SLEEPING

BASICS
Sleep needs for babies vary depending on their age.
Newborns do sleep much of the time. But their sleep is in
very short segments. As a baby grows, the total amount of
sleep slowly decreases. But the length of nighttime sleep
increases.
 Sleep Cycle
AGE TOTAL SLEEP HRS TOTAL HRS OF TOTAL HRS OF
NIGHTTIME SLEEP DAYTIME SLEEP

Newborn 16 hrs 8-9 hrs 8 hrs

1-2 months 15 hrs 8-9 hrs 7 hrs

3-5 months 15 hrs 9-10 hrs 4-5 hrs

6-8 months 14 hrs 10 hrs 4 hrs

9-12 months 14 hrs 11 hrs 3 hrs

1 year 14 hrs 11 hrs 3 hrs

2 years 13 hrs 11 hrs 2 hrs

 Signs of sleep readiness
You can help your baby sleep by recognizing signs of sleep readiness. Your baby
may show signs of being ready for sleep by:

• Rubbing eyes

• Yawning

• Looking away

• Fussing

• Pulling at ears

• Closing fists

• Crying

• Facial grimaces, including pulling faces

Helping baby to fall asleep

When it is time for bed, many parents want to rock or

breastfeed a baby to help him or her fall asleep.

● Allowing time for naps each day as needed for your baby's
age.
● Not having any stimulation or activity close to bedtime.
● Creating a bedtime routine, such as bath, reading books,
and rocking.
● Playing soft music while your baby is getting sleepy.
● Offering a transitional object that your baby can take to
bed. This may be a small blanket or a soft toy. But don't do
this before your baby is old enough. Your baby should be
able to roll and sit. This will prevent the risk of suffocation.
● Tucking your baby into bed when he or she is drowsy, but before
going to sleep.
● For night awakenings, comfort and reassure your baby by patting
and soothing. Don't take your baby out of bed.
● If your baby cries, wait a few minutes, then return and reassure with
patting and soothing.
Sleeping position
If you have an infant at home, it is
essential that you know everything
about the ideal sleeping positions for
babies and how certain sleeping
positions can cause sudden deaths in
newborns.
 Sleep on stomach position
The sleep-on-stomach position for babies is highly unsafe for the following reasons:

• This position may put some pressure on the baby’s jaws and block the airways,
making it difficult for the baby to breathe.
• Sleeping on the stomach makes the baby lie with his face very close to the sheet,
making him breathe the same air. This may result in breathing in recycled air which
is low in oxygen.
• Sleeping on the stomach on a very soft mattress may cause suffocation in babies.
The risk of rebreathing the exhaled air is higher while lying on a soft mattress
because of the baby’s face slacks deeper into the soft fabric of the mattress. This
might block the baby’s airways from all sides.
Sleep-on-the-side position

Sleeping on the side is not a

recommended infant sleeping
position, as infants tend to
eventually roll-on to their tummy
while asleep, and this increases the
risk of SIDS ( sudden infant death
syndrome ).
Sleep-on-back position
● The sleep-on-back position is the
safest and the best sleeping
position for infants. It is the most
suggested sleeping position for
babies as it keeps the airways
open and has minimal risks of
suffocation.

● The US NICHD (National Institute of

Child Health and Human
Development) recommends the
sleep-on-back position for short
naps as well as for sound sleep
throughout the night in babies.
 Tips for safe sleep of the baby
● Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, not on the stomach or side.

● Use a firm sleep surface.

● Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet.

● Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.

● Put your baby to sleep with a pacifier.

● Don't overbundle, overdress, or cover your baby's face or head. This will prevent them from
getting overheated, reducing the risk for SIDS.

● Always place cribs, bassinets, and play yards in places with no dangling cords, wires, or
window coverings. This can reduce the risk for strangulation.

● Don't use loose bedding or soft objects (bumper pads, pillows, comforters, blankets) in your
baby's crib or bassinet. This can help prevent suffocation, strangulation, entrapment, or SIDS