Signs That a Newborn Is Ready for a Nap
A child in considered a newborn for the first three months of his life -- and is then considered an infant. As a newborn, your child experiences several changes including changes in his sleep cycles. Since newborns need to nurse every one to four hours, according to the La Leche League, they typically only take short naps. There are certain signs you can observe that indicate when your newborn needs to nap.
-
The First Month
-
Newborns often jerk their arms and legs. These are natural reflexes that sometimes become apparent when a newborn is tired. Other physical indicators that might indicate that your 1-month-old is ready for nap include having half-closed eyelids, yawning and stretching, according to ̶0;Caring for Your Baby and Young Child̶1; by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Age 1 to 3 Months
-
Between 1 and 3 months of age, some newborns might start to stay more awake and alert for longer periods of time. Newborns at this age will often develop a pattern to help you determine when it̵7;s time for a nap. For example, they might wake, nurse or feed from a bottle, be active, want to nurse or have a bottle again, and then grow tired. Once you know your baby̵7;s pattern, you can better predict when she needs a nap. Other signs that might indicate that it's time for a nap are crankiness, crying despite just eating, yawning, and just becoming less active.
Other Signs
-
Every baby is different. Even as a newborn, your child is beginning to develop her own distinct personality. You might notice certain individual signs that indicate your newborn is tired and ready for nap. For example, he might look for his pacifier if you give him one regularly. Or, he might grab his ears or a lock of hair to self-soothe. Some newborns suck their thumbs when tired. Observe your newborn carefully to learn his individual signs for sleepiness.
How Much Sleep
-
Newborns typically need about 14 to 18 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, according to the AskDrSears website. Keep in mind that these are averages and that every baby is different. Sleeping less than 14 hours or more than 18 in a day might be normal for a newborn as well. However, if you are concerned about your newborn sleeping too much or too little, do contact your pediatrician. As your newborn grows into the infant stage, she will sleep less.
-
-
Getting your baby to nap or sleep in their crib can be a very challenging task. Just as you may worry about leaving your baby alone, your baby also worries when you are away. Teaching them that its okay to sleep in their crib by creating an environme
-
It is important to keep safety in mind when you cover a baby for sleep. It is not safe to put a baby to sleep under thick or loose blankets, but he still needs to be kept warm and feeling secure at night. Cover your baby using safe methods that will
-
We’ll be the first to admit that going belly up doesn’t always seem to agree with all babies. While not true of all babies, we’ve found that quite a few are prone to startling themselves awake from peaceful slumber. That’s because all babies are at t
