How Much Sleep Should a 2-Month-Old Get?

When you're a new parent, sleep is a big issue. You may worry about how much sleep your baby is getting -- not to mention how much sleep you're getting. You may wonder when your baby will finally start sleeping through the night. At 2 months old, your baby is both sleeping all the time and waking all the time -- moving through an irregular sleep-wake schedule that is interrupted only to be fed and changed. Two-month-old babies can sleep anywhere between 10.5 and 18 hours per day, but most of that comes in relatively short spurts, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

  1. Newborn Sleep

    • Babies are unpredictable with their sleeping habits. They have a shorter sleeping cycle than adults, and they typically don't stay asleep longer than one to three hours at a time. In fact, they may sleep for only a few minutes before waking. According to the NSF, even when babies are asleep, they may appear restless and continue to twitch, move their arms and legs, smile and even suck. Your baby is developing quickly in these first couple of months, and all this fitful sleep is a part of it.

    Encouraging Healthy Sleep Habits

    • At 2 months, your baby may start to have longer stretches of sleep and you may begin to notice some patterns in his sleep. Some babies, on the other hand, may continue to have erratic sleep at this time. You can encourage healthy sleep habits by recognizing your baby's cues, such as rubbing eyes, crying and fussing. You can also begin to establish bedtime routines -- though they may not begin to be effective for a couple more months. A bedtime routine should be simple and consistent, and it may include activities such as a nursing, cuddling, reading stories or taking a bath.

    Obstacles to Sleep

    • Your baby is doing so much learning at this time that it can cause him to become restless or overstimulated, both of which can prevent sleep or restful sleep. You can help your baby to get more sleep and deeper sleep by removing him from stimulating environments leading up to nap and bedtimes. Use blackout curtains to block light and a white noise machine to block sound. Creating a soothing environment can make sleep a positive experience for your baby.

    Your Sleep

    • When your baby is waking often and won't sleep for long stretches of time, that means that you're also awake and not sleeping much. You can help yourself and your partner to get more sleep by dividing nighttime duties, so that one of you can sleep for longer stretches while the other one tends to baby. When you are home during the day with your baby, take advantage of his naps to try to catch up on your own sleep. Put aside household chores and other activities that are not absolutely necessary.

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