

Healthy sleep habits for your preschooler: They may also wake up during the night from nighttime fears or nightmares. You can use that time-often after lunch-as quiet time for your child to read and relax.Īt this age, it’s common for children to have some sleep problems and to resist going to bed. Some children give up daytime naps altogether during this period. Some days they may need a nap, while other days they may not. As your child approaches 3 years old, they will probably be on one nap a day, but many will still have a second nap at some point in the day. Preschoolers typically sleep about 10 to 13 hours a day.
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This helps your baby learn how to self-soothe, an important step toward falling back to sleep on their own. You can comfort them by stroking the forehead or talking softly to let them know you’re there. At around 6 months, if your baby wakes at night and cries, go check to see if there is anything wrong perhaps they are too cold or too warm, but try not to take them out of the crib.Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.Many parents like to use the “3 Bs”: bath, book, bed. A consistent bedtime routine is important.Maintain a regular daytime and bedtime sleep schedule as much as possible.Some nap for as little as 20 minutes at a time, while others sleep for 3 or more hours. Every baby’s napping needs are different. By 4 months, most babies need three naps a day one in the morning, afternoon and early evening.īetween 6 and 12 months, your baby will probably go from having 3 naps a day to 2 longer naps, in the morning and afternoon. Keep the lights dim.Īt this age, babies sleep an average of 14 hours a day, but anything less or more can be normal for your baby. Avoid stimulation during nighttime feedings and diaper changes.Give them a few minutes to try and settle on their own before going to them. However, it’s best not to start using a pacifier until breastfeeding is going well. A pacifier may comfort and help your baby to settle.You cannot spoil a young baby by holding them. It’s okay to cuddle and rock your baby until they are drowsy.Keep soft items like pillows and stuffed animals out of the crib. Remember to put them to sleep on their back in their crib, or on a firm, flat surface. Put your baby in bed when they are drowsy, but awake.Napping actually helps a baby to sleep better at night, so keeping your baby awake during the day will not help your baby sleep longer at night. An overtired baby has more trouble sleeping.It could include a quiet cuddle and short story in a darkened room before it’s time to nap. A sleep diary might help you to recognize their regular sleeping pattern.Ī naptime routine is a good idea. Trust your baby’s cues – they will let you know when they are tired. Sometime after 3 months, your baby’s sleep habits will become more predictable and you can expect a more regular nap schedule. This may not work right away, but over time, your baby will come to understand. For example, if you always put your baby in their crib to sleep, they will learn that this is the place where they sleep. As your baby gets older, they will stay awake longer during the day and sleep for longer stretches at night.īabies, just like adults, need the right cues to learn when it is time to sleep. It’s normal and healthy for babies to wake up during the night to feed. Newborns may sleep as much as 18 hours a day, for 3 to 4 hours at a time. Source: Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) Babies (birth to 4 months) This chart is a general guide to the amount of sleep children need over a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps. How much sleep does my child need?Įvery child is different. At night, they may find it hard to settle.

In fact, good sleep habits start from birth.Ĭhildren who do not get enough sleep may have trouble functioning during the day. Sleep is very important to your child’s health and well-being.
