Sleep is important at all ages. Sleep problems are common among infants and toddlers, affecting both the child and the parents.
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How much sleep a child needs each day depends on age. Newborns sleep about 16 to 20 hours and are awake about 1 to 2 hours between periods of sleep. Infants sleep about 13 to 15 hours including nighttime sleep, morning naps and afternoon naps. Toddlers sleep about 12 hours including an afternoon nap.
It is normal for newborns and babies to have pauses of 15 to 20 seconds between breaths while they are asleep. The pauses should become shorter and less frequent as your baby gets older.
Here are some ways to improve your child’s sleep.
Sleeping in parents’ bed –Safe sleep practices for infants up to one year of age include room sharing without bed sharing. An infant under one year of age must sleep on his back in his own bed. If your older child has been sleeping in your bed, and you wish to change this, it may be a challenge to break the habit. It is better to put your baby to sleep in his own bed at a younger age when it is easier to teach him to sleep alone.
Develop and follow a regular bedtime routine - At the point in the routine when your child is sleepy, but not fully asleep, place him in his bed. He may fuss for a few minutes. You can check on him every few minutes to see if he is OK but leave him in his own bed
for several more rounds of “fuss and check,” letting the fussy periods last for 10 minutes at the most. Do not keep going into his room or let him see you, or you will condition him to expect you to keep coming back when he fusses. He will eventually fall asleep. The next night, allow the fussy periods to last a little longer. It will be frustrating at first, but for this to work, you must be persistent and consistent. If you are not successful after several weeks you may wish to stop this plan and try again in 4 to 6 weeks. This method is not for everyone, so ask your child’s pediatrician for other options if needed.
Call your baby’s doctor if:
Remember: refer to Helping Hand, Safe Sleep Practices for Infants, HH-IV-69.
Healthy Sleep Habits for Infants and Toddlers (PDF)
HH-IV-117 Revised 7/16 Copyright 2011, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Ambulatory Pediatrics