For The Sleep-less and always sleepy moms

[Amber1975]

Sleeping properly is one of the main causes of good growth and development,but making your baby /toddler to have good sleep is often the most difficult part of parenting.

Toddlers are increasingly aware of their surroundings, so distractions might disrupt them at bedtime. Their growing imaginations can start to interrupt sleep, too. Now more than ever, a simple and consistent bedtime routine is a parent's best bet for getting a sleepy toddler snugly into bed.

Toddlers and Sleep

You're the best judge of how much sleep your child needs. Most toddlers between the ages of 1 and 2 require about 10-13 hours of sleep a day. Whether all these hours are slept at night or split up between nighttime sleeping and daytime naps is up to you.

Some parents find that their kids need that sleep during the day. Others find that daytime napping interferes with a good night's sleep and that a rest period (quiet playing or reading) works better. If this occurs, you may want to combine two short naps into one or do away with naps altogether. That's OK- kids don't need to nap every single day.

For more on toddlers and sleep

Sleep and your 1-3 months old

Your baby's sleep phases are much the same as your own: drowsiness, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, and very deep sleep. Your baby might start sleeping through the night now - but the definition of "sleeping through the night" at this age is a stretch of only 5 hours!                

 

 

 

How Long Will My Baby Sleep?

Since babies are more alert and aware of their immediate surroundings during the daylight hours, they're more inclined to sleep during the night, especially if parents fight the urge to play or talk to their baby during nighttime feedings or diaper changes.

Your baby is adapting to the sleep-wake cycle that parents favor, and the baby's stomach is growing and holding more breast milk or formula. At 3 months of age your baby will likely sleep about 15 hours out of each 24-hour period, and two thirds of that sleep will take place during the night.

For more on1-3 months old baby sleep

Sleep and your 4-7 months old

By this age, your baby should be well on the way toward an established sleep pattern. Most likely the pattern includes at least two naps a day, plus at least 7 or 8 hours of nighttime sleep.

During these months, your baby will learn to roll over and position himself or herself for sleep. Toward the end of this period, your little one may be able to stay awake or be kept awake by surroundings, so this is the time to instill good sleep habits by sticking to a bedtime routine.

How Long Will My Baby Sleep?

While the average number of hours slept per day at this age is 14, the range of normal is quite wide, with some babies sleeping only 9 hours and others sleeping as much as 18.

The average amount of daytime sleep now is 3-4 hours. Some babies will nap 20 minutes, others will sleep much longer than average.

For more on 4-7 months old sleep

Sleep and your 8-12 months old

Though your baby is beginning to develop in so many positive ways, certain sleep problems may start to crop up near the first birthday. These are often due to your baby's increased awareness of "separateness" from you. Stranger anxiety and separation anxiety are two normal stages of development that can occur during this time, and they can interfere with much-needed nighttime sleep for you and your baby.

This may mean tears and tantrums when you try to leave your child in the crib at night - and more sleep interruption when your baby wakes up and looks around for some sign that you're near. This is also the age when night terrors can appear. These can be more "terrifying" for the parent than the baby if you're not sure what is happening.

It can be difficult to respond to your 8- to 12-month-old's nighttime needs with the right balance of concern and consistency, but remember: This is the time to set the stage for future restful nights for the whole family. The important thing now is to try to keep the sleep experience a positive one for your baby and to be consistent with your response to wakefulness at night.

How Long Will My Baby Sleep?

While the average amount of sleep per day at this age is 13 to 14 hours, the range of normal is still quite wide at this stage.

Your baby is probably still taking two naps a day - one in the morning and another sometime after lunch. The average length of a nap now is about 1 hour. Some babies will nap 20 minutes, others a few hours. Naps help prevent your baby from becoming too cranky to sleep well at night, so it is important that they be long enough.

For more on 8-12 months old

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