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Baby’s sleep, age by age
Baby’s sleep up to 2 months
Baby does not yet distinguish day from night, it is normal for him to wake us up. Don’t lose patience… He sleeps in short periods, from one to four hours. He begins with a restless sleep, then his sleep becomes calm. The rest of the time, he fidgets, cries and eats… Even if he makes life difficult for us, let’s take advantage of him!
Baby’s sleep from 3 months to 6 months
Baby sleeps on average 15 hours a day and begins to distinguish day from night: the duration of his night’s sleep gradually lengthens. The rhythm of her sleep is no longer dictated by hunger. So, if our little boy’s cradle is still in your room, it’s time to give him a space all his own.
It is often the period of back-to-work for mom, synonymous with great upheavals for Baby: sleeping through the night has become a priority. As much for him as for us! But, he usually won’t do his nights before the 4th month. Age when, on average, the biological clock begins to function well. So, let’s wait a bit!
Baby’s sleep from 6 months to a year
Baby sleeps on average 13 to 15 hours a day, including four hours during the day. But, little by little, the number of baby naps will decrease: normal, he is overflowing with energy! The quality of his night’s sleep depends above all on naps, which should be neither too long nor too short. Remember to distribute them as best as possible during the day.
He begins to sleep normally, but has difficulty falling asleep. He sometimes calls out for us at night: first nightmares, fevers and childhood illnesses, dental flare-ups. We console him!
THEseparation anxiety, or 8th month anxiety, can also disrupt sleep. Indeed, Baby becomes aware of his own identity, different from that of his parents. He therefore dreads sleeping alone. Unless he’s sick, we have to help him get back to sleep on his own. It’s a learning process that takes a little time, but it’s worth it!
Baby don’t sleep through the night
Baby wakes up every night: it’s normal at first!
Between 0 and 3 months, Baby does not really distinguish day from night and his awakenings are set by hunger. It is therefore not a whim but a real physiological need.
Between 3 and 9 months, Baby continues to wake up regularly at night. Like the majority of adults by the way, even if we don’t necessarily remember it in the morning. The only problem is that our little one is unable to go back to sleep on his own if he has not been accustomed to it.
To do : one does not immediately rush to his bedside, and we avoid prolonging the hugs too much. We talk to him softly to calm him down, then we leave his room.
- What if it was real insomnia?
They can be temporary, and are completely understandable, on the occasion of an ear infection or a bad cold, or quite simply during a teething.
- What if this insomnia becomes chronic?
It can be one of the symptoms of a depressive state, especially in children withdrawn or suffering from a chronic disease (asthma, etc.). Do not hesitate to discuss it with your pediatrician.
But before squeezing your little one into the “insomniacs” clan, we ask ourselves a few questions: isn’t the apartment particularly noisy? Even if we don’t mind it, our toddler may be more sensitive to it. So if we live near a fire station, just above the metro, or our neighbors do the java every night, the treatment may simply consist of moving …
Isn’t her room overheated? A temperature of 18-19 ° C is more than enough! Likewise, Baby should not be overly covered.
Diet can also be a factor in insomnia : maybe he eats too quickly or too much …
Finally, it may be a reaction to the demands of a mother who asks a little too much: for Baby, learning to walk or to use the potty is not an easy task, so a little patience…
- Should we consult?
Yes, from a certain age, if Baby really wakes up too often at night, and especially if his crying and cries interfere with your own sleep …
The sleep train
In infants, sleep trains are short – 50 minutes on average – and consist of only two wagons (a light sleep phase, then a calm sleep phase). The older you get, the more the number of wagons increases, increasing the duration of the train. Thus, in adulthood, the length of a cycle has more than doubled!