The average baby begins life sleeping in short stretches at a time, and as the baby grows, those stretches grow longer and longer. No two babies will have the exact same sleep patterns, but if your baby's sleep habits differ greatly from the average ranges, talk to your doctor as to determine if there are any problems.
Newborns
Newborns sleep at least 16 hours a day, in stretches as short as one to two hours at a time or as long as three to four hours at a time. At this age, the need for food outweighs the need of sleep, cites KidsHealth.org. You must wake your baby every three to four hours to feed him if you are bottle-feeding. Because breast milk is more absorbent, you may have to wake your baby every two hours to feed him in the first three to four weeks of life.
1 to 3 Months
At 3 months, the average baby needs 15 hours of sleep a day, with two-thirds, or about 10 hours of sleep, taking place at night. From 1 to 3 months, you should notice your baby staying asleep for longer stretches during the night. After a late-night feeding, you baby should sleep for around six to seven hours, according to KidsHealth.org. The average baby will take two to three naps during the day.
4 to 7 Months
The average 6-month-old can stay asleep at night for nine to 12 hours at a time, according to MayoClinic.com. However, KidsHealth.org points out that since every baby is different, some babies only sleep for a total of nine hours during a 24-hour period, while others sleep for as much as 18 hours a day. During the day, the average baby at this age sleeps for three to four hours. From 4 to 7 months, the average baby sleeps a total of 14 hours.
8 to 12 Months
From 8 to 12 months of age, the average baby sleeps a total of 13 to 14 hours a day. The average number of naps is two, but nap time can vary widely from 20 minutes to three hours at a time. According to KidsHealth.org, the average nap time is one hour during this stage of life. Because your baby may be experiencing separation anxiety at this age, she may wake up and cry more throughout the night.
Sleep Habits
Maintain a consistent rhythm to help your baby sleep more soundly at night and stay alert during the day. Expose your baby to natural sunlight and engage your baby when he is awake during the day. Develop a bedtime routine where you sing or read to your baby to him help drift off every night. Put your baby in his crib when he is drowsy so he will learn to associate his crib with sleep. When your baby stirs or cries in the night, don't immediately run to him as he may only be readjusting himself in bed. If he needs to be fed or changed, keep the lights down low and talk to him a quiet voice.
