby who lacks sleep is more susceptible to illness and infection, and it can slow down their recovery. A person’s ability to sleep can be hampered by illness, which can also result in interrupted sleep patterns and poorer overall sleep quality.
Mental Growth
Your baby’s brain will roughly double in size within the first year of their life. Since they are spending the majority (60-70%) of their time asleep, it is not a shock this development takes place while resting.
During sleep, memory is stabilized and we can compartmentalize most of the information we learned that day. For babies, this is a crucial part of development. This allows them to build upon learning principles, gain a better grasp of sensorimotor functions, and remember objects and people that spend the most time with them.
Common Reasons & Remedies
Here are some of the most common reasons that your baby may not be sleeping and how you can help foster an environment that comforts them. It is worth noting that every child and family routine is different. Just because your child’s issues are not on this list does not mean they are having extreme issues. If you ever feel that they are having abnormal issues, always consult your child’s pediatrician.
Your baby does not know that it is night.
Infants do not have the same sleeping cycle as adults. They doze off any time of the day and have no established sense that night should be sleeping time.
You can help your baby recognize day and night by doing the following:
- Expose your baby to the outdoors or a bright area in your house during the day.
- Play with him/her during the day to keep him/her active and treat it as playtime.
- At night, turn off lights early or use dim lights in the baby’s room to let him/her feel the change in the environment.
- Do not play active games with your little one at night as it can make him/her excited and difficult for him/her to fall asleep.
- Keep nighttime quiet and calm.
Your baby is hungry.
Just like adults, it is hard for infants to sleep when hungry. It is important to tank up your baby before sleeping at night. Even if you just fed them a few hours ago, it is good to check if they want to eat again. This helps the infant sleep longer and avoid frequent wakefulness because of hunger.
Be mindful though if your baby is below 3 months old. You cannot do much about sleeping interruption at this age. This is because newborns need feeding every 2 to 3 hours to ensure that they get enough nutrients to grow healthy and prevent dehydration. As babies get older, the number of hours they can sleep without feeding stretches.
At the age of 3 to 4 months old, babies can sleep straight for up to 6 hours without feeding. This is the time you can night wean your baby. Breastfeed or offer a bottle of milk to your child before bedtime to help him/her rest longer. Of course, this also lets you have a good snooze at night.
The little one might be too tired.
Many parents overtire their babies thinking that it would help them drowse faster. This is not good because it can only make the baby stressed and more active.
Infants should have well-balanced activities to sleep better. Play active games during the day and practice calm activities at night to help him/her nod off fast when it is bedtime. It is also important to allow your baby to nap multiple times a day as it is needed for his/her growth and development.
Your baby needs you.
Little children feel secure and comfortable with their parents. They love you more than anyone or anything else in this world and do not want to waste time sleeping. Especially when you are not beside them.
Consider room sharing with your baby instead of letting him/her sleep alone in a separate room. This helps your baby feel relaxed and sleep comfortably. It also lets you provide for your baby’s needs as quickly as possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing but not bed-sharing with an infant as the latter has risks for SIDS.
While the Montessori method is currently working for us, it is certainly not the end-all-be-all of sleep and play-time practices. Find a method and schedule that works well for you and focus on it.
The AAP suggests giving your baby 4 to 5 days to get any sort of schedule down, especially nighttime routines.
They are not feeling well.
Be patient when your baby is being fussy at night and refuses to sleep. They might be teething, having a cold, allergies, gas in the belly area, or constipation. Any of these discomforts can make it hard for babies to fall asleep or easily awaken.
Check your child’s gums for redness and inflammation to see if they are teething. You can make him/her feel better by offering a teether to bite or applying teething paste to ease the pain. For gas, gently massage the infant’s tummy. There are baby massage videos you can find on YouTube which are helpful.
If you suspect allergies, fever, or other signs that might indicate sickness, it is best to talk with your pediatrician.
Sleep is critical for you and your baby. While it helps your baby to grow healthy, you need to be physically, emotionally, and mentally present to take care of your little one and family. Inadequate sleep can contribute to stress, parental burnout, and postpartum depression. Additionally, it can be hard to catch up with everyday activities if you lack sleep.
Our Take
You spend the most time with your baby. So, you probably know what they are dealing with and how they are coping with change and routines. Taking this list we made into account, I hope that it helps you (1) understand what your child is going through as a newborn and (2) that it may allow you to make better decisions when it comes to their health and development.
Just to reiterate, every child is different. No two children grow and develop the same. Which is amazing and makes them unique. It also means that you shouldn’t compare your child or your situation to others.
If this list didn’t include a specific situation you and your partner are dealing with, please reach out to a pediatrician for more information. They can give you the best ways forward to handle newborn sleep methods.
If you as a parent are having issues sleeping, please check out our article on Parental Sleep Deprivation. We discuss some reasons and remedies for parents. Parents need some help sometimes too!
Sources and Further Reading
“Newborn Infants Learn During Sleep” from the National Library of Medicine (2021)
“Somatosensory Prediction In The Premature Neonate Brain” from the National Library of Medicine (2022)
“Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?” HealthyChildren.org (2020)
“How Important is Sleep for a Child?” from BabySleepAcademy.com (2012)
“How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?” from SleepFoundation.org (2023)
“The Important of Sleep In A Baby’s First Year” from BlueBellBabyMonitor.com (2020)
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