Navigating sleep during the early years can be anything but dreamy. It's a rollercoaster ride of sleep regressions and bedtime battles. From newborns who seem to have no concept of day and night, to toddlers resisting bedtime like champions of protest, each stage comes with its own set of sleep patterns. And just when you think you've figured it all out, a new milestone or developmental leap can tip the scales once again.
As parents, understanding these ever-evolving sleep patterns is crucial. It helps anticipate challenges and adapt the strategies accordingly. On this podcast episode, we'll delve into the details about age appropriate sleep requirements, indicators of readiness for various stages of sleep and shed light on transition from co-sleeping to independent sleeping.
Sleep is vital for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. In this guide, we explore age-appropriate sleep needs and readiness indicators to establish healthy sleep routines, nurture growth, and ensure peaceful nights for both you and your child.
Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours of sleep per day, typically in 2-3 hour stretches, with frequent feeding. Newborns need frequent feeding and sleep cycles.
Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours of sleep per day, including nighttime sleep and naps. Nighttime sleep may become more consolidated. As babies grow, they might show signs of readiness for sleep training, longer nighttime sleep stretches, and established nap schedules.
Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours of sleep per day, which may include one or two naps. Toddlers tend to consolidate sleep into one nap during the day and longer nighttime sleep. They may start showing an interest in bedtime routines and may resist going to bed.
Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours of sleep per day, with most children transitioning to one daytime nap. They may start resisting naps altogether, indicating readiness to transition to no daytime nap.
Transition from co sleeping to independent sleeping:
Transitioning from co-sleeping to independent sleep is a significant step in your child's development and a milestone in their journey towards sleep independence. Here are some dos and don'ts to follow while transitioning.
Do:
>Create a calming and consistent bedtime routine that helps signal to the child that it's time to sleep.
>Pay attention to your child's daytime naps. Ensure they are age-appropriate and not too close to bedtime, as excessive daytime napping can interfere with nighttime sleep.
>Bring familiar sleep associations from co-sleeping into the baby's new sleep space, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal.
Don't:
>Rush the transition. Give your baby time to adjust to the new sleeping arrangement at their own pace.
>Abruptly stop co-sleeping if it's been the norm. This can be distressing for the baby.
>Allow excessive screen time before bedtime. The blue light from screens can interfere with the child's ability to fall asleep.