A baby's sleep patterns in their first year can be broken down into four phases. Although each baby will develop in its own way and at its own pace, the progression through these phases will be fairly consistent. The better you understand a baby's sleep patterns ahead of time the easier it will be for you to prepare for each phase.
The first three months after birth constitute the first phase. Babies will sleep the most during this time. You can count on them sleeping between 15 and 18 hours. However their sleep will be for only a few hours at a time and only stay awake for about two hours at a time. Look for signs that your baby is tired and try to give them a chance to fall asleep on their own by putting them down instead of rocking them to sleep every time. This will establish a good sleeping habit and prepare them for when they will inevitably start sleeping on their own. It is OK to have your baby in a crib during this phase but you will want to keep the baby crib in your bedroom for the first three months.
During the second phase from month three to month six a baby should be sleeping in a much more consistent manor. This is a good time to move your baby crib in to its own room as you will want your baby to start getting used to sleeping on its own. You can expect that they are getting most of their sleep during the night and only taking a few naps during the day. There may still be instances when you need to feed your baby during the night especially at the beginning of this phase but that will eventually no longer be necessary. The best thing to do is to establish a regular sleeping schedule. You should have a normal bedtime routine that enables you to have your baby in bed by 8:00pm. You should have a set time that you wake them each morning too so that they will not over sleep. At this stage they should be getting 10 hours of sleep during the night so plan on waking them each morning by 6:00am. You should have a schedule for naps as well. The more regular the pattern you can establish the more likely your baby will be to adapt to it. As long as you are doing it according to your schedule, putting your baby down to sleep when they are still awake is one of the best ways for them to become independent sleepers.
By the third phase from month six to month nine, your baby will be able to sleep through nearly an entire night. They may even be able to sleep up to seven hours with no interruption. With the right approach to teaching your baby to fall asleep on its own they may start to get full nights of sleep yourself. You should still continue with the regular bedtime and wake up routines. However you may need to adjust the nap schedule to twice daily for up to 2 hours at a time. The most important thing again is to keep the pattern consistent and routine.
The final phase in a baby's first year of sleep patterns will be where you make sure that everything you have been practicing up until this point is in place. You should have your bedtime routine in place whether it is a bedtime story, a bath or a brief playtime in the crib. Stick to your scheduled 10 hours of sleep at night with two naps scheduled during the day. As often as possible allow your baby to fall asleep on its own. With these goals in mind your baby will be getting the right amount of sleep for healthy development be able to successfully sleep on their own.
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