How long should my baby sleep?

Babies sleep for most of the day and night when they are not eating. How long your baby sleeps will depend on many things, including how old your baby is, if they have fed, their health and their comfort. If you think your baby is sleeping too much or are worried your baby isn’t getting enough sleep, you should speak with your healthcare provider, especially if your baby is ill.

The amount of sleep your baby needs depends on how old your baby is. The time range for the required hours of sleep your baby should get as they grow up is:

• 0-3 months. Typically, at this age your baby should get between 14-17 hours of sleep every day. This includes their daytime naps and sleep during the night. The pattern may differ for each baby. Some may sleep more during the day and some more at night. Their brain is still learning the difference between night and day.
• 4-11 months. For this age group, about 12-16 hours of sleep is recommended. This includes daytime naps and sleep at night. As they grow, they are likely to adjust to sleeping more at night than during the day.

Sleeping is essential for your baby's health. That your newborn sleeps for more than half of the day provide them with the following benefits:

• Better growth. Sleep helps your baby grow. The hormone that helps your baby grow is mostly produced when they are sleeping. Therefore, if your baby is not getting enough sleep, it may not grow as it should.
• Improved learning. As your baby sleeps, their brain is working to process all the information they got while they were awake. This helps them learn and remember sights, sounds, faces, languages and so on.
• They have an increased ability to fight infections. Sound sleep helps your baby build their body's defences to fight infections.
• Healthy weight. Poor sleep can lead to unhealthy weight gain. If your baby sleeps well, it reduces their risk of being overweight.
• Better social skills. A well-rested baby is not cranky or always crying. This makes it easy for them to play with you and other babies.

If you notice that your baby has not been sleeping enough, you may try the following:

• Keep the room quiet and dark at bedtime. Doing this can help your baby’s brain adjust to nighttime. You can also open the curtains to let some light in during the day. This will train them to distinguish day from night.
• Put them to bed at the same times every day. Maintaining a routine at bedtime can help your baby get used to sleeping at specific times.
• Let them fall asleep (again) on their own. When your baby wakes up at night, do not rush to fetch them. Wait for a little while to allow them to fall asleep on their own unless they continue crying.
• Talk to your healthcare provider. If you have tried to help your baby sleep or notice they are constantly cranky and not sleeping well, you may need medical attention. Do not give your baby medicines to help them sleep unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so.

Improving your baby's sleep habits may help immediately or you may need to continue for a while to see a difference. Continue to monitor your baby's sleep, but make sure you get enough rest yourself.