Sleepless nights could be down to your baby’s age or their individual sleep style. Understanding how & when your baby prefers to sleep can be a game-changer
When it comes to sleep, no two babies are the same, so there’s no point in comparing yours with anyone else’s. By the time your baby’s reached the six-month mark, though, you are probably hoping the broken nights are behind you. But don’t despair if they're still not sleeping through.
Understanding your baby’s sleep patterns can help you ensure that they’re getting the rest they need to help them develop. So, we’ve identified five typical baby sleepers (or rather, non-sleepers!), and our sleep expert recommends how best to deal with each of them. Blissful slumber, here we come…
How much sleep does my baby need?
Newborns (0-3 months)
There’s a lot of variation in how much newborn babies sleep. Some can sleep for around eight hours a day, while others can sleep for upwards of 18 hours – and both of these are considered completely normal.
Newborns tend to sleep in short or long bursts, as their tiny tummies mean they’ll wake up to be fed.
3-6 months
At this point, your baby will need less night feeds, which means they may sleep for longer at night without waking up. Some can sleep for eight hours or longer, but not all will, with most babies sleeping between 12 and 14 hours across the day and night.
6-12 months
Once your baby reaches six months old, they can sleep for up to 12 hours a night. However, things like teething pain or hunger may disturb them throughout the night. They may also nap at least twice a day, sometimes for up to two hours at a time.
12-24 months
Once they have hit their first birthday, babies will sleep for around 12 to 15 hours a day. This normally comprises of 10 to 12 hours at night, followed by a couple of daytime naps of around one to two hours.
What is my baby’s sleep style?
Night waker
While other babies seem to be sleeping through, yours is still up for fun at 3am. Every night. It’s worth remembering that babies aged five to nine months need an average of 14 hours’ sleep per 24 hours, so if your night-waking baby is sleeping too much in the day, you may need to cut back on naps. And there’s another reason that babies wake in the early hours. They may be used to sleeping when in motion – while out and about – so when they are stationary, they wake up. "Try spending a week at home to get your baby used to napping in the cot," recommends Boots Parenting Club sleep expert Jo Tantum.
Light sleeper
Babies who are light sleepers can sometimes be so exhausted that they can’t go into longer sleep cycles, with every little noise waking them. "My best tip is to download a simple app that plays wave sounds to help calm them," says Jo. Total blackout blinds may also help soothe them. Alternatively, you could try out some baby sleep aids, or consider trying some ‘white noise’ which can be done by turning on a fan or tuning a radio to static for low-level sound. These steady sounds will also mask sudden loud noises that might disturb your baby’s sleep. It’s worth noting that if you do choose to try white noise, it’s a good idea to use it sparingly, at a low volume and only for a short period of time. We’d recommend having any white noise source at least seven feet (two metres) away from your little one’s cot.
Early riser
Your bundle of joy missed the memo that morning = 7am, not 5am. If your baby regularly wakes at the crack of dawn, consider what signals you are giving; if you’re chatting and changing nappies, your baby will think it’s morning. "Try to stick to a routine of 7pm–7am and settle baby back to sleep until at least then," says Jo. It’s also worth getting the practicalities right. Put up a blackout blind or lined curtains to prevent their body clock getting confused and swap to extra absorbent nappies for overnight dryness, to help them get a long night’s slumber.
Co-sleeper
It can be so easy to slip into the habit of bringing a wakeful baby into bed with you, but the Department of Health advises against it on safety grounds. And you won’t get much quality sleep either alongside those akimbo arms and thrashing legs. Try giving your baby a relaxing bath, followed by cuddles before bed and make sure their cot is cosy and welcoming. "When babies wake up, try making soothing noises so they feel comforted by your presence and enjoy going back to sleep. Be consistent, and after seven to 10 days you should see an improvement," says Jo.
Catnapper
The 'little and often’ sleeper is unpredictable, making it impossible to get anything done (who needs dinner, anyway?). 30 to 45 minutes is a natural sleep cycle for babies, but the catnapper baby enters a light sleep phase and calls out, so you get them up. The solution is to wait five minutes to give them the opportunity to soothe themselves back to sleep, says Jo. "If you try this sleep-training technique for around five to seven days for all naps, your baby will start sleeping through the light sleep phase."
Creating a safe, comfortable sleep environment
No matter their sleep style, the safest position for a baby to sleep during the first six months of their life is lying on their back in a cot that’s in the same room as you.
Following these safer sleeping tips and advice helps reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (also referred to as SIDS or cot death):
- Keep their cot clear – make sure their cot is free of any cot bumpers, loose bedding or toys
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature – between 16-20 °C is best.
- Invest in a firm, flat, waterproof mattress for their comfort
- Lie baby on their back for every sleep, both day and night
- If you smoke, keep your baby smoke-free
FAQs
How much sleep does my baby need at different ages?
No baby is the same, so how much sleep they need will differ as they grow. Here is an approximate guide for how many hours of sleep a baby needs at different ages:
- Newborn (0-3 months): Anywhere between eight and 18 hours a day
- 3-6 months: Between 12 and 14 hours across the day and night
- 6-12 months: Around 12 hours a night
- 12-24 months: Between 12 and 15 hours a day
How do I know if my baby is getting enough sleep?
Some babies need more sleep than others, so try not to compare your little one to other babies. To ensure baby is getting enough sleep across nighttime and naptimes, you can refer to our guide earlier on in this article for the approximate number of hours recommended for their age.
However, you can also take into account things like their mood – whether they’re acting fussy or easily frustrated – and how often they are waking throughout the night.
What if my baby’s sleep pattern changes suddenly?
As your baby grows, their sleeping pattern will change too – this is completely natural. Their shifting sleep patterns happen for a number of reasons, from a change in their daily sleep requirements, their feeding needs or their nap routines.
What is sleep regression, and how can I manage it?
If a baby or toddler has gone from sleeping through the night to disturbed sleep (constantly waking, difficulty falling asleep and restlessness), they could be going through something often referred to as a ‘sleep regression.’ Most sleep regressions typically last for around two to six weeks as they often align with periods of rapid growth.
As these sleep regressions are only temporary, try to continue with their usual bedtime routine to help establish good sleep habits, as this can help them get back into their usual sleep schedule. Find out more about why your child might not be sleeping here.
What should a safe sleep environment look like?
The safest position for a newborn baby to sleep in, especially for the first six months, is on their back. As they start to get older, they will be able to roll themselves from their back to their front. When they first start to do this, you may want to position them back onto their back, but as they get stronger they will find their own sleeping position.
It’s best to let young babies sleep alone in a cot or a moses basket placed beside your bed, rather than sharing the bed with you or a partner.
How can I create a bedtime routine for my baby?
The goal of a bedtime routine is to help put baby in a relaxed mindset and create a recognisable routine that will cue to them that it’s time to go to bed. A good bedtime routine is short and simple, and one that can be done by any caregiver. Some steps to use include: a new nappy, PJs, a story and goodnight cuddles and kisses.
How can I help my baby nap consistently?
A shortened version of your usual bedtime routine can be used to help prepare baby for nap time. If baby seems sleepy then you can skip the routine and put them down straight away – this can help prevent overtiredness.
