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How Much Sleep Does a Baby Need Each Day?

Newborn
16 to 20 hours

Three- to six-weeks-old
15 to 18 hours

Four-months-old
Nine to 12 hours, with two naps lasting two to three hours each

Six- to nine-months-old
11 to 12 hours a day, with two naps lasting one to two hours each

12- to 18-months-old
10 to 13 hours a day, with two naps lasting one to two hours each

Two- to three-years-old
10 to 12 hours a day, with one nap lasting two hours long

Four- to five-years-old
10 to 12 hours a day

The Importance of Sleep

“The amount of sleep needed varies individually with the baby, the age and the circumstances. Some babies manage to stay asleep for long hours while others take multiple naps. Additionally, some babies may have very regular sleep patterns while others do not,” says Dr Luci Wiggs, Chair of the Handsel Trust Sleep Advisory Group.

Only recently, however, has concrete evidence emerged detailing the strong link between the quality and quantity of babies’ sleep (up to 12 hours) with their daytime social functioning. After a night of good sleep, the Holy Grail that many parents aim for but rarely reach, “a baby will be more alert and able to interact more sociably with others”. It’s something that Pampers calls Golden Sleep and a subject that the company has studied extensively.

A well-rested baby will not only be more alert during the day but will also be more willing to socially interact with others, according to Dr Wiggs. With better sleep, babies are more likely to develop more positive socio-emotional competence and mental health.

At the same time, as many parents will attest to, having a well-rested baby is as important to the family as it is to the child. Rachel Waddilove, an experienced maternity nurse with more than 40 years of experience, reveals that the most common question that parents ask and one that a lot of them have problems with is getting a baby to sleep through the night so that they too can function properly during the day, whether at home or in the office.

“Mothers are often so distressed and tears when they first contact me for help,” she shares. One of the most important lessons that Waddilove teaches these mothers is that not all babies have similar sleep patterns. Some might require a lot more sleep training than others but no baby is, thankfully, untrainable.

Waddilove says: “In my experience, babies and toddlers who sleep well will normally be very happy to go in their cots for daytime naps and at bedtime too. A baby will be happy and contented for longer periods in the day to have playtime with the parents, which helps with bonding.”

The Signs of Sleep Deprivation and Combating It

So, how would you know whether your baby is being cranky due to the lack of Golden Sleep and not because of other reasons?

Dr Wiggs shares a few physical behaviours a baby might display when he or she needs more quality shut-eye.

• Has difficulties rousing in the morning and shows signs of excessive fretfulness
• Tends to be less interested in people and toys, and becomes clingy to the parents
• Eye-rubbing, yawning and ear-pulling
• Displays overactive behaviour in the evening and has difficulty settling down

According to new clinical research from Pampers, it seems that there is a direct link between wetting and sleep disturbance. “Even during peaceful sleep, your baby’s skin can easily sense the feeling of wetness – in effect, acting as an invisible alarm clock,” says Dr Wiggs. To use an analogy, it’s just like you waking up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. While you might be able to easily return to your dreams, your sleep cycle has been disrupted.

Waddilove has a couple of tips for parents looking to improve the quality of their baby’s sleep.

• Go to sleep with a full tummy and make sure your baby has had enough to drink and eat
• Introduce a sleep pattern for babies to help babies snooze uninterrupted for longer (Waddilove recommends teaching this to babies as early as possible)

The key to introducing a sleep routine for babies is to use behavioural cues. First, observe your baby’s sleep tendencies, especially the point in the day when he or she tends to sleep for the longest. Once you’ve gotten that down, start introducing pre-bedtime rituals such as baths, lullabies or massages before your baby falls asleep. He or she will then begin associating these rituals with the idea of going to sleep.

Soon enough, your baby will start feeling drowsy the moment you break out the ritual cues. Just make sure to do it enough such that it becomes a routine!