How Much Sleep does my baby need? - Little Kids Business

How Much Sleep does my baby need?

When you first bring a baby home, it can be a little overwhelming. There is so much to know and you just may be on the steepest learning curve of your life. One thing that can cause distress is knowing how much sleep your baby requires. Although there are guidelines, the answer is not customer fit for every baby.

There are a number of things that may affect their sleep such as 

  • Although it is healthy for your baby to have Moro reflex, as it shows their little nervous system is properly developing. this can be particularly troublesome during sleep time, as it may wake your baby up from sound sleep. For this reason , it is important to wrap or swaddle your baby, keeping their little hands down. 
  • How much sunlight there is where they are napping of sleeping. After all most people , including babies sleep better with low light. The reason for this is because n response to darkness, the pineal gland begins to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a serotonin-derived hormone that promotes sleepiness, for this reason , may parents opt for Black-out Blinds to create darkness.  
  • Co-sleeping can effect sleep. When babies sleep close to their caregivers, they sleep more lightly, and wake two to three times more often than babies who are further away. If you are transitioning away from co-sleeping, you may like to introduce a Lulla doll as it imitates closeness to a caregiver at rest with its soft feel and soothing sounds of real-life breathing and heartbeat.The Lulla doll was in development for three years with the help of doctors, nurses, psychologists, parents and babies.
  • With or without a dummy. Some research suggests that it is possible that using a dummy when putting a baby down to sleep could reduce the risk of sudden infant death. If you choose to use a dummy, wait until breastfeeding is well established and be sure to remove before their teeth may be effected close to age 2 years. 
  • If your baby is over-tired. Overtired babies tend to sleep less and sleep less well, making them more tired, which continues the tired-overtired cycle. And it can be especially difficult to sleep train an overtired baby.For this reason, it is essential to try and keep to a routine. This does not have to mean that you can't go out and about, it does mean be mindful and offer your baby sleep when the time is right. 
  • How cold or warm your baby is. A baby’s body surface is about three times greater than an adult’s, relative to their weight, so they can lose heat rapidly – as much as four times quicker than adults.The best way to check your baby’s temperature is to feel their chest. Baby’s chest should feel warm. A lot of development is happening in the core of newborns so blood is naturally diverted to this area.

When putting baby to sleep, be mindful that every baby is different. I have a  son and a daughter and Sophie has always slept more easily and for longer than her big Brother.

Please use this chart as a guideline for the amount of sleep which your baby or child needs.

 

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