Baby Sleep Patterns that Baby Haters Don't Know

A newborn baby may sleep as much as eighteen to twenty hours per day, but as any new parent will tell you, this is done in short amounts of time. A newborn baby doesn't have the ability to fall into a deep sleep for long periods of several hours like an adult can. Newborns have periods of light sleep as well as deep sleep, just as adults do. However, newborns don't spend a lot of time in deep sleep, so they awaken easily.

Remember, a newborn baby's tummy is small, and she will be hungry every two to three hours. This doesn't allow for very long periods of sleep. Once your baby has been fed and her diaper is dry, you can help her go to sleep by rocking her, cuddling her, singing to her, etc. The trick is to put her down once she is asleep.

Many parents are surprised at how their babies appear to be deeply asleep only to wake suddenly as soon as their head hits the mattress. What happened? Well, although your baby appeared to be in a deep sleep, she was actually only in a light sleep. If you want to test your baby's level of sleeping before you lay her down, try lifting an arm or a leg. If it is floppy and you can drop it without waking baby, she is probably in a deep sleep, and you'll have a much easier time laying her down. Until your newborn is a little older, you will need to help her go to sleep.

By the time your baby is three or four months old, he should have his days and nights straightened out. He should be sleeping about nine or ten hours at night and taking at least three naps during the day.

He may still be waking up at least once at night to eat, especially if he goes to bed early. This nighttime feeding should taper off, however, as your baby nears his six month's birthday. By the time he is six months old, he should be sleeping through the night, even though he may be an early riser. He should also be taking two good naps during the day, although he may need another short nap in the evening to tide him over till bedtime.

Once your baby passes six months of age, you should eventually begin to see that she is able to stay awake for even longer periods during the day. She still needs at least two good naps during the day, and she still may need a short catnap in the evening, especially if she doesn't go to bed until eight o'clock or so.

You may notice that she stays awake for two to three hours at a stretch during the day before she needs another nap. Her nighttime sleeping should last nine to eleven hours at night, and while she may wake up during the night, she doesn't need to be fed. As long as she is well, warm, and comfortable, you shouldn't go to her when she awakens. Let her learn to settle herself back to sleep.

Once your baby is nearing his first birthday, he should be taking two good naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You probably don't want him to sleep past four o'clock or so in the afternoon if you are putting him to bed by eight o'clock at night. However, each child is different, and you will know what is best for your child. Your baby will also be sleeping close to eleven hours at night.

At 1 year, the bedtime struggles begin. Your baby is so excited by her new abilities to move, say words, and feed herself that settling down for bed gets harder and harder. She may tease you and try to get you to come pick her up and she's so cute that she's hard to resist! Maintain your bedtime routine, though, as this structure will help you both in the coming months.

The typical 1-year-old will sleep between 10 and 12 hours at night and take a couple of one- to two-hour naps during the day. As always, the amount of sleep depends on the individual baby.

Many children adopt a "lovey," a blanket or stuffed animal, to help them settle. This is a positive step toward independence. A pacifier is a bad choice and should be removed at this age.

Tip: You may notice that your baby's afternoon nap is getting a little shorter, but that she seems content to play in her crib a bit before calling for you to come get her. Put a few small toys in her crib to encourage this behavior. But make sure they're not too big - she could learn how to stack them and climb out of her crib.

Life is so fun and intense for your 1-and-a-half-year-old that going to sleep is the last thing she wants to do. She needs your help to quiet down at night so she can get her much-needed rest.

Babies at 18 months typically need 13 hours of sleep every 24 hours. This is often less sleep than their parents think - and wish - they needed.

Because sleeping needs are different from child to child, you'll have to figure out what's right for your child. Here are a few suggestions to help you out:

* Your child may soon need only one nap each day. But she will probably need two rest periods, even if one is short.
* Many kids in day care get two naps, even if they don't need them. That means your child will need less sleep at night. If you don't want to deal with a late bedtime or early wake-up time, you may want to talk to your day care provider about changing the amount of sleep your toddler gets during the day.
* If you have an older child, she may actually need an earlier bedtime than your 18-month-old. This is especially true if the older one doesn't nap during the day. Your baby's naptime is a good chance to spend some quality one-on-one time with your other child(ren).

Tip: A bottle at night is a bad habit. It's bad for your toddler's teeth and her ears, and if it becomes part of her routine, she'll always need it to fall asleep, even when she wakes up in the middle of the night. Get rid of it now if you haven't done so already. Find out more about baby feeding and sleeping.

Your 2-year-old is still trying to bend the rules to be sure they're real, and struggles over getting to sleep are common. Your toddler doesn't want to leave you or her exciting day. What to do? Establish rituals and routines for bedtime. It's the best way to encourage good sleeping habits and still make her feel secure.

Different toddlers need different amounts of sleep. But in general, 2-year-old need 13 hours of sleep per 24 hours. Typically, they'll sleep 11 to 12 hours at night, with maybe one nap each afternoon of one to two hours.

Toddlers are big on refusing to go to bed. Being consistent every day about bedtime rules and routines is the best way to teach your child good sleeping habits and make things easier on you. Here are a few tips:

* Start winding down after dinner. Slowing the pace for yourself and your child will help make the transition to bedtime easier. Reading, singing, and quiet play are better than running around.
* Keep the before-bed routine short and sweet. Bathing, brushing teeth, and going to the bathroom shouldn't take more than a half hour or so. Any longer and your child will start getting wound up and you'll start getting frustrated.
* Your toddler will probably refuse to go to bed at least some of the time. Be firm and consistent about bedtime rules.
* Toddlers don't need their own rooms. In fact, many children this age sleep more soundly with someone else in the room. Another child between the ages of 3 and 5 would make a good roommate. Older children can usually sleep very well through almost any kind of ruckus.

Tip: Leave a book or one other quiet toy in your child's bed so she can amuse herself for a little while after awakening. She can't understand the concept of "too early," but you can tell her to stay in her room until the light comes in the window or she hears you say good morning (or some other specific signal).

Obviously, your baby won't follow these guidelines exactly, and there may be periods in which your baby gets out of his routine. If you have moved to a new house or just returned from a vacation, it may take your child a little while to fall back into his routine. Likewise, if he has been sick, it may take a few days for him to get back into his regular sleep patterns. Just be patient and work with your child. By following the simple guide about the baby sleep patterns, even the baby haters can turn into the baby lovers. No doubt about it. The baby will become a sleepy little angel again in no time.