Sleep is crucial for a baby's health and development. But for new parents, it may seem like their babies never sleep. Just because your baby wakes frequently for food and a clean, fresh diaper, doesn't mean that she doesn't need her sleep and lots of it. Sleep is the time when babies grow and develop, so it's important to understand how much they need, how to get quality and safe sleep, and why sleep is so essential for a baby's health and growth.
What Happens During Sleep
For a baby to grow, hormones need to be released to trigger growth throughout the body, according to BabyCenter. There are many things that impact the production of one of the most important hormones, called human growth hormone. Babies need physical activity, low stress and the right nutrients, says BabyCenter. But most importantly, babies need sleep in order to encourage the production of human growth hormone. The highest amounts of growth hormone are secreted just after a baby slips into a deep sleep.
How Much Sleep
Babies need a lot of sleep. According to the Nemours Foundation, newborn babies need up to 16 hours of sleep in a day. How long they'll sleep at any one time varies, but some little ones with lucky parents will sleep up to three or four hours at once. The more baby sleeps, the longer she'll be awake, and the longer she'll then sleep in each stretch.
The Waking Debate
Though sleep is essential for a healthy, growing baby, so is eating regularly. And since those tiny tummies can only hold a little bit of food at a time, babies need to eat regularly. Some pediatricians may suggest waking a newborn about every three or four hours to eat if he sleeps longer than that. Breast-fed babies, in particular, need to eat more often than formula-fed babies (generally every two hours) because breast milk digests more quickly, says Nemours. Babies who need to gain weight and premature babies may also need to have their sleep interrupted to ensure they're eating enough.
Establishing Healthy Sleep Habits
The key to your baby getting plenty of good, quality sleep is establishing a good sleep routine and healthy sleep habits. It's never too early to start a bedtime routine. Set a bedtime for your baby. Read bedtime stories, sing lullabies, give baby a bath--whatever lets your baby know that it's time to settle in for some sleep, suggests Nemours. When baby wakes at night for a feeding and a clean diaper, keep it dark and quiet so that she'll go back to sleep after she's fed and changed.
Sleep Safety
Safe sleep is good sleep, and according to Nemours, the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend co-sleeping. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in his own crib or bassinet, which can be in Mom and Dad's room until the baby is a few weeks old, but not in their bed. Babies should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and there should be no hazards in or near the cribs--no cords or strings that could strangle, and no linens, pillows or toys that could suffocate, says Nemours.
