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While newborns and sleep schedules don’t necessarily go together (a new baby’s sleep is all over the place!), I assure you that eventually you’ll fall into a rhythm with your baby’s sleep! It’s all about knowing what to expect, reading your baby’s sleepytime cues, and setting your little one up for sleep success. Read on to learn what a baby’s first-year sleep schedule generally looks like—and how to get there. Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule: Year OneAll parents want their infants to sleep well, but many don't know the nitty gritty details needed to achieve great baby sleep. They want to know:
And I'm here to help answer those questions—and more! I’m also here to dispel some common baby sleep myths. For instance, everyone knows that their new baby won't sleep a lot during the first weeks. But the biggest new-parent misconception is that once Baby ekes into their second month, sleep gradually but consistently improves. Many new parents expect sleep to simply get better and better until—poof!—their baby is sleeping an eight-hour stretch at 4 months old. Not so fast! The reality for many—if not most—babies is a bit of a roller coaster, complete with happy victories and frustrating regressions! That said, there are some reasonable expectations you can have for your baby’s sleep…and those expectations include some common zigs and zags that many babies experience during the first year. And while this first-year sleep schedule works for many little ones, remember each baby is unique and sleep schedules can vary widely. Baby Sleep Schedule: Birth to 2 MonthsHere’s the thing with newborns: Their natural day-night circadian rhythms have yet to develop. Plus, their bellies are teeny, so they need to eat a lot, including during the night. In fact, breastfed newborns wake up to nurse about every two to three hours and formula-fed babies do so roughly every three to four hours. Total Sleep for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: These teeny babies sleep 14 to 18 hours a day. During the first months, babies sleep in bits and pieces, waking throughout the day to feed. In the early weeks, you can expect your little one to fuss from hunger 10 to 12 times a day. Wake Time for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your baby’s day usually starts around 7am. Napping for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your wee sleepyhead will take lots of little naps—totaling up to eight hours a day. A newborn’s daytime wake/sleep cycle is 45 to 60 minutes of awake time, then one to two hours of napping. And for babies between 1 and 2 months old, that wake window opens a wee bit wider, landing between one and two hours.) During the second month, if your baby’s nap goes over an hour-and-a-half to two hours, it may be a good idea to wake them for a feeding. While waking a snoozing baby seems like a big no-no, know that long naps mean less eating during the day, making babies hungrier at night. Bedtime for Newborns to 2-Month-Old: Babies this age often go down around 10pm. Nighttime Sleep for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds: Your baby will drift on and off throughout the night, punctuated by occasional feedings. Remember, breastfed babies this age often wake to eat about every two to three hours and formula-fed babies wake about every three to four hours. This is 100% normal and to be expected! Sleep Tips for Newborns to 2-Month-Olds:
Baby Sleep Schedule: 2 to 4 MonthsBy the time your baby reaches 4 months old, they will have finally sorted out their days and nights, making napping and night sleeps a bit easier. The womb-like trifecta of white noise, gentle rocking, and swaddling are still important…but one of these sleep-savers may need to stop soon. Once your baby shows signs of rolling, it’s no longer safe to swaddle them (however, you can continue to use SNOO’s special built-in swaddle which keeps babies safely on the back to prevent risky rolling). And be warned about the possible 3-month sleep regression! It can suddenly appear, with your baby starting to wake up like a newborn—every few hours—and wanting to play or cuddle…but refusing to sleep alone. Total Sleep for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Babies this age are still sleeping a ton, usually around 13 to14 hours of ZZZs a day. Wake Time for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Your little one will most likely wake up little earlier now. Most babies this age start their day around 6am. Napping for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: When babies first emerge from newbornhood (between 2 and 4 months), they settle into two to three daily naps, totaling four to eight hours of sleep. Bedtime for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Lights out shifts a bit earlier, with most babies going down around 9pm. Nighttime Sleep for 2- to 4-Month-Olds: Babies are able to sleep a little longer now, but they still wake for a feeding or two. Longest unbroken sleep can range from around five hours to up to eight hours. Sleep Tips for 2- to 4-Month-Olds:
Baby Sleep Schedule: 4 to 8 MonthsWhen your baby passes the four-month mark, they’ve finished what I call the fourth trimester. Many of your new-parent friends may still be desperate from exhaustion. So, if your little one is a great sleeper, don’t brag too much! All babies are different. Total Sleep for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Your growing baby often clocks 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day. Wake Time for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: The day starts between 6 and 8am for babies between 4- and 8-months old, depending on your baby, of course! Napping for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Babies this age may still be eking out three naps a day or they may have settled into a comfortable two-nap schedule, totaling three to five hours of sleep a day. Bedtime for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Night-night often starts around 7 to 9pm. Nighttime Sleep for 4- to 8-Month-Olds: Your baby may have unbroken sleep of six to 10 hours, which most anyone would call “sleeping through the night!” Sleep Tips for 4- to 8-Month-Olds:
Baby Sleep Schedule: 8 to 12 MonthsBaby sleep is a little like a roller coaster with it’s ups and downs, thrills, and scaries. And right now, smack in the second half of your baby’s first year, a frightening dip might be fast approaching! (You can read more about the 8-month sleep regression here.) At this age, some little ones start developing separation anxiety and bedtime and others are so excited about their newly developing skills, that they find it more difficult to settle down. Total Sleep for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: By the time your baby hits 8 months, they should be snoozing between 12 to 14 hours a day. Wake Time for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: The day often starts around 6 to 7am for these tots. Napping for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: Your little one will likely still be taking two naps a day. For some babies, those naps are brief (we’re talking 30 minutes), while other babies may nap for up to two hours at this age. Bedtime for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: Night-night often falls somewhere between 7 and 9pm now. Nighttime Sleep for 8- to 12-Month-Olds: .Your baby's longest stretch is likely a glorious seven to 10 hours a night! Wooo! Sleep Tips for 8- to 12-Month-Olds:
Baby Sleep Schedule: 12 MonthsHappy birthday to your little one! You made it through an entire year—and many sleep cycles. You’re now entering a whole new stage of sleep—toddler sleep! Total Sleep for 12-Month-Olds: At 1 year old, most babies sleep 12 to 14 hours in a full day’s cycle. Wake Time for 12-Month-Olds: Rise and shine often occurs between 6 and 7am. Napping for 12-Month-Olds: Your little one is likely still clocking two naps a day, totaling two to four hours. (FYI: Most babies drop the second nap between 12 and 24 months.) Bedtime for 12-Month-Olds: Now your “big kid” will be hitting the hay between 7 and 9pm…early enough for the grownups to get some alone time! Nighttime Sleep for 12-Month-Olds: The longest sleeping stretch for 12-month-olds usually averages seven to 10 hours at night. Sleep Tips for 12-Month-Olds:
Final Thoughts on Baby Sleep SchedulesEvery baby is different, so your little one’s schedule might vary slightly from the ones outlined above. However, if you’re armed with the right information and resources, you should be snoozing sweetly in no time! Check out more great advice related to baby and toddler sleep:
3 naps a day seems odd, no? About Dr. Harvey KarpDr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums. View more posts tagged, sleep Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Connect with us at . Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. How long should 2 month old sleep at a time?While every baby's sleep needs are slightly different, a typical 2-month-old sleeps a total of 14 to 17 hours a day, including four to six naps. Day-night confusion should be subsiding, and you may see baby settle into a rough pattern of 60 to 90 minutes of awake time followed by 30 minutes to two hours of napping.
Should I let my 2 month old sleep all day?Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night.
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