A common question among parents is how much sleep the baby or child needs. If a child is not sleeping enough then parents worry. If the child is sleeping too much then parents worry. Even if babies sleep just the right amount parents worry. There is just something innate about being a parent that inspires worry. However, knowing how much sleep is appropriate for your baby will give you a basis of whether you should worry or not.

If you have a newborn you can anticipate that he will sleep between 16 and 19 hours per day. This sounds great, you think and are wondering why new parents complain of lack of sleep. Well, although the baby sleeps for a long time it is combined time and not straight time. Parents like to get a good eight hours of straight sleep, but babies are content with sleeping 30 minutes and then waking up to eat. Then, back to sleep for a few hours only to wake up to be changed and to eat again. This process continues all day and all night for several weeks until you can get your baby on a schedule. Even then most babies wont sleep completely through the night and allow you to get your much needed rest.

As your child grows he will not sleep quite as much. For example, by the time your newborn is 3 months old he will only sleep between 13 and 15 hours. This means that he will sleep around five combined hours during the day and the rest will be during the night hours. Again, this sounds great, but keep in mind most babies still wake up a couple of times per night to feed. Not all do, and you might be one of the lucky ones with a baby who sleeps the entire night through. Just remember that your child is healthy and developing normally.

When your child reaches six months of age he will begin to sleep even less through his first birthday. Babies this age sleep on average 12 to 14 hours per day. They will be able to sleep for longer stretches at a time because their tummies are bigger and they dont get hungry as quick.

Keep in mind that if you have a child that sleeps significantly more or less than these averages then you should discuss it with your pediatrician. If your child sleeps somewhere close to these averages then more than likely he is doing just fine. Of course, if you have any questions about your childs health then you need to ask your doctor.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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