Sleep needs and sleep patterns of babies

The topic of baby sleep is probably on the minds of many new parents: Is my child sleeping too much or too little? When does my baby sleep through the night? How long should a nap last? And what helps when the baby isn't sleeping?

Our LILLYDOO expert Heike vom Heede answers this and other questions about babies' sleep needs and sleep rhythms in an interview. She is a graduate social pedagogue and offers at her in Düsseldorf, among other things, for parents, to ensure both the child and the parents have restful nights.

Sleep needs and sleep rhythm

Dear Heike, how much sleep does a baby need?

A newborn needs approximately 16 to 20 hours Sleep during the day. The need for sleep is so high because birth represents a major adjustment for the baby. It first has to learn to orient itself in the new world and process all the impressions. Gradually, the need for sleep decreases. So many babies only need after three weeks 15 to 18 hours Sleep. At six weeks, a big leap often occurs, and your baby will have more wakeful periods from then on. The sleep needs now range between 16 to 17 hours . I would like to emphasize: Every baby is unique. Therefore, it is not unusual if your baby sleeps a little more or less.

We can only hope that children fulfill their sleep needs – for themselves, for their development, and emotions.

How does the sleep rhythm develop in babies?

In newborns, you can assume that they are approximately 1.5 hours after they have woken up, they become tired again. A proper sleep rhythm usually only establishes itself from the fourth month of life one. Developments usually occur three sleep times : In the morning, afternoon, and at night. If you're lucky, your baby will now sleep at night between 8 and 12 hours . But it's never about sleeping through the night, but about Rest and sleep phases . Breaks for feeding, Wrapping and cuddling are part of it. Between the first and second year of life the uniqueness of the children becomes very evident again. Often, it has been a long nap becomes solidified and the power naps are missed.

And here as well: Every child is unique Sometimes a sleep rhythm only establishes itself later or changes. How exactly it develops also depends on various factors. These include, among other things, the conditions you create as a parent, everyday life, and the birth as well as the first days in the new world .

Afternoon nap

How long do children need for a nap?

Here's the answer quite simple: As long as your child can fall asleep easily in the evening, I would keep the afternoon nap for years. . Your little explorer will show you when he no longer needs the extra sleep. From then on, you can a Lunch break introduce for the whole family, where you all take a few minutes to calm down together.

Children often need a bit more time to wake up after the afternoon nap because they are still in the sleep-dream phase. Keep this in mind and give your child time to wake up on their own.

Is there a "good" bedtime?

It's great if you try to establish fixed bedtimes. Evening routines and give your child a consistent rhythm so that they can feel secure and settle down more quickly. Since different processes occur in children's brains compared to ours as adults, I recommend a bedtime until school age between 7 PM and 8 PM .

Sleeping place

What is a good sleeping place for babies?

At the beginning, your little explorer should much near you being. Babies learn to find calm through the proximity of their parents and can better perceive their rest phases. A nice way to do this is the The puck . By allowing your baby to fall asleep with you, you are providing him with a lot of warmth from the heart.

Your child should first get to know the sleeping place and learn the sleeping times. As the outside world becomes larger, it is comforting when your child knows for sure: "Here I have peace." But never see this dogmatically. The sleeping place can also sometimes be the Stroller or the travel cot on the go. It is important that your child has rest periods set up and the Sleeping place preferably darkened is.

I recommend to parents that the child until the first year of life in your room is sleeping. Whether your baby is in family bed or sleeps in the child's bed, is Your own decision . But with the sleeping arrangement, nothing is set in stone: if your little explorer is crawling over you and your partner in the family bed after six or seven months, you may change the sleeping arrangement. In this case, your child will probably sleep much more peacefully in their own little bed – and so will you.

Tips for restless nights

What could be possible reasons for restless nights? n?

Restless nights have various causes. For example, it can be due to Birth History lie in or on, that your child stressed is and first of all, needs to arrive in the world. As soon as you feel a sense of uncertainty, you can seek support. If your baby doesn't sleep at all at night or during the day, then the Midwife or the pediatrician the first point of contact . In the next step, a professional sleep consultation in collaboration with the pediatrician or the sleep clinic can help. Sometimes the sleep situation improves quickly, and sometimes it takes a little longer because the child needs time to adjust.

But not every restless night is a cause for concern. Is your little explorer, for example, currently in a phase? Growth spurt , restlessness and poor sleep are not uncommon. If your baby sleeps poorly over an extended period, a sleep diary provides a good way to observe the nights and identify problems. A Template for a sleep diary here for you:

What can parents do when the baby isn't sleeping ?

My tip for parents: Stay calm . If you want your child to calm down, then do it yourself as well. Don't fall into rocking or try different sounds. If a child is very outward-focused, for example through listening to stories or the sound of the sea, it often has a harder time calming down on its own.

In general, a regular sleep rhythm and consistent evening routines can help your child relax more quickly and learn when it's time to sleep.

How do you help parents and children in your sleep consulting?

I always look at the whole picture in my : the child, the family, pregnancy, birth, and the first arrival into the world. I would never provide the same consultation in different households.

For me, when it comes to sleep for babies and children, it is essential to advise parents not to be influenced by the many advice books and opinions. As long as you and your partner are doing well, everything is in harmony. However, if you fall into persistent exhaustion and your child still wakes constantly at ten months old, then it is worth seeking professional help to get to the root of the issue.

I wish you all – big and small – restful nights!