Perhaps the most difficult part of having a baby is adapting to their sleep patterns. Especially for parents of babies who are difficult sleepers, this process can be quite challenging. However, being careful about some issues from the first months can make it easier for parents in the future. So, how many hours a day should the baby sleep?
What should the baby’s sleeping hours be?
The baby’s sleeping hours are closely related to how old the baby is. For example, premature babies need more sleep than full-term babies. Newborn babies also sleep more than babies older than three months. As the baby grows older, the need for sleep will decrease. The following list can be made for the baby’s sleeping hours :
- Newborn babies sleep up to 20 hours a day. However, they have no concept of day and night and complete this long sleep requirement in short periods. They usually sleep more during the day than at night, so it may be advisable for the mother to sleep with the baby during the day and be ready for the night. It may also be helpful to relieve the baby’s discomfort with measures such as the use of airtight bottles and burping after feeding.
- After the first month, the newborn baby’s sleep requirement decreases to 15-17 hours. However, there is still a frequent and intermittent sleep pattern.
- 3.from one month onwards, the baby starts to use ten hours of sleep at night and five hours of sleep during the day. Two daytime naps can be taken here, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
- 6. from the month onwards, the baby is expected to sleep for at least 5 hours at night without interruption. This means that mom moves to a slightly more comfortable stage for night sleep.
- 9.after the first month of life, the baby sleeps for a long time at night without interruption. During the day there are two short sleep periods or a single daytime nap.
- 12. after one year of age, i.e. after one month, the baby starts to resist daytime naps. However, there should be at least one afternoon nap.
Why don’t babies sleep?
Basically, if the baby does not have a special health problem, it is expected to sleep if its stomach is full, its diaper is clean and its gas is removed. The most important factor that interrupts babies’ sleep is gas problems. This process can be overcome more easily with measures such as burping correctly and using bottles that do not cause gas, that is, do not leak air. If he still does not sleep, he may need to learn how to fall asleep. To help him in this regard, it may be useful to provide a dim and quiet environment, to offer a sleep companion after the 4th month and to let him sleep with the smell of mother beforehand . You can also try giving your baby a warm bath to help him/her fall asleep, massaging with baby lotion after bathing, or reading a fairy tale or singing a lullaby while showing the pages of a colorful storybook.
Misconceptions about getting the baby to sleep..
- the thesis that “if he is very tired, he will sleep more easily” is wrong. Tired babies get cranky and have difficulty sleeping. It is necessary to put the baby to sleep at the same time every day without letting the baby get tired.
- the thesis that “if the baby is full, the baby will fall asleep” is also wrong. The baby cannot sleep until the gas is released and the digestive system is relieved.
- “Let the baby get used to sleeping in light and noise” is also wrong. Because a dim, quiet environment is necessary for the baby to understand the concept of day and night and to fall asleep easily.