Baby sleepIn the first few weeks after birth, babies sleep much of the day and night. Most wake 2 to 3 times during the night for feeds. Show
Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults and wake or stir about every 40 minutes. By 3 months, many babies will have settled into a pattern of longer times awake during the day, and longer sleep times (perhaps 4 to 5 hours) at night. Most will still be waking once or twice during the night for feeds. Sleeping baby in a safe cot next to the parents’ bed for the first 6 to 12 months reduces the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy, including SIDS, as long as the room is smoke free. Sharing a bed with a baby for sleep has led to the deaths of some babies. Secure attachments in infancy are the base for good mental health. A major need for secure attachment is for a parent to respond to infant needs and cues. It is important not to leave your baby to cry. This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn – please change to suit your child's sex. Daytime and night time patternsVery young babies have little idea of day or night and most wake regularly around the clock every 2 or 3 hours needing a feed and attention. In the first few months it is common for babies to wake regularly at night for feeds at least 2 or 3 times. As a guide, many babies sleep 14-20 hours a day in the first weeks. By 3 months many are settled into a pattern of longer sleep times – perhaps 4 to 5 hours at night. When a baby sleeps about 5 hours straight, this is considered ‘sleeping through the night’. Ideas for settlingRoutines to get ready for sleepAt this age babies are often relaxed and sleepy after a feed. Some develop a pattern of waking often and needing a feed to settle. Some babies are helped by a daytime pattern of a feed and then settling after a small play, cuddle, talk and touch. Watch your baby’s signals for when she is alert and wanting to play and when she is sleepy. Some young babies tend to be more wakeful in the evening or night rather than during the day. It helps babies learn about day and night if you settle them at night in a quiet, dark place and don’t play with them or do anything that makes them more wakeful. Even with young babies you can start a bedtime ritual. You may sing a little song, kiss her goodnight, find the dummy (if she has one) and then give a gentle kiss with some special soft words of love when you put her down. Tired signs – sleep cuesAs you get to know your baby you will start to learn when he is sleepy and needs to be put down for sleep. Long before they can talk, babies have tired signs or sleep cues in their behaviour that show you what they need. Your baby will have his own special sleep cues but here are some that most babies have that will give you a start in watching for your baby’s cues:
If you miss the tired signs and don't help your baby to settle, your baby may get more alert and overtired and be very hard to get to relax and sleep. Signs that the baby has got overtired include being very overactive, glazed eyes, and being very quick to cry. SettlingPut your baby on his back for sleep. Often a tired newborn will accept being put into his cot while awake and will fall asleep on his own. Some new babies settle best in a quiet, dark place, others settle more easily in lighter, noisier places. Some babies are harder to settle than others and many need help to relax into sleep. Some things to try to settle your baby:
Look after yourselfAlmost all adults find interrupted sleep makes them feel tired and irritable, and relationships can suffer.
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© Women’s and Children’s Health Network, reproduced with permission. The South Australian Government does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of this reproduction. Acknowledgements Child and Adolescent Health Service – Community Health (CAHS CH) This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions. How long should I let my 3 month old stay awake?Most 3-month-old infants should be getting a total of 14 to 17 hours of sleep in 24 hours . So, that means your little one should only be awake for 7 to 10 hours per 24-hour cycle. Of course, your 3-month-old isn't going to be awake for a full 8 hours at a time.
How long should a 3 month old stay awake between naps?By 3 months of age, most babies will be sleeping around 15 hours over a 24 hour period. Between 3-6 months old, babies generally have between 3-3.5 hours of daytime sleep, spread across 3 naps, with around 12 hours overnight sleep. They will need between 2-2.5 hours of awake time between each nap and before bedtime.
Can a 3 month old be awake for 3 hours?A: The majority of 3 month olds need sleep after an awake period of 60 - 120 minutes, depending on the time of day. The amount of awake time tends to be shorter in the morning and lengthens throughout the day.
Is 3 hours too long for a baby to be awake?Newborns shouldn't stay awake very long
At about three months of age some babies still need a nap every hour or two, but some can be awake as long as three hours, if they are routinely sleeping well at night and getting good, long naps. By six months most babies can stay awake for two to three hours.
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