What Time Should a Baby Go to Sleep?
It's not difficult to get your baby to fall asleep, but it can be challenging to keep her asleep long enough. Adequate slumber is essential for the normal growth and development of your child. The amount of sleep your little one needs varies depending on her age, but you should aim to establish a bedtime and regular nap times so she gets exactly what she needs.
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How Much Sleep
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Your baby's exact sleep needs depend on how old he is. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, newborns sleep at least 16 hours a day. At 6 months of age, your baby should sleep for 14 hours during a 24-hour period, and needs slightly less than 14 hours by his first birthday. Babies won't sleep this much all at one time, however, which makes a regular bedtime and consistent nap times an effective way to ensure that your little one gets enough shut eye.
Bedtimes
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Newborns don't need a regular bedtime for the first few months of life because they are still adjusting to their eating schedule, as well as getting used to normal sleep patterns. Once your baby reaches 3 months of age, she'll sleep for about 5 hours at a stretch. Depending on what time it's convenient for you to feed her, adjust her bedtime accordingly. If you want to feed your baby before you go to bed around 11 p.m., put her down around 6 p.m. so she'll be hungry when you're ready to feed her. By the time your baby is 6 months old, she'll sleep for nine to 12 hours at a time. If your baby gets up at 6 a.m., and regularly sleeps for 12 hours, 6 p.m. is an appropriate bedtime. If she sleeps less, adjust her bedtime later so she's not getting up in the middle of the night ready to play. For babies who sleep for i hours at night, between 9 and 10 p.m. would put her wake time between 6 and 7 a.m. i
Nap Times
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According to MayoClinic.com, babies 4 months and older nap for about three hours total during the day. Before your baby's first birthday, she'll probably take a morning nap and an afternoon nap. Space the naps apart during the day so she's not napping right after she gets in the morning or right before she usually goes to bed at night. If your baby gets up at 7 a.m., she'll probably be ready for a nap around 9:30 or 10 a.m. She'll nap earlier if she's a morning person and gets up significantly earlier than that. If you put your baby to bed at 7 p.m. her afternoon nap should start between noon and 1 p.m. so she's not sleeping much past 3 or 3:30 p.m. That way she's rested for the rest of the afternoon and evening, but also so she'll be tired enough to fall asleep at bedtime. If her bedtime is later, adjust her nap time so she's awake for at least four hours before you put her down for the night.
Considerations
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The sleep amounts recommended by experts such as the American Academy of Pediatrics aren't written in stone. Your baby might need more or less sleep than average. If your baby sleeps less than you would like, consider her behavior during the day. If she's happy, she's likely getting plenty. If she's cranky or irritable, she probably needs more slumber. Ultimately, your baby's exact bedtime and nap times are up to you and what works for your family. Adequate restful sleep is infinitely more important than what time she falls asleep.
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