How much sleep does your baby need

As a new parent, you’re bound to wonder if your baby is getting enough sleep.

Here are the hours of sleep your baby may need between the ages of one month and 12 months. But remember that every baby is different, and your little one may need more or less sleep than this.

It’s likely that your baby won’t stay asleep for more than one hour to three hours at a time in her first few months. She needs to wake frequently so that she can refill her tummy, so be prepared for some interrupted nights. 

Once your baby is about three months old, you can start to follow a set pattern every night. This may help your baby to settle quicker at night and sleep for longer. However, do remember that all babies are different and what works for one baby may not work for another. 

By nine months to 12 months your baby may even sleep through the night, allowing you to get more sleep too! Some babies may wake more often than others.

It’s not unusual for babies who have started sleeping through to go back to occasional night waking or wake several times a night. It’s common for babies around nine months old to wake up more frequently. At around this time, your baby may start to feel her first pangs of separation anxiety, which can disrupt her sleep. Teething and learning new skills, such as crawling, can also disturb your baby’s sleep patterns. To help your baby sleep well, it helps to have a consistent and predictable bedtime routine. This could include a bath, a change into night clothes, a favourite story and a cuddle. Knowing what’s coming every night will help your baby to learn sleep habits that will stand you both in good stead for the future.

Original article: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a7645/how-much-sleep-does-your-baby-need