Sleep Patterns in 0-3 Month Babies

There are moments that make life meaningful. These moments actually strengthen the will to keep going, to enjoy life and to reinvent oneself. One of the most exciting moments in life is the first time you hold your baby in your arms. Over time, this sweet excitement turns into a desire to take good care of it. The desire to take care of your baby in the best possible way is answered by meeting the needs such as sleep, nutrition, health, play and happiness in the best possible way. One of the most influential areas in a baby’s growth is sleep patterns. Sleep patterns in babies in the first three months are also important. Sleep patterns in 0 – 3 month old babies affect many issues ranging from the baby’s happiness, mental development, nutrition and growth. In addition, the first three sleep patterns in babies are also important for parents to relax. So, what should be the sleep pattern in 0-3 month old babies ? Let’s explain the first three months sleep pattern in babies by focusing on the question of how many times and how many minutes the baby should sleep a day.

About Sleep Patterns in Babies 0-3 Months

In the 0-3 month period, also known as the newborn period, the baby tries to get used to the outside world. Many things are new and very fascinating for him/her, such as the lack of a concept of day and night, sounds, smells and the feeling of fabric. Even the transition from one fabric to the texture of another is very sensitive. He is very much affected by many things such as light movements, sounds, humming, the temperature of the environment. the word “sensitivity” in every sense finds its exact equivalent in babies between 0-3 months. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. They need sleep just as much and cannot stay awake for a long time. They wake up very often at night. These frequent waking sessions can infuriate parents who want to rest or start something else while they sleep. It is best to listen, rest with them, hug, cuddle, touch, breastfeed. What you need to know about sleep patterns in 0 – 3 month old babies is as simple as that. Of course, there are some tips to help your baby fall asleep more easily, stay asleep longer and rest both you and your baby. let’s go over what you need to know about 0 – 3 month baby sleep patterns.

  • How many hours does a 0-3 month old baby sleep?

Knowing how much sleep your baby needs and the average daily sleep duration can make your job easier. But keep in mind that colic and other specific conditions may cause your baby to sleep less. Each baby’s situation is unique and a pediatrician can always give you specific information. In general, a 3-month-old baby is expected to sleep a total of 5 hours a day during the day. At night, they sleep for 10 hours. Of course, this sleep is not uninterrupted.

  • Don’t miss bedtime!

babies aged 0 – 3 months should be put down for a night’s sleep around 20:00 at the latest. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t seem sleepy. Sleeping at the same time every day helps to establish a sleep pattern over time. Also, it can be much more difficult to fall asleep if he or she is sleepy.

  • How many times a day do 0-3 month old babies sleep?

In the newborn period, it is normal for babies to sleep many times a day. They can fall asleep at least 3 times and at most 6 times during the day. They have sleep patterns where they wake up 3-4 times at night.

  • How Long Do 0 – 3 Month Old Babies Sleep at Night?

As we said above, newborn babies sleep a total of about 11-18 hours a day. they go to sleep 3 or 5 times during the day. After completing the first month, they sleep for 3 to 4 hours continuously in the 2-3 month period. This may seem like a miracle to you :)) They wake up only to feed. After feeding, they want some play and attention. After a short play, they get tired immediately and want to sleep again. For the first month, night sleep does not last very long. In fact, adults may have a hard time because they sleep intermittently at night. Newborns have no concept of day and night and wake up as often at night as during the day. The good news is that by 3 months of age, q of babies sleep through the night. They wake up at most once.

  • Where should the 0- 3 month old baby sleep?

The American Pediatric Association states that “babies should sleep in their parents’ room for the first 6 months”. In fact, many health organizations also support this information. You can also consult your specialist physician about this. In terms of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which can be seen at this stage, babies aged 0-3 months should sleep in the same room with their parents and should be checked from time to time.

  • What kind of bed should 0 – 3 year old babies sleep in?

A mother’s side bed can be the first choice. This allows the mother to wake up and breastfeed the baby easily. Other options such as a baby crib or a park bed are also suitable. The important thing is that the bed has a hard floor and that the baby does not sink into it when lying down.

How should the newborn sleep?

During the newborn period, babies sleep almost all day. However, there are also babies who sleep very little or even not at all. Insomnia in the newborn is due to environmental conditions or medical reasons such as gas or indigestion.

Newborn babies’ sleep patterns change from day to day. In fact, there is no sleep pattern for the baby yet. One day they may sleep very little and the next day they may sleep enough and even have long daytime naps. This is a very normal fluctuation, especially in the first 3 months.

What are the Considerations in Newborn Sleep Patterns?

A baby’s daily sleeping time varies according to the month and age range. Newborn, i.e. 0 – 3 months old baby sleep patterns are variable. Therefore, there is no need to worry immediately because his sleep is short or short. But in some cases, expert advice may be needed. For example, if the baby sleeps less than 45 minutes during the day, it may be useful to consult a health specialist.

Sleep Training for 0 – 3 Month Old Babies

The first three months are early for systematic sleep training. However, paying attention to some things at this stage provides comfort in the later stages. So how to do it, what should be considered for newborn sleep patterns?

  • Stay in contact with the baby. Touch him/her a lot, hug him/her, breastfeed him/her. It is important that he/she relaxes and falls asleep this way.
  • Choose a pre-ventilated, odor-free, dark and quiet room for the baby to fall asleep in.
  • Stay with your newborn while he or she sleeps. The smell of mother’s scent and the sound of her heartbeat soothes her and helps her to sleep longer. He feels it when you get up from his side. He wakes up soon, even if his sleep is deep. What he wants is mommy 🙂
  • Feed him before he goes to sleep, but burp him too.
  • The diaper should be clean and dry before going to sleep.
  • 15-20 minutes before daytime naps and 30 minutes before nighttime naps, go to the sleeping room with your baby. Your baby should always sleep in the same room during the day and at night.
  • It is also important to be careful against baby reflux. Because many babies experience reflux, especially during the first three months. Reflux is a natural result of the digestive system continuing to develop. For this reason, lying flat can negatively affect your baby’s sleep. For this reason, you can give the bed a little angle by placing a slight elevation between the mattress and the bed. There are also reflux pillows for babies, you can also use these. Thus, it is not difficult to adjust the angle.

Naturally, our priority in the first few weeks is to feed our baby. There is a strong relationship between sleep and nutrition. For example, if a breastfed baby is not burped or if a bottle-fed baby is not fed with a bottle that does not cause gas , it will also lose sleep. For this reason, it is also important to burp the baby after each feeding and to use a non-colic bottle. On the other hand, you should pay as much attention to your baby’s sleep as you do to their nutrition. remember the saying “Let him sleep and grow up”. Yes! Babies really grow by sleeping. Because many hormones in our body are secreted while we sleep. This includes growth hormone. A baby who sleeps well and rests starts the day more energized, is more eager to learn new things during the day and you can spend more quality time together.