Healthy sleep patterns start with a sleep schedule - even for infants. Many sleep problems have a solution as long as you ask for help. Never hesitate to see your doctor if you have questions about your baby’s sleep schedule or sleep issues. Why is an infant sleep schedule important?Īn infant sleep schedule is predictable, and predictability comforts babies, easing the transition from the busy daytime to the lull of bedtime.Ī sleep schedule featuring bedtime and naptime routines paves the way for eventually teaching your baby to fall asleep on her own and sleep through the night. A little trial and error can help you figure out what works for your baby. Remember that kids aren’t predictable, so your baby’s sleep schedule will evolve with time. If she continues fussing, try to check on her without picking her up. Instead, wait a few minutes to see if she can fall back asleep on her own. Once babies are about 3 months old, they’re capable of self-soothing, so don’t jump to pick up your baby if she fusses during the night or during naps. After your baby’s afternoon nap, it’s tummy time and babbles in the rocker. You might want to wake up in the morning with cuddles and a feed, followed by a walk in the stroller or carrier. A daytime routine can even make bedtime go smoother. Babies feel comforted by the additional structure and rhythm of a rough daytime schedule, including the same waking time, nap times, feeding times and play times. Incorporate a schedule throughout the rest of your day.Abbreviate that routine (include just a book or a lullaby, for example) before naptime. ![]() A good baby bedtime routine might include a feeding with cuddles, bath, book, massage and lullaby. Routines are reassuring to babies and reinforce natural circadian rhythms, signaling that it’s time to go to sleep. If the drowsy drop-off doesn’t work just yet, keep trying! The goal is to put your baby down when she’s drowsy but not yet asleep, so she has a chance to learn how to fall asleep without help from you. Keep an eye out for cues that your baby is tired, like eye-rubbing, yawning or crankiness. Try to adjust your baby’s sleep schedule accordingly, sticking to her natural rhythms as much as possible. When it comes to implementing routines, your baby may prefer things highly planned or more go-with-the-flow. For example, newborns are only truly awake and alert for about three minutes of every hour, 1-month-olds for about an hour at a time and 3-month-olds for up to two hours at a stretch. Become familiar with your baby's sleep patterns and "wake windows." Keep a sleep log to get an idea of when your baby usually sleeps so you can schedule naps and bedtime accordingly, and keep track of her "wake windows," or the amounts of time babies can handle being awake, which vary by age. ![]() Newborn babies can’t follow a sleep schedule, but it’s possible to implement a loose eating and sleep timetable once your baby is 2 months old based on her personality and snoozing habits. The following tips can help ease your baby into a regular sleep schedule: 10–12-month-old sleep schedule Tips for how to get baby on a sleep schedule.Here are some more detailed sample sleep schedules for babies between the ages of 2 months and 10–12 months: Keep in mind that if your newborn doesn’t wake on her own during the night, you’ll need to wake your baby to eat every two to three hours. Be sure to check with your pediatrician about when it's okay to let your baby consistently sleep for four or more hours at a time. ![]() Your baby will sleep for two to three hours at a time, then gradually three to four hours at a stretch. That means you can’t expect to put your infant on a newborn sleep schedule just yet.Įxpect your newborn to sleep between 14 and 17 hours (give or take) over a 24-hour period. Since your newborn spent the last nine months in the cozy confines of your dark womb, she won’t understand when it’s daytime or nighttime for the first few weeks of life. Can you put a newborn on a sleep schedule?
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