If you’re a first-time parent, you may not know a lot about infants’ sleep needs. In fact, the only thing you may know about sleep is you won’t be getting a lot of it.

If you have questions like…

Can newborns sleep too much?
Should I keep my newborn awake during the day?
Is swaddling safe?
When do I stop swaddling?
How do I sleep train my baby?

Then this blog is for you!

How Much Should My Infant Sleep?

If you have a newborn, you’ve probably noticed—they sleep a lot—but not always when you want them to! Generally, newborns sleep about 16 hours—8 to 9 hours during the day and around 8 hours at night—with repeated wakings for feedings.(1)

Unfortunately, newborns won’t sleep for more than 1 to 2 hours at a time, which is exhausting for parents—waking up several times a night to feed your baby will be common in the first few months after they’re born.

Here is a table that summarizes the amount of sleep infants need from the time they’re born to their first birthday:

How Should My Baby Sleep? 5 Tips for Safe Sleeping

Here are some tips to keep your baby safe and help him get to sleep:

1. On their back

Your baby should be placed on his back to sleep—not on his stomach or side—to reduce the likelihood of SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome.(2) Once your baby learns to safely roll from his stomach to his back it’s okay for him to sleep on his stomach, but don’t put him to sleep this way.(8) It’s safest to always put your baby down to sleep on his back.

2. On a firm surface

A soft, fluffy surface can block an infant’s airway, so make sure the sheets over your infant’s mattress fit snugly and your baby’s crib, bassinet, or other sleeping arrangement meet safety standards.(2)

3. In an empty crib or bassinet

Your baby’s sleeping area should be free of plush toys, pillows, blankets, sheepskins, quilts, or bumper pads.(2) An exception is putting your baby to sleep with a dummy (known as a pacifier in the US) which can help them go to sleep. And if it falls out while your infant is sleeping, don’t sweat it.(2)

4. Swaddled

You’re likely familiar with swaddling, which has been used for thousands of years across many cultures. Swaddling is when you wrap your newborn snugly in a light blanket to recreate the sensation of being in the womb.(3) Many parents find swaddling helps soothe their baby and helps them sleep for longer stretches.(3)

Swaddling is only appropriate for newborns. Once your infant learns to roll over or is showing signs of being able to roll over, stop swaddling your infant for safety reasons.(3)

5. Appropriately dressed so they don’t overheat

Regardless of their age, don’t over bundle your baby when you put them down for bed! Dress them appropriately for sleep in the climate you live in so they don’t overheat during the night.(2)

How You Can Help Your Baby Fall Asleep

Babies aren’t born with fully developed circadian rhythms. You can help them establish one by making sure they get plenty of stimulation during the day and enough exposure to daylight.(4) However, you don’t want to keep your infant awake during the day in the hopes she’ll sleep more at night. Babies who are overtired actually have more trouble falling asleep than those who’ve had enough naps during the day!(5)

Setting up a routine for your baby to associate with sleeping. Taking a bath, getting sung to, getting changed into pyjamas in a quiet environment, and dimming the lights, can all be helpful.(4) Try to teach your baby to associate the crib with being soothed and calm.(6)

Your baby may not feel safe falling asleep on their own at first. Putting your baby to bed while they’re still awake can help them practice falling asleep without you.(4) Sleep training is another great resource for parents who want to get more than one hour of shut eye a night.

What Is Sleep Training? 5 Sleep Training Methods (4 to Try, 1 to Avoid)

There are a number of different sleep training methods out there and we’ll go over five of them so you can make an informed choice for your family.

Sleep training teaches your baby to self-soothe and go to sleep—or fall back asleep—independently. It’s usually appropriate to start when your baby is between four and six months old, as this is typically the age at which infants can learn to soothe themselves.

Here’s a brief overview of 5 sleep training methods so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your infant:

1. The Cry-It-Out Method

This method is controversial, though it was quite popular in the late 19th and early 20th century(7) it’s now seen as rather out of date and perhaps even harmful. Essentially you leave your infant to cry—alone—until he falls asleep. Parents and caregivers don’t respond to baby’s cries throughout the night or soothe them when they’re fussy.(7)

2. The Ferber Method

A less extreme method, the Ferber Method involves checking in on your baby at predetermined times and briefly comforting them. The amount of time between these intervals increases gradually, and you continue with them until your baby falls asleep on their own.(7) Comforting should only last a minute or two and involves gentle touch or speaking to your infant in a calming voice — it does not involve feeding, picking them up, or turning on the light.(8)

3. The Chair Method

The chair method involves sitting in a chair close to your baby’s crib and comforting them as needed until they fall asleep.(9) You move the chair further and further from the crib until you’re able to remove it entirely.(9) If your baby wakes up during the night, you soothe them with gentle reassurance as needed (from wherever the chair is in the process) until they fall back asleep.(9)

4. The Pick Up Put Down Method

The Pick Up Put Down Method is exactly what it sounds like! You put your baby down in their crib and if they cry or fuss, you pick them up and hold them for a bit until they calm down.(10) Once calm, you return your baby to their crib. This is repeated until your baby falls asleep.(10)

5. The Bedtime Fading Method

This method involves not putting your infant to bed at the time you deem correct, but rather tuning into your infant’s sleep cues and putting them down when they show signs of tiredness.(11) Cues such as yawning, fussing, rubbing their eyes, fluttering their eyelids, pulling their ears, etc. can all indicate your infant is sleepy.(11) When they show their sleep cues, put them to bed, and offer comfort as needed throughout the night. Then shift their bedtime by 15 minutes every few nights until it’s at your desired time.(11)

If you’re still having a hard time getting your baby to sleep through the night, it may be a good idea to consult a sleep trainer.

Interested in Learning More?

Check out the Genius Little Minds podcast episode on infant sleep! You’ll learn all about infant sleep cycles and how they differ from adults’, fascinating cultural differences in approaches to sleep and nap time, and hear parent questions on co-sleeping vs. room-sharing, the cry-it-out method, and whether pacifiers are appropriate sleep aids.

Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to help your child thrive. Subscribe here to the Genius Little Minds podcast so you never miss an episode!

References