- What number of hours the baby should sleep
- Is it normal when the baby sleeps a lot?
- What to do if the baby sleeps a lot
Although babies spend most of their time sleeping, the truth is that they do not sleep for many hours straight, as they often wake up to breastfeed. However, from 6 months, the baby can sleep almost all night without waking up to eat.
Some babies sleep more than others and may not even wake up for meals, and it may take about 6 months for the baby to establish its own circadian rhythm. If the mother suspects that the baby sleeps more than normal, it is best to go to the pediatrician to see if there is any problem.
What number of hours the baby should sleep
The amount of time the baby spends sleeping depends on age and growth rate:
| Age | Number of hours of sleep per day |
| Newborn | 16 to 20 hours in total |
| 1 month | 16 to 18 hours in total |
| 2 months | 15 to 16 hours in total |
| Four months | 9 to 12 hours a night + two naps during the day from 2 to 3 hours each |
| 6 months | 11 hours a night + two naps during the day of 2 to 3 hours each |
| 9 months | 11 hours a night + two naps during the day from 1 to 2 hours each |
| 1 year | 10 to 11 hours a night + two naps during the day 1 to 2 hours each |
| 2 years | 11 hours a night + a nap during the day for about 2 hours |
| 3 years | 10 to 11 hours a night + a 2-hour nap during the day |
The number of hours of sleep may vary due to the baby's pace of development. Learn more about the time your baby needs to sleep.
Is it normal when the baby sleeps a lot?
The baby can sleep more than normal simply because of his growth rate, when the first teeth are being born or in rare cases, due to a disease, such as jaundice, infections or after certain medical procedures, such as circumcision.
In addition, if the baby is very stimulated during the day, he may become very tired and fall asleep despite being hungry. If the mother realizes that the baby sleeps too much, it must be ensured that the baby does not have any health problems, taking him to the pediatrician.
What to do if the baby sleeps a lot
If the baby does not have any health problems, so that he can sleep at the appropriate times for his age, you can try:
- Take the baby for a walk during the day, exposing him to natural light; Develop a quiet routine at night, which may include a bath and massage; Try removing some layers of clothing, so that he is less hot and wakes up when he is hungry; Touch the face with a damp cloth or lift it to burp before moving it to the other breast;
If the baby is gaining weight steadily after a few weeks, but still sleeping a lot, it may just be perfectly normal. The mother should take this time to catch up on her sleep.
