Here's How Much Sleep Your Kids Should Be Getting

How much sleep to expect

Newborns typically sleep in two- to four-hour intervals, waking up to eat. You should always feed your newborn on a regular schedule, even through the night, because the newborn stage is crucial for growth and development. If your baby is not waking up to eat, talk to your pediatrician to see if it's necessary.

Tips for better sleep

Babies this age tend to stir and look restless during sleep. Because of reflexes they can't control, it's common to see them twitch their arms and legs, smile, and make sucking noises.

Newborns aren't born knowing how to soothe themselves to sleep, so you may need to help, with tricks like using a pacifier, swaddling, rocking, and breastfeeding. Remember, there's no such thing as spoiling a newborn, so it's OK to cuddle babies to help them doze off.

Baby's Sleep Schedule: 2 to 4 Months

Two to four months is considered a transition time because it's somewhere between newborn sleep and older infant sleep. Chances are, your baby will still be sleeping in unpredictable ways, but as they approach the four-month mark, their brains develop enough to start settling into recognizable sleep patterns. Remember, the AASM doesn't track infant sleep until they reach 4 months old, so up until that time, baby sleep can be very unpredictable.

How much sleep to expect