How long does a newborn sleep?

How long does a newborn sleep?

From the first days of life onwards, it is not easy to understand how much sleep a baby needs. Sometimes it seems that it is not enough, others that it is too much. In his new job "The bedtime book - What to know and what to do for your baby's happy sleep"(LSWR Editions) the pediatrician Alberto Ferrando it solves many of the doubts that frequently assail parents. We have explored some aspects.

In this article

• How long should a baby sleep
• The subdivision of the hourly amount over the course of the day
• How much does a newborn of a few days sleep
• What to do if the baby sleeps too much
• How much sleep a child from 3 to 5 years old should sleep
• How much sleep a child from 6 to 13 years old should sleep
• How much sleep a teenager aged 14 to 17 should sleep

How long should a baby sleep?

How long should a baby sleep?

"I Infants pass most of their time sleeping, even if there are some exceptions. Generally, babies need to sleep more hours than adults to support their rapid mental and physical development. The National Sleep Foundation American for over 30 years has been studying and updating data relating to the quality and duration of sleep at different ages of life. The last table elaborated lists the recommended hours of sleep, differentiating them into recommended, appropriate (that is, in any case falling within the norm) and not recommended.

• From 0 to 3 months:

• 14-17 hours recommended
• appropriate 11-13 hours with tolerance up to 18-19 hours
• not recommended less than 11 hours and more than 19 hours.

In the first months of life the baby can have crying fits not entirely understandable; sometimes, the cause is fatigue. In this case, the mother, after having made sure that the crying is not due to hunger or even a nuisance, it is good that she let him vent, talking to him softly and cuddling him.

• From 4 to 11 months:

• 12-15 hours recommended
• appropriate 10-11 hours with tolerance up to 16-18 hours
• not recommended less than 10 hours and more than 18 hours.

From 4 to 6 months the duration of the baby's sleep begins to be adjusted according to precise schemes about 3-4 hours, but it could be even more prolonged. Few already sleep for 6 or more hours without awakening. At 6 months, many babies already sleep 10-12 hours a night and can wake up twice for a short time. From 7-8 months it is likely that there is a surge in nocturnal awakenings.

• 1 to 2 years:

• 11-14 hours recommended
• appropriate 9-10 hours with tolerance up to 15-16 hours
• not recommended less than 9 hours or more than 16 hours.

After the completion of the first year, in the evening the child can have difficulty falling asleep. From this age he may be opposed to giving up a sleep activity; all the news represent a terrain for him to explore, he wants to play. It is important to establish rules and practice quiet activities such as reading or music. "

Read also: White noise to put babies to sleep: warnings for use

The subdivision of the hourly amount over the course of the day

How should this hourly amount be divided over the course of the day?

"In the early stages of life, babies do not distinguish day from night; after the first few months they begin to sleep more overnight, accustoming them to silence and darkness. The sleep day it is as important as that night both from the point of view of health in general and of emotional and cognitive well-being. The need for sleep varies from child to child and changes with age. The same is also true for i sonnellini. Generally, the best times are:

• if the child takes 3 naps: mid-morning, early afternoon and early evening;
• if the little one takes 2 naps: mid-morning and early afternoon;
• if the baby takes a nap: early afternoon.

Il nap it's a physiological need, an activity that children are happy to indulge in, especially the little ones. As for the duration, there are no precise rules: some children recharge during a rest of half an hour or an hour, while others need to sleep longer. Children generally do self-regulate and they wake up alone. However, if the afternoon rest lasts too long it can delay bedtime in the evening. In this case it is good wake him up gently after a certain amount of time ".

How much does a newborn of a few days sleep

How long does a few days old sleep?

"Some babies immediately sleep for several hours, even 4-6 in a row, but it is normal for them to wake up in the first weeks of life. every few hours. There are, however, many family but also individual variables. It is normal for a newborn or a few months old baby to wake up several times during the night as i frequent awakenings they allow the child to be preserved from possible dangers, for example a moment of apnea, and allow him to satisfy the needs of hunger ".

Read also: Sleeping babies, what to do if they can't sleep well

What to do if the baby sleeps too much

If the baby is sleeping too much, could it be an indication of some disease?

"The state of well-being or discomfort of a child is assessed by various parameters such as appetite, mood, liveliness and also the quantity and quality of sleep. If a child presents alterations of sleep than usual, in the sense of a marked excess or defect, it is advisable to consult your pediatrician. Typically, however, a child who sleep soundly and breathe regularly and he has spent a day in the usual way, has no fever and has passed out and urinated regularly, he can't have anything other than… a great sleep. "

How much sleep a child from 3 to 5 years old should sleep

How long should a child aged 3 to 5 sleep?

"Often, at these ages, the child no longer takes an afternoon nap but instead engages in play or other activities and sleeps about 10-12 hours per night. Establishing a sleep routine becomes especially important in ensuring the right rest time.

• Recommended sleep: 10-13 hours;
• appropriate sleep: 8-9 hours with a tolerance of up to 14 hours;
• sleep not recommended: less than 8 hours and more than 14 hours ".

How much sleep a child from 6 to 13 years old should sleep

"Sleep begins to take on the characteristics of adulthood, falling asleep becomes faster and we tend not to sleep more during the day.

• Recommended sleep: 9-11 hours;
• appropriate sleep: 7-8 hours with a tolerance of up to 12 hours;
• sleep not recommended: less than 7 hours and more than 12 hours ".

How much sleep a teenager aged 14 to 17 should sleep

"A critical period for sleep can occur in adolescence and pre-adolescence favored by the unregulated use of smartphone, tablets, computers, video games. For these reasons the teenager tends to sleep less at night and may recur i daytime naps. Parents need to pay attention to the fact that they wake up in the morning rested without having to resort to excessive stress, have a good school performance, exercise regularly and do not spend hours on the sofa sleeping and eating.

• Recommended sleep: 8-10 hours;
• appropriate sleep: about 7 hours with a tolerance of up to 11 hours;
• sleep not recommended: less than 7 hours and more than 11 hours ".

The interviewee

Alberto Ferrando he has been a family pediatrician since 1978, and has been involved in dissemination and courses for years. He is the author of numerous articles for various newspapers and since 2022 he has been talking to mothers and fathers through his blog.

TAG:

• newborn 0-3 months
• accustom the newborn to sleep