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Babies are full of surprises, aren’t they? One moment they are giggling and laughing, full of energy and life, and the next moment they doze off to a good night’s sleep. They don’t have the same sleep schedule as adults, which gives them zombie-like energy during the day and werewolf-like energy at night. Just living on the extremes! However, many first-time parents often get confused and a bit worried seeing such behavior from their bundle of joy. So, what’s the right amount of sleep a baby should have, is it okay for them to sleep all day, or what can you do to make them sleep effortlessly, if they are being too grumpy? We’ll answer all of these questions and even more in this article. So read along to find out more.
How Much Sleep Does Your Little One Need?
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Starting with the most important one, this one has been on every parent’s mind. So, the simple and scientifically approved answer is, your baby needs at least 12 to 16 hours of sleep during the first 12 months of life.
But do these sleeping hours need to be taken in a stretch? Well, the answer is, absolutely not. Have a quick look at the age, total sleep hours, and number of naps which are pretty ideal for a baby’s healthy development.
- Babies up to four months old should get at least 15-16 hours of total sleep in 24 hours with 8-9 naps during the day and 7 or 8 consecutive nighttime sleeping intervals per night.
- Babies from 4 – 12 months need 14 -15 hours with two nap periods totaling 3 – 5 hrs.
- 1-year-olds should have 13 –14 hrs including 2 naps totaling about 3hrs.
Now that you know how many sleeping hours are good for your baby, let’s focus on another confusing question, ie., is it okay for your baby to sleep all day long?
How Much Sleep Is Too Much Sleep For Your Baby?
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Just like food, it’s important to make sure your baby is getting enough sleep. But how much is too much? It can be tricky to know when your baby has had enough rest and needs some playtime instead. Babies need different amounts of sleep depending on their age, but generally, they should get between 10-18 hours each day. So, if you notice that your little one takes naps for more than two or three hours at a time during the day or sleeps longer than 18 hours in total, then it might be time for them to wake up and have fun.
However, if they seem excessively tired or cranky when they awake then there may be something else going on that needs attention from the doctor or pediatrician. It could also mean they aren’t getting enough stimulation during their waking hours which can affect development as well as moods over time. So don’t forget to add a little time for fun activities with your baby, to keep their mood fresh all day long and help them develop at an ideal speed.
How To Make Your Baby Sleep Effortlessly?
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It wouldn’t be wrong to say that babies have more mood swings than anyone. And getting them to sleep in a jiffy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So what can you do as a parent to make your baby fall asleep without much tantrums? Well, here’s a list of things you can do to make sure your baby gets ample sleep hours and you get less drama.
- Make A Sleep-Friendly Environment
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Make sure the room where your baby sleeps isn’t too hot or cold. So if necessary, use fans or air conditioning units as needed to keep things just right. Also, ensure that there’s minimal noise in the area, this will help lull them into slumber without any distractions from outside sources like traffic or neighbors talking loudly. You should choose cozy bedding with plenty of blankets so they can snuggle up tight before drifting off peacefully.
- Plan A Baby-Sleep Schedule And Stick To It
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You should also establish a consistent sleep routine with regular naps throughout the day and night-time sleep at regular intervals each evening. Although this might take some trial and error it will not only give you both structure but also help babies learn when it’s time for rest versus playtime which makes life easier down the road.
- Calm Them Down With Your Voice
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One way to make them fall asleep is by using your voice and singing or humming a lullaby. Lullabies are great because they often include repetitive words, making them easier for babies to understand. They also usually contain slower tempos which further encourage relaxation, making them perfect when getting baby ready for bedtime snoozes.
We hope all your questions related to newborn sleeping patterns have been answered today. If you do have any more questions or suggestions regarding a baby’s sleep schedule, don’t forget to drop them in the comment section. Happy parenting!
Sources:
- Infant sleep and its relation with cognition and growth, NCBI
- Comparing the effectiveness of mother’s live lullaby and recorded lullaby on physiological responses and sleep of preterm infants: a clinical trial study, NCBI
