One Month Old's Sleeping Patterns
A one-month-old baby may sleep two to three hours between feedings. Sometimes babies this age will sleep as many as five hours at a time at night.
Some babies begin sleeping through the night at a few months of age. Others don't sleep through the night until they are one or two years old or even older. Sometimes babies will sleep through the night for a while and then start waking up again. You can usually let your baby set his own schedule. If he is waking up too much, ask your doctor for advice.
Some babies want to sleep more in the daytime and as a result they wake more often at night. One thing parents can do to change this is to keep the baby awake during the day. Talk to him. Read to him. Play with him gently. Let him grasp your fingers or a toy. Keeping him awake more during the day may help him sleep longer at night.
As babies get older, they usually sleep longer at night. They stay up more during the day. As he grows, you will see changes in your baby's sleep habits.
You want to keep your baby safe when he sleeps. Research shows that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death. If your baby has a health problem, your doctor may tell you to put him in another position. Otherwise, always put your baby to sleep on his back.
Two Month Old's Sleeping Patterns
Two-month-old babies usually sleep better at night. By now, your baby most likely has a routine for sleeping and eating. Probably she goes at least three hours without a feeding. A baby this age usually sleeps longer than a newborn at night, but each baby is different.
After you feed your baby, hold her and rock her for a while. You can put her to bed at night when she is quiet, even if she is not asleep. You can sit down beside her and pat her gently or sing softly. Doing this will help an active baby learn to calm herself down. She may want to suck a pacifier or her thumb or finger as she gets sleepy.
Every baby will have her own pattern. Every baby will have different things she likes to help her to go to sleep.
Three Month Old's Sleeping Patterns
Your Baby Is Sleeping Longer at Night
You can start putting your baby to bed while he is still awake. Remember to put him to sleep on his back. Let him go to sleep on his own, alone. When he awakens during the night, he sometimes may go back to sleep on his own. This is much easier on the parents!
Every baby will have a different sleep pattern. By now, most babies are in a routine. At three months, a baby naps about five hours during the day. He sleeps longer at night. He may wake up at night to be fed. You don't have to wake your baby for feedings at night. If your baby sleeps through the night, he will feed more often during the day.
Some babies begin sleeping through the night at a few months of age. Others don't sleep through the night until they are one or two years old or even older. Has your baby been sleeping in the same room with you? This is a good age to move him into another room, if possible.
Your Five Month Old's Sleep
A five-month-old baby may sleep for longer periods of time, like five to eight hours. But babies are individuals. Each baby has his own sleep patterns.
Babies are not always awake when they sound like they are. They can cry out and may make all kinds of noises in their sleep. Even if they wake up at night, babies may be awake for only a few minutes. They may fall asleep again on their own.
Don't get up right away if you hear your baby at night. It's best if your baby learns how to get back to sleep on his own. If your baby cries for several minutes, it's time to respond. He could be hungry, wet, cold or even sick.
When you get up to take care of him, do it as quietly and quickly as you can. Don't give him any extra stimulation. Don't talk or play with him. Don't even turn on the light. He needs to learn that night is for sleeping. Your baby doesn't care what time it is, as long as he gets what he needs.
Falling Asleep on Her Own
If your five or six month old wakes in the night and cries for you, wait for about five minutes. She may be able to fall back to sleep by herself. If her crying continues, go to her. Speak softly to her to comfort her. You can rub her stomach, but don't pick her up.
If she needs a diaper change or seems sick, take care of that. Avoid feeding her unless you think she is truly hungry. Then tell her it is time to sleep, and leave her alone. Don't play with her, or she will begin to expect you to play every night.
Most babies will learn to fall back to sleep by themselves. Babies who wake up a lot or cry for a long time during the night may be sick. Talk with your doctor or clinic about what to do.
Try this idea as you train your baby to fall asleep on her own:
- Your baby needs to learn how to fall asleep by herself. You can help her by doing the same things each night when you put her to bed. Doing the same things before bedtime will help her know that it is time to sleep.
- At the same time each night, rock her for a few minutes and sing to her or read her a book. Don't let her fall asleep in your arms. As she gets sleepy, put her down in her bed. Put a favorite toy in bed with her. Stay with her for a moment. Then leave her alone to fall asleep by herself.
Older Infant's Sleeping Patterns
The ordinary, loving things you do every day with your baby are routines. Putting him to bed, changing diapers, bathing and feeding are the most common ones. Routines help your baby feel loved and safe. Routines can also be times for learning.
By nine months, most babies sleep about 13 hours a day. They may have a long night sleep of about 10 hours, a short morning nap and a longer afternoon nap. A nine-month-old may stay awake past regular sleep times. This happens when your baby is excited, involved in activities or just doesn't want to be away from you.
Avoid sleep problems by building routines that help your baby move from active play to restful sleep. You can turn down the lights and background noise like the TV or music. Your baby will be more likely to go to bed if he doesn't think he'll miss something exciting.
Create a routine. This could include a soothing bath, a bedtime story and good-night kisses to family members. Give him a stuffed animal, a special blanket or other "snuggly." Put it and your baby into bed. If you use a crib, keep the sides up and securely fastened.
Don't be surprised if he doesn't go to sleep right away. He may babble to himself and later fall asleep on top of the covers. Let him form his own comfort habits - rocking or sucking a thumb, for example. These habits help him put himself to sleep.
For more information about dads and their baby's first year, get The Everything® Father's First Year Book by Vincent Iannelli, MD, which is published by Adams Media and is now available at your favorite bookstore.
You can also order The Everything® Father's First Year Book right now from amazon.com.