One of the most common questions that we get from parents, no matter what the age of the child, is how to get them to sleep. If your child is a good sleeper, count your blessings! But if not, read on for some tips about sleep expectations at different ages.
0-12 wks
How well your baby sleeps at this age is the luck of the draw; genetics and personality both play a role. Several comforting techniques can be used to calm your baby when bedtime nears including swaddling, sucking, swinging and bathing your baby. A very common problem for young babies is the day-night mix up; babies have no Circadian rhythms until about 6 mo of age so day and night are the same to them. Try to keep lights and sounds low during nighttime feedings. Keep your baby as active as possible during the day; one of the best ways to do this is by waking them for frequent feedings during daylight hrs. Your baby needs 10 to 18 hrs of sleep a day at this age.
12 wks- 6 mo
In this age range, anything can throw your baby’s schedule off- teething, illness, a vacation, a move to a different room in the house. This is a good age to start a bedtime routine but don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t work at first. Some things that can help form a bedtime routine are singing songs or reading stories, rocking your baby or bathing.
6 mo- 18 mo
The risk of SIDS decreases after 6 mo. This is a good time to try the “cry it out” method. After going through the bedtime routine, try to put your baby in bed while drowsy, not fully asleep. If your baby cries when you leave, wait 5 min then go to the room but do not pick her up and make the interaction brief. Leave the room again and if she continues to cry, wait 10 min before you go in and follow the same process. Continue to increase the time interval each awakening. This is also a good time to incorporate an attachment object into the bedtime routine such as a stuffed animal or blanket. If you have been co-sleeping with your child, you must get the child in his own bed by 12 mo or it may not happen for a long while.
18 mo and up
Having a consistent bedtime routine and consistent bedtime, wake up time and nap time is the key to having a good sleeper. Most children require about 16 hrs of sleep a day, 11 or 12 of which is at night. Any age is ok to try a toddler bed unless your child is simply too big and you have to move the child for safety reasons.