Do you wish to understand baby sleep better? Understanding a baby’s sleep can become a real challenge for many parents…
How are their sleep cycles organized? When should he fall asleep and wake up? How many times will he wake up?
All these questions can arise in the minds of the parents to better understand the awakenings and the quality of their sleep.
Sleeping well is essential for an infant because it is during sleep that he grows, develops his brain, and releases the energy he has spent during the day.
If the baby develops sleep disorders from an early age, they will certainly follow him into adulthood.
Also read: My Baby Doesn’t Want To Sleep?: Here Are 3 Simple But Effective Tips
Let’s dive in.
At Birth
You should know that a newborn sleeps an average of 16 hours a day. Some even reach 20 hours of sleep out of 24.
For them, there is almost no difference between day and night.
The baby wakes up every three hours during his first few weeks of sleep.
The moment of awakening corresponds to each feeding period, followed by short phases where he remains awake and generally very calm.
It is in these moments of awakening that his first interactions with the people around him take place.
It takes about a month for the baby to adjust to a 24-hour rhythm. Until he is 2 months old, the baby goes through 3 phases: falling asleep, calm sleep, and restless sleep.
This cycle lasts on average between 50 and 60 minutes.
Baby Sleep From 2 To 9 Months
From 2 months to 9 months, babies go through falling asleep, paradoxical sleep, slow-wave sleep, and deep slow-wave sleep. Each cycle lasts approximately 70 minutes.
REM sleep is very important because it is during this phase that dreams take place. Baby always experiences phases of awakening between cycles.
After 9 Months
From the baby’s 9 months, his cycles get longer to reach a duration between 90 and 120 minutes. It is during this period that he learns to sleep through the night.
He encounters two other sleep phases which are very light slow-wave sleep and very deep slow-wave sleep which adds time to his nights.
Little by little, he will take a certain rhythm in his cycles and will need to eat less…
Help Baby Sleep Better
If your baby has difficulty falling asleep or if you feel that baby’s sleep is too restless and does not follow normal cycles, here are some tips:
- The room temperature should not exceed 20 degrees
- He must sleep on his back until he is at least 4 months old
- Get him used to falling asleep with a hug or a lullaby
- Prefers soft toys that reassure him
- Create an environment of calm and serenity
Why Doesn’t Baby Sleep Through The Night?
Colic
From 15 days to 13 months, digestive balance can be complicated and delayed in your baby. He may therefore suffer from colic and cries to let you know.
Do not feed him and reassure him by talking to him. You can take him for a walk to distract him, give him a light tummy massage, or play some soft music.
If he continues to cry, you can opt for herbal tea or homeopathy. Baby’s sleep should improve with small gestures to calm his pain.
Nocturnal Awakenings
Between 3 and 6 months, nocturnal awakenings are common. You should never let your baby cry for more than 10 minutes, beyond that, he may feel abandoned.
He needs to feel that you are there for him if something is upsetting him. He may be hungry, thirsty, or in need of cleanliness.
Hunger
After 6 months, you may think he cries out of hunger, but it is often a habit that he has assimilated with his bottle at night. It is no longer a need, but a desire for him.
So avoid giving him one, or try to get him out of the habit a little by reducing the doses, or try to talk to him and put him back to sleep so that he realizes that he can do without it.
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