Sleep is a kind of skill that every one of us needs to learn – you can’t just switch it on and off – and it is one of the primary skills that you should teach your little one as well.
Most of the children below the age of five do not have this vital skill, and around 30 percent of these children tend to have serious sleep-related issues.
We may slow down when we are tired, but the opposite occurs when a kid or baby gets tired, and they will get energetic and become more active.
Everyone has different requirements of sleep, but you need to know the average amount you’re your baby should get. You may wonder ˝How much sleep does the baby need? ˝
Some babies need a lot more sleep, and others need slightly less.
Having a sound and uninterrupted sleep at night is of great worth for babies since, it allows them to recharge the energy of their minds and body.
Moreover, it will be such a pleasure for you to see your baby sleep well all through the night.
Table of Contents
Why is sleep important for babies?
Sleep is one of the things that are important to the health and well-being of your child.
Good sleep habits begin right from birth. Babies who fail to get enough sleep may have to face trouble in being active during the day.
During the night, they may find it challenging to settle. Sleep plays a vital role in the growth of young minds.
Besides having a direct effect on happiness, studies show that sleep impacts alertness and attention, mood, cognitive abilities, resiliency, vocabulary buildup, learning, and robust memory.
Sleep also has significant effects on physical development, especially in the beginning days of infancy.
In toddlers, napping seems to be essential for memory development, executive attention, and the development of motor skills.
How much sleep should babies have by age?
Sleep is of supreme importance for young babies.
In the early days of life, an individual has to experience extensive development that impacts the mind, body, emotions, and behavior and sets the base for their continuous growth throughout the childhood and teenage years.
In light of the perks mentioned above, it’s usual for parents to want to ensure that their children get enough or the right amount of sleep.
After arranging a panel of experts to review the current research, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) has defined the limits for total daily sleep needs by age.
| Age Range | Recommended Hours of Sleep | |
| Newborn | 0-3 months old | 14-17 hrs |
| Infant | 4-11 months old | 12-15 hrs |
| Toddler | 1-2 years old | 11-14 hrs |
| Preschool | 3-5 years old | 10-13 hrs |
| School-age | 6-13 years old | 9-11 hrs |
These ranges include total sleep hours, including sleep at night and during naps.
The experts at National Sleep Foundation observed that these are broad recommendations, and some children may find one hour more or less as appropriate.
Therefore, parents do not need to follow these guidelines strictly, but they can use them as a target while being aware of the fact that a healthy amount of sleep may differ for every child or from day to day.
In the light of these recommendations, sleep needs change according to the age of a child.
A range of other factors may also affect the appropriate amount of sleep for babies and children. Therefore, parents must be aware of all the details that allow them to encourage healthy sleep time for their children.
Can infants sleep too much?
Inside the comfort of a mother’s womb, a baby spent most of the time sleeping. This is due to the warmth and coziness with which they are surrounded there.
Once born, you may observe that your baby sleeps for most of the day.
A newborn tends to sleep too much, whether she’s a newborn or an older baby.
But generally, an infant who sleeps all day is of more concern as compared to an older baby who is sleeping too much, which typically only occurs when she is not well or has had a hectic day.
How do I ensure my baby gets the right amount of sleep?
There are multiple ways that can help you to ensure if your baby is getting the right amount of sleep or not, for example, by observing the following signs of “over-tiredness” or “sleep deprivation” in young babies.
- A visible lack of interest in the surrounding environment and people
- Hand gestures, for instance, they rub their eyes and pull their ears more frequently
- Frequent yawning
- Fluttering eyelids
Signs of “over-tiredness” in case of older babies and toddlers:
- Becoming more accident-prone
- Becoming more “insecure.”
- Evolving extra active as the night approaches
Following are some signs of overtiredness in babies that are supported through scientific literature.
- Hard to recover from negative emotions
- Feeding issues
- Finding difficulties in being awaken
- Becoming more sensitive to pain
How many naps should a baby take?
The age of the baby defines the number of naps that she should get. Infants should get three to five naps per day or even more.
Babies in the 4-to-6-month range should get two to three naps per day. And babies of 6-12-month age should get two naps per day.
Your baby’s sleep times and routines tend to vary significantly within the first year. Your baby will sleep between 14 and 17 hours per day, and most of it during the day, particularly in those initial weeks and months.
But, I will suggest you don’t get used to it. As your baby reaches the 3-month of age, she may be sleeping for a few hours at a time, many times a day, then one or two hours over two naps as he approaches his first birthday.
As you go through the initial days, weeks, and months with your little one, you will observe that she gets on the right track when she gets the right amount of sleep.
Conclusion
I hope this discussion on “how much sleep does the baby need?” has been helpful to you. If you are still feeling on the fence or have any unanswered queries, please let me know below in the comment section. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.