Norms of sleep and wakefulness for a child up to one year old. Compliance with sleep standards for the development and well-being of children under one year old. Factors that help maintain healthy sleep in children

Quality rest of sufficient duration is necessary for every person. And up to a year, sleep is one of the main components of harmonious growth and development. Each baby is individual; the required duration of rest depends on temperament and the speed of various processes in the body. But there are certain sleep norms for children under one year old. This is the average time you need to sleep day and night to ensure good health and development.

Why is sleep important for a child?

Children love to run and jump. While awake, they get very tired, sometimes they simply “fall off their feet.” To recuperate, you need to have a good rest. During sleep, a number of processes occur in the body:

• Tissues, organs, and strength are restored. When a little person is too tired, he has poor control of his body, falls, and hits himself.
• Growth hormone is released, muscles, bones, organs, and their systems develop. If the baby sleeps little, lags from the norms in weight and height are often observed. You can find out what standards exist and whether you fit into them from the article: Height and weight of a newborn by month >>>.
• Immune cells are actively formed, which then help fight diseases. Find out what to do if your baby gets sick often and how to prevent illness from the Healthy Child course >>>.
• The brain grows and develops. New neural connections are formed. Waste products are removed from it. During sleep, children's brains work actively: they analyze information received during the day, store it in memory, find connections between events, and consolidate skills acquired during the day.
• The nervous system is restored. Children who sleep according to norms are in a good mood and have a cheerful disposition.

According to research, with a lack of rest, behavior worsens, aggression, impulsiveness, and tearfulness appear. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (inability to concentrate) is often diagnosed.

Scientists have proven that if children under one year of age have less rest than normal, then behavioral problems persist into older age. It is necessary to ensure that the infant sleeps in accordance with monthly norms and to create conditions for quality rest in order to prevent problems with behavior and development.

Sleep norms for children under one year old

Most likely, you record the breaks between feedings, the volume of food, weight gain, height in your baby during the first year of life and compare them with standards. And they didn’t even think about sleep standards. But in vain. After all, sleep is no less important for the growth and development of a baby than nutrition.

Sleep standards for children under one year of age are shown in the table.

These are average standards. All children have their own characteristics. The quality and norm also depend on the general condition, health, and temperament. For example, if a little one is bothered by a runny nose, it may be of shorter duration. But he will sleep more often.

Signs that your baby wants to sleep

Sometimes tired children fall asleep on their own. But in most cases, when your son (daughter) is already tired, he himself does not understand it. But the behavior changes:

1. He rubs his eyes, yawns, tugs at his ear;
2. He is not interested in any activities or games, he turns away;
3. Begins to be capricious, nervous, and cries for no particular reason;
4. Falls, pushes;
5. Becomes agitated and too active.

It is necessary to correctly understand these symptoms and put the child to sleep in a short time, otherwise he will become overexcited and will not be able to sleep normally. It will all end in tears, hysteria, and nightly restlessness.

In most families, children fall asleep late, around the same time as their parents. This is absolutely wrong and does not correspond to the norm. It is a well-known fact that 60 minutes of sleep before midnight for little ones is equal to 120 after. Therefore, it is not only the overall duration that is important.

If you go to bed late, don't change your habit too suddenly. This will be hard for everyone. Shift your bedtime by 15 minutes each evening. After a few days, a new habit will form, and there will be no problems falling asleep at the right time.

Signs that you're not getting enough sleep

If a baby under one year old sleeps an hour less than necessary, but feels well, his mood is even and cheerful, then there is no need to worry. But if your son or daughter sleeps enough (the duration fits into the table norms of sleep and wakefulness for a child up to a year), this does not mean that he has enough. Symptoms that your baby is not getting enough rest are:

• While awake, the baby is restless, cannot play independently for a minute, begins to be capricious, is not interested in anything, and is nervous. He can only calm down in his mother’s arms;

Important! But remember that anxiety in children can also be caused by other problems: intestinal colic, teething. Observe, monitor compliance with the norms of wakefulness and sleep, record play and rest times for several days in a row.

• A baby who doesn’t get enough rest during the day becomes so tired in the evening that he starts screaming and crying. Laying down becomes a real challenge for the whole family. Ensure that you get enough sleep during the day. Prepare in advance to fall asleep at a certain time. Closer to the year, a more or less constant regime has already been established. It is already possible to predict fatigue and move on to calm games and bedtime ritual in time. Read more about this in the article Bedtime Rituals >>>.
• The son (daughter) wakes up before midnight. An hour or two after laying down. This is a sign that he is not getting enough rest during the day. Increase the duration of sleep during daylight hours, even if it is normal. In the evening, go to bed early.
• Lack of sleep is one of the common causes of poor appetite and weight imbalance. Article

Contents of the article

Healthy and sound sleep is no less important for the growth and development of a baby than good nutrition - it is not without reason that nature intended that in the first months of life a newborn is awake much less than he rests. This means that providing all the necessary conditions for this is one of the most important tasks of parents of a baby. They will not only have to take care of a comfortable crib and a suitable temperature in the room, but also maintain the correct daily routine, having found out in advance what sleep standards exist for children under one year old, and how can one understand that the baby is getting too little rest and is overtired?

Why sleep is important for a child

It is not for nothing that pediatricians pay special attention to the norms of sleep and wakefulness of a child up to one year old - this is the time of the most active growth and development of the baby, requiring a lot of strength and energy. And in order to “recharge”, the baby just needs proper rest. But that’s not all: during sleep, tissue regeneration is activated, growth hormone is produced, muscles develop, immune cells are formed, and the brain gets the opportunity to process a huge amount of information coming from the outside world and consolidate acquired skills. Rest is also extremely important for a child’s nervous system - only after getting enough sleep can he start the day in a cheerful mood and devote it to new discoveries.

A small reminder to parents

It has been proven that for children under one year old to feel good, they need not only sound, but also long sleep. Without it, they can be aggressive, whiny and agitated, showing signs of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. If a baby rests less than normal, these problems, as a rule, only get worse with age, leaving an imprint on his behavior as a whole. Therefore, it is so important for parents to pay attention not only to the child’s weight gain and height, the number of feedings and breaks between them, but also to the baby’s sleep standards, creating all the conditions for his full development.

Baby's sleep from birth to one year

A newborn baby can rest up to 20 hours a day, waking up only to eat. This regime allows his body to quickly adapt to the new conditions in which he found himself after leaving the womb. At this time, the baby's sleep is especially deep, so it can be difficult to wake him up, even if the room is noisy and the bright lights are on.

But time passes, and the situation gradually changes - the baby becomes more and more interested in the world around him, periods of wakefulness become longer, and in order to rock him to sleep again, considerable efforts have to be made. Of course, with docile and calm babies there may not be such problems, but parents of more temperamental children often wonder whether they get enough rest and have time to regain the energy they spent? For this case, pediatricians even developed a special table with sleep standards for children from birth to one year. It clearly shows how, as the child grows, the daily routine of the baby gradually changes - infants, according to months of life, can be divided into several age groups, and each has its own duration of day and night rest.

During the first 4 weeks of life, newborns can sleep 18-20 hours a day, with breaks for feeding, without feeling much difference between day and night. But already at the end of this period, a certain daily routine begins to develop, and from 1 to 3 months, infants sleep, as a rule, 6-7 hours during the day and 8-11 hours at night. By 5 months, the duration of daytime sleep is reduced by 60-90 minutes, and nighttime sleep, on the contrary, increases, that is, the baby gradually gets used to the “adult” lifestyle.

Six-month-old children most often rest no more than 2-3 hours during the day, and 10-12 hours at night. Over the next 6 months, periods of wakefulness increase only due to a reduction in daytime sleep - at night, babies up to one year old still sleep 10-12 hours, and daytime rest gradually decreases from 2-3 hours at 7-8 months to 60 minutes per year.

Sleep from 0 to 3 months

The first week after birth, the baby spends almost all of his time sleeping - this makes it easier for his fragile body, which is encountering the outside world for the first time, to adapt to new conditions. Parents should not worry about this or, especially, wake up the child, fearing that he is sleeping too much. Gradually, periods of activity will increase - in the first days, newborns fall asleep immediately after or even during feeding, by the end of the month they are quite capable of staying awake for about 60 minutes, and at the age of 3 months, before falling asleep again, babies can actively get acquainted with their surroundings 1 ,5-2 hours. In any case, it is better for parents to closely monitor the child's condition and try to rock him to sleep at the first signs of drowsiness to avoid overtiredness.

Infants' nighttime rest is rarely continuous - during the first few months of life, they wake up briefly several times to eat. The number of night feedings depends on the child’s daily routine - children whose parents put them to bed at 8-9 pm usually wake up 2-3 times before the morning, and those who are used to falling asleep later may limit themselves to one feeding.

Sleep from 3 to 6 months

During this period, the total daily sleep time gradually decreases, and by the age of six months it is about 12-15 hours. At night, the baby can sleep continuously for 6-7 hours in a row, giving the mother the opportunity to rest. The need for night feedings gradually decreases - if a child aged 4-6 months is not bothered by anything, he rarely wakes up in the middle of the night more than once to eat.

If the baby has had a good night's sleep, his periods of wakefulness increase to 2-2.5 hours in a row. Parents have the opportunity to adjust the daily routine taking into account the individual characteristics of the child - by this age it becomes clear what time he likes to wake up, and when, tired, he begins to be capricious. As a rule, over the course of 3 months, the duration of daytime sleep is gradually reduced, and by 6 months, babies are already sleeping for only 2 hours at noon and after lunch.

Sleep from 6 to 9 months

At this time, children still sleep 2 times during the day, but no more than 90 minutes in a row, and active games can last up to 3-3.5, and by 9 months - 4 hours. The usual routine that is established during this period lasts, as a rule, up to 2-3 years, so it is extremely important for parents to develop an optimal schedule and, if possible, adhere to it, thus avoiding problems with evening bedtime, whims and overwork of the child. Experts recommend, starting from the age of 7-9 months, to practice certain rituals with your child that will help him get ready for rest - put away toys together, put his favorite teddy bear in his crib, put on beautiful pajamas with an interesting pattern, or read a bedtime story.

By the age of 8-9 months, many children go the whole night without feeding, and after waking up for a short time, they can easily fall asleep again on their own, without crying and without waiting for motion sickness. To make rest at night even stronger, parents of babies of this age should gradually give up evening sleep - having rested in the afternoon, the baby will wake up active and in a good mood, while sleeping after sunset can cause whims and tearfulness.

Sleep from 9 to 12 months

At the end of the first year of life, actively developing babies no longer experience such a great need for long rest - it is enough for them to sleep 12-14 hours a day. About 10-12 hours of this time are spent on continuous night sleep, without feeding or rocking. During the day, children aged 10-12 months often sleep only once, refusing midday rest and falling asleep after lunch for 2-2.5 hours. If, with such a schedule, the baby remains active and cheerful, it is better for parents not to persistently try to put him in the crib, provoking tears and whims. The main thing you need to focus on is the well-being and mood of the child, who, through his behavior, may well make it clear whether he has time to properly rest during the time spent in sleep.

Baby's daily routine

By following a certain daily routine, it is much easier for parents to provide their baby with everything necessary: ​​good nutrition, rest, comfortable conditions for physical and intellectual development, as well as take care of his hygiene and natural needs. With this approach, mom and dad can plan their own affairs, managing to do work, ordinary household chores and paying attention to the baby. But in order for the baby to be comfortable both at night and during the day, remember: a constant regime of day and night rest should ensure his good health and mood, and not become the cause of whims and hysterics. This means that when creating such a routine, it is important to first of all take into account the needs and individual characteristics of the child himself.

Don't forget about simple rituals before bed

1. Morning. First feeding (between 5 and 9 am), hygiene procedures, gymnastics, massage, air baths, and then sleep.
2. Day. Active games, walks, feeding and rest (at noon and afternoon).
3. Evening. Water procedures, preparation for a night's rest, feeding and sleep.
4. Night. Rest with short breaks for feeding.

It is at night that it is especially important to take care of the baby’s comfort - if the baby does not get enough sleep, he will not have enough strength to actively explore the world and develop during the day. Therefore, parents should make sure that the baby’s room is not too noisy, there are no bright lights on, and also maintain a normal temperature in the bedroom, change wet clothes on time and do not skip evening feedings so that the baby does not wake up from hunger.

Signs that you're not getting enough sleep

If a baby sleeps 1-2 hours less than he should at his age, but feels well, does not cry or is capricious for no reason, parents should not make excessive efforts and try to rock him to sleep. But how do you understand that your baby still doesn’t have enough time for proper rest? We can say that a child is really not getting enough sleep if he:

• restless and distracted while awake, constantly nervous, refuses to play independently and calms down only in the arms of adults;
• screams and cries in the evenings, tosses and turns for a long time and resists attempts to rock him to sleep;
• at night wakes up several times before midnight, just 1-2 hours after going to bed;
• eats poorly and gains little weight.

Faced with such a problem, parents first of all need to look for the sources of the baby’s anxiety - perhaps he is not getting enough sleep because intestinal colic or teething are bothering him, or maybe the reason lies in an incorrect daily routine and hyperfatigue syndrome. But in both cases, the situation must be changed for the better, creating all the conditions for the harmonious growth and development of the child.

But, of course, despite generally accepted norms, parents should not forget that every baby is individual from the first day of life, and his need for sleep and rest largely depends on temperament and the speed of processes occurring in the body. This means that “tailoring” a child to standard indicators is not the right decision. And when the baby is healthy, cheerful and active, then, perhaps, it’s not so scary if he sleeps an hour more or less than expected.

After the baby is born, parents begin to ask a lot of questions. How long do babies sleep after birth? How much time should you spend sleeping at night? Is it possible to make noise or talk when the baby is sleeping? All these and many other questions concern young parents; we will look at the answers to them below.

In the first months of life, a newborn baby sleeps almost all day.

Children are born appear very weak and at first they need a lot of strength in order to adapt to new conditions and begin to explore the world. We must remember that we are constantly being pressed by an atmospheric column whose weight is 250 kilograms.

However, adults take this burden calmly and don’t even notice it. But children are literally crushed by it from the first days of life. It is difficult for them to move and drink milk from their mother’s breast. It is not at all surprising that at first the child only sleeps and eats, sleeps and eats.

Sleep duration

Approximate number of hours of sleep for a newborn baby.

Sleep duration table for newborns

To make it a little easier to navigate these intervals, the table below is presented.

You need to understand that all children are individual and these are optional indicators, they may differ up or down, but no more than two hours.

Effect on sleep frequency

How long a child will sleep at different ages primarily depends on the parents.

From about the second month, a day and night routine should be developed for the baby, in which there is time for sleep and wakefulness. It is necessary to teach your baby to sleep at night as long as possible:

1. During the daytime, you need to put your child to bed at the same time, so he will rest as he should.
2. Before going to bed, do several activities: go shopping, play, eat. eventually the child will get tired and sleep for a long time.

Children from six months

A lullaby can be a great bedtime ritual for your newborn.

Children from six months of age should have a kind of ritual before bed. At this time, kids are already well assimilated constantly repeated actions and get used to them. The following can be included here:

1. If mom sings a lullaby and bathes her, it means night will soon come and it’s time to sleep.
2. In the evening, avoid too active games; it is better to do a massage or warm-up.

When putting your baby to bed, stroke your baby and leave him only when you are sure he is sleeping.

Why does sleep become bad?

Healthy sleep can help a child in the first months of life with adaptation to the world around him.

During the first months, the baby gradually adapts to his new world. Sleep helps a lot with this. If he sleeps as much as he should at this age, then there are some reasons for this:

1. If a child sleeps very little during the day, only a few hours at a time, and constantly wakes up, then he will get tired and by evening sleep he will be capricious and whiny .
2. The main component of good sleep is favorable conditions created . Wet diapers or clothes, cold in the room, extraneous noise - all this affects a sound and restful sleep.
3. Before putting your child to bed, ventilate the room well .
4. Be sure to take your baby out for a walk in the fresh air during the day. , and it’s better to do this a few hours before bedtime.

Be sure to consult a doctor if your child has restless sleep!

Another reason why a child may not sleep well is. If necessary, you can visit your pediatrician to help identify the cause of poor sleep.

Deep sleep phase in a newborn

Duration of sleep phases in a newborn baby.

Parents must understand that no matter how soundly and sweetly their child sleeps, his deep sleep phase may after a while be replaced by a restless one, at which point even your sneeze can wake him up. To ensure that your sleep is not interrupted, you need to follow several recommendations:

1. Silence - remove all singing and talking objects away.
2. At night it should be dark, or use a night light.
3. During the day, you can cover the windows with curtains.

From the moment the baby is born until one year, the duration of his sleep can constantly change and, of course, there is no need to be alarmed.

All the times given above are averages, because everyone is individual, and it is simply impossible to put them to bed at the same time.

conclusions

If the child goes to bed at the same time and is not capricious, then he is healthy and everything is fine.

Poor sleep may indicate some kind of malfunction, so it is better to consult a doctor. Whether a child begins to sleep longer at night depends, first of all, on the parents, because only they can organize such conditions by following simple rules.

Video about the rules of children's sleep from Dr. Komarovsky

Standards for the amount and duration of sleep for children are approximate. This means that if a child sleeps less or longer, more often or less often, you should not force him to sleep, or, conversely, wake him up ahead of time! The norms are only a guideline for the mother to correctly distribute the child’s daily routine.

The duration of sleep for all children is individual.

As for an adult, a number of factors influence the duration of a child’s sleep: from psychological and physical condition to temperament and daily routine. If the child is healthy, feels good, is alert and active during the day, but the child sleeps less than recommended, there is no need to worry. Unless, of course, we are talking about small deviations from these standards. However, there is a pattern: the smaller the child, the more he should sleep.

Here are the average values ​​for how much sleep a child should sleep depending on age:

From 1 to 2 months, the baby should sleep about 18 hours;
From 3 to 4 months, the child should sleep 17-18 hours;
From 5 to 6 months, a baby should sleep about 16 hours;
From 7 to 9 months, a baby should sleep about 15 hours;
From 10 to 12 months, a baby should sleep about 13 hours;
From 1 to 1.5 years, the child sleeps 2 times during the day: 1st nap lasts 2-2.5 hours, 2nd nap lasts 1.5 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 1.5 to 2 years, the child sleeps once during the day for 2.5-3 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 2 to 3 years old, the child sleeps once during the day for 2-2.5 hours, night sleep lasts 10-11 hours;
From 3 to 7 years old, the child sleeps once during the day for about 2 hours, night sleep lasts 10 hours;
After 7 years, a child does not have to sleep during the day; at night, a child at this age should sleep at least 8-9 hours.

Sleep from 0 to 3 months

Before 3 months, a newborn sleeps quite a lot - approximately 17 to 18 hours a day during the first few weeks and 15 to 17 hours a day by three months.

Children almost never sleep more than three to four hours at a time, either day or night. This means you won’t be able to sleep for many hours in a row either. At night you will have to get up to feed and change your baby; during the day you will play with it. Some babies sleep through the night as early as 8 weeks, but most babies don't sleep continuously through the night, not just until 5 or 6 months, but beyond. It is necessary to follow the rules of good sleep from birth.

Sleep rules.

Here's what you can do at this age to help your child acquire good sleep habits:

• Look for signs your child is tired

For the first six to eight weeks, your baby won't be able to stay awake for more than two hours at a time. If you don't put him to bed longer than this, he will be overtired and won't be able to sleep well. Observe until you notice that the child becomes sleepy. Is he rubbing his eyes, tugging at his ear, are there faint dark circles under his eyes? If you observe these or any other signs of drowsiness, send him straight to his crib. Soon you will become so familiar with your baby's daily rhythms and behavior that you will develop a sixth sense and instinctively know when he is ready for bed.

• Start explaining to him the difference between day and night

Some babies are night owls (you may have already noticed some hints of this during pregnancy). And while you might want to turn off the lights, your child may still be very active. In the first few days, you won't be able to do anything about it. But once your baby is about 2 weeks old, you can start teaching him the difference between night and day.

When your child is alert and active during the day, play with him, turn on the lights in the house and in his room, and do not try to reduce normal daytime noise (phone, TV, or dishwasher). If he falls asleep while feeding, wake him up. Do not play with your child at night. When you enter his nursing room, dim the lights and noise and don't talk to him for too long. It won't be long before your baby begins to understand that night time is for sleep.

• Give him a chance to fall asleep on his own

When your baby is between 6 and 8 weeks old, start giving him a chance to fall asleep on his own. How? Put him in his crib when he's sleepy but still awake, experts advise. They discourage rocking or feeding your baby before bedtime. “Parents think that if they start training their child too early, it will not have an effect,” they say, “But this is not so. Babies develop sleep habits. If you rock your baby to bed every night for the first eight weeks, why should he expect anything different later on?”

What sleep problems can occur before three months?

By the time your baby reaches 2 or 3 months, he may wake up more often during the night than he should and may have developed negative sleep associations.

Newborns need to wake up at night to feed, but some may accidentally wake themselves before they actually need to feed. To avoid this, try swaddling your baby (wrap him snugly in a blanket) before putting him in his crib at night.

Avoid unnecessary sleep associations—your baby should not depend on rocking or feeding to fall asleep. Put your baby in bed before he falls asleep and let him fall asleep on his own.

Sleep from 3 to 6 months

By 3 or 4 months, most babies sleep 15 to 17 hours a day, 10 to 11 of them at night, and the rest of the time divided between 3 and mostly 4 2-hour naps during the day.

At the beginning of this period, you may still get up once or twice a night for feedings, but by 6 months your baby will be able to sleep through the night. It is not a fact, of course, that he will sleep continuously all night, but this will depend on whether you develop his sleep skills.

How to put a child to sleep?

• Establish a clear night and daytime sleep schedule and stick to it.

While your baby was a newborn, you could decide when to put him down during the night by watching for signs of sleepiness (rubbing his eyes, fiddling with his ear, etc.). Now that he's a little older, you should set him regular bedtimes and naptimes.

In the evening, a good time for a child is between 19.00 and 20.30. Later, he will likely be too tired and have difficulty falling asleep. Your child may not look tired late at night - on the contrary, he may seem very energetic. But believe me, this is a sure sign that it’s time for the child to sleep.

You can set nap times in the same way—schedule them for the same time every day, or go by feel, putting your child to bed when you see that he is tired and needs to rest. Either approach is acceptable as long as the baby gets enough sleep.

• Start establishing a bedtime routine.

If you haven’t done this yet, then at the age of 3-6 months it’s time. Your child's bedtime ritual may include the following: give him a bath, play quiet games with him, read a bedtime story or two, sing a lullaby. Kiss him and say goodnight.

No matter what your family's ritual involves, you should do it in the same order, at the same time every night. Children need consistency, and sleep is no exception.

• Wake up your child in the morning

If your child often sleeps more than 10 - 11 hours at night, it is advisable to wake him up in the morning. Thus, you will help him restore his regime. Maintaining a bedtime schedule may not seem difficult to you, but remember that your baby needs to sleep regularly during the day as well. Waking up at the same time every morning will help.

What sleep problems may occur before 6 months?

Two problems - waking up at night and the development of negative sleep associations (when your baby becomes dependent on rocking or feeding to fall asleep) - affect both newborns and older children. But around 3-6 months, another problem may arise - difficulty falling asleep.

If your baby is having trouble falling asleep in the evening, first make sure he doesn't go to bed too late (since we mentioned, an overtired baby has trouble falling asleep). If this is not the case, then he may have developed one or more sleep associations. Now is the time to get rid of them. The child must learn to fall asleep on his own, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t succeed.

Some recommend waiting until the child “cries out and falls asleep,” but what is more important to you: the child’s nerves or your own comfort when you put the child in bed and forgot? Some babies not only do not fall asleep, but also become so overexcited that the usual methods of putting them to sleep will no longer help you and the child will wake up crying all night.

Sleep from 6 to 9 months

Children at this age need about 14-15 hours of sleep per day, and they can sleep about 7 hours at a time. If your baby sleeps longer than seven hours, he or she will probably wake up briefly but will be able to fall back to sleep on their own—a great sign. This means you are growing a great dormouse.

He probably takes a couple of hour and a half to two hour naps during the day, once in the morning and one in the afternoon. Remember: a consistent daytime and nighttime sleep schedule helps regulate your sleep habits.

The norm is 10-11 hours of sleep at night and 3 times 1.5-2 hours during the day

How to put a child to sleep?

• Establish a bedtime ritual and always follow it

Although you've probably established some sort of bedtime routine for a long time, your baby is only now really starting to participate in it. Your ritual may include giving your child a bath, playing quietly, reading a bedtime story or two, or a lullaby. Remember that you must complete all of these steps in the same order and at the same time every night. The child will appreciate your consistency. Young children love a consistent schedule that they can rely on.

Your bedtime routine will indicate that it is time to gradually wind down and prepare for sleep.

• Maintain a consistent daytime and nighttime sleep schedule

Both you and your baby will benefit from having a consistent schedule that includes a nap and sleep routine. This means that you should try to stick to your pre-planned schedule. When your child sleeps during the day, eats, plays, and goes to bed at the same time every day, it will be much easier for him to fall asleep. Make sure you give your child the opportunity to fall asleep on his own.

The child must learn to fall asleep on his own. Put him in the crib before he falls asleep, and try not to accustom him to external factors (rocking or feeding) as a prerequisite for falling asleep. If a child cries, then further behavior depends on you. Most experts recommend waiting at least a few minutes to determine if your child is truly upset. Others advise not to wait until the child bursts into tears and advocate for the child to sleep together with his parents.

Young children who have never had trouble sleeping may suddenly start waking up in the middle of the night or have trouble falling asleep at this age. Sleep disorders are most often associated with the fact that right now your child is learning to sit, roll over, crawl, and perhaps even stand up on his own; it is not surprising that he will want to try his new skills during sleep. The baby may wake up at night to try to sit or stand one more time.

In a half-asleep state, the child sits down or stands up, and then cannot get down and lie down on his own. Of course, he finally wakes up and starts crying and calling for his mother. Your task is to calm the child and help him lie down.

If your baby goes to bed after 8.30pm and suddenly starts waking up during the night, try rocking him to sleep half an hour earlier. To your surprise, you will find that your child begins to sleep more soundly.

Sleep from 9 to 12 months

Your baby already sleeps 10 to 12 hours at night. And two more times a day for 1.5-2 hours. Make sure he gets enough of it - sleep duration plays a big role in a child's development. It is also important to maintain a consistent nap schedule. If this schedule is rotating, then there is a high chance that the child will have difficulty falling asleep and will wake up frequently during the night.

How to put a child to sleep?

• Evening ritual

Maintain a regular evening bedtime ritual. This is important: a bath, a bedtime story, going to bed. You can also add quiet play, just make sure you follow the same pattern every night. Children prefer consistency and feel safe when they know what to expect.

• Daytime and nighttime sleep patterns

Your child's sleep will improve if you follow a routine not only at night, but also during the day. If a child eats, plays and goes to bed at exactly the same time, most likely it will always be easy for him to fall asleep.

Give your child the opportunity to fall asleep on his own. Don't stop him from practicing this important skill. If your baby's sleep depends on feeding, rocking, or a lullaby, he will have a hard time falling back asleep when he wakes up during the night. He might even cry.

What sleep problems might occur?

The child's development is in full swing: he can sit up, roll over, crawl, stand up and, finally, take a few steps. At this age, he hones and trains his skills. This means he may become overstimulated and have difficulty falling asleep, or may wake up during the night to exercise.

If the child cannot calm down and fall asleep on his own, he will cry and call you. Come and calm the child down.

Your child may also wake up at night out of fear of abandonment, missing you and worrying that you will never come back. He will most likely calm down as soon as you approach him.

Sleep norms. From one year to 3

Your child is already very big. But he also, as before, needs a lot of sleep.

Sleep from 12 to 18 months

Until the age of two, a child should sleep 13-14 hours a day, of which 11 hours at night. The rest will go into daytime sleep. At 12 months he will still need two naps, but by 18 months he is ready for one (one and a half to two hour) naps. This regime will last up to 4-5 years.

The transition from two naps to one can be difficult. Experts recommend alternating days with two naps with days with one nap, depending on how much sleep the baby slept the night before. If the child slept once during the day, it is better to put him to bed earlier in the evening.

How to put a child to sleep?

Before age 2, there is almost nothing new that will help your baby sleep well. Follow the strategies you learned earlier.

Maintain a consistent bedtime routine

A good bedtime routine will help your child gradually wind down at the end of the day and prepare for sleep.

If your child needs an outlet for excess energy, allow him to run around for a while before moving on to quieter activities (such as quiet play, a bath, or a bedtime story). Follow the same pattern every night—even when you're away from home. Children love when everything is clear and precise. Being able to predict when something will happen helps them control the situation.

Make sure your child has a consistent daytime and nighttime sleep schedule

Your child's sleep will become more regular if you try to follow a regular schedule. If he sleeps during the day, eats, plays, and goes to bed at the same time every day, he will most likely find it easy to fall asleep in the evening.

Give your child the opportunity to fall asleep on his own

Don't forget how important it is for your child to be able to fall asleep on his own every night. Sleep should not depend on rocking, feeding or a lullaby. If such a dependence exists, the child, waking up at night, will not be able to fall asleep on his own and will call you. What to do if this happens is up to you.

At this age, your child may have difficulty falling asleep and may wake up frequently during the night. The cause of both problems is new milestones in the child's development, especially standing and walking. Your baby is so excited about his new skills that he wants to keep practicing them, even if you say it's bedtime.

If your child is reluctant and won't go to bed, most experts recommend leaving him in his room for a few minutes to see if he calms down on his own. If the child does not calm down, you can “let the child cry it out.”

You will also have to decide what to do if your baby wakes up in the night, can't calm down on his own, and calls for you. Try to go in and see: if he is standing, you should help him lie down. But if your child wants you to stay and play with him, don't give in. He must understand that night time is for sleep.

Sleep from 18 to 24 months

Your baby should now be sleeping approximately 10-12 hours at night, plus a two-hour nap in the afternoon. Some children cannot do without two shorter naps until they are two years old. If your child is one of them, don't fight it.

How to help your child fall asleep?

Help your child break bad sleep habits

Your child should be able to fall asleep independently, without rocking, breastfeeding or other sleep aids. If he is dependent on any of these external factors to fall asleep, he will not be able to fall asleep on his own at night if he wakes up and you are not there.

Experts say: “Imagine falling asleep lying on a pillow, then waking up in the middle of the night to find that the pillow is gone. Most likely, you will be concerned about her absence and begin to look for her, thereby finally awakening from your sleep. Likewise, if a child falls asleep listening to a particular CD every night, then when he wakes up at night and does not hear the music, he will wonder “what happened?” A confused child is unlikely to fall asleep easily. To prevent this situation, try putting him to bed when he is sleepy but still awake so that he can fall asleep on his own.

Give your child acceptable choices at bedtime

These days, your baby begins to test the limits of his newly discovered independence, wanting to assert control over the world around him. To reduce the bedtime confrontation, let your child make choices whenever possible during his evening routine—what story he'd like to hear, what pajamas he'd like to wear.

Always offer only two or three alternatives and make sure you are happy with any choice. For example, don't ask, "Do you want to go to bed now?" Of course, the child will answer “No,” and this is not an acceptable answer. Instead, try asking, “Do you want to go to bed now or in five minutes?” The child is glad that he can choose, and you win no matter what choice he makes.

What difficulties may arise with sleep and falling asleep?

The two most common sleep problems in children of all ages are difficulty falling asleep and frequent awakenings at night.

This age group has its own peculiarity. Sometime between 18 and 24 months, many babies begin to climb out of their crib, potentially putting themselves in danger (falling out of their crib can be quite painful). Unfortunately, just because your baby can move out of his crib doesn't mean he's ready for a big bed. Try to keep him out of danger using the following tips.

Lower the mattress. Or make the walls of the crib higher. If it is possible of course. However, when the child gets older, this may not work.
Empty the crib. Your baby may use toys and extra pillows as props to help him climb out.
Do not encourage your child to try to get out of bed. If your baby climbs out of his crib, don't be excited, don't scold him, and don't let him get into your bed. Remain calm and neutral, firmly say that this is not necessary and put the child back in his crib. He will learn this rule pretty quickly.
Use a canopy for the crib. These products are attached to the crib rails and ensure the safety of the baby.
Keep an eye on your child. Stand in a place where you can see the baby in the crib, but he cannot see you. If he tries to get out, immediately tell him not to. After you reprimand him a few times, he will probably become more obedient.
Make the environment safe. If you can't stop your baby from getting out of the crib, you can at least make sure he stays safe. Soft cushions on the floor around his crib and on nearby drawers, nightstands, and other objects he might bump into. If he is completely unwilling to stop getting in and out of bed, you can lower the railing of the crib and leave a chair nearby. At least then you won't have to worry about him falling and hurting himself.

Sleep norms: from two to three

Typical sleep at this age

Two- to three-year-old children need approximately 11 hours of sleep at night and one to one and a half to two hours of rest in the afternoon.

Most children this age go to bed between 19:00 and 21:00 and get up between 6:30 and 8:00. Your baby's sleep may finally seem to resemble yours, but the difference is that a child under four spends more time in what's called "light" or "REM" sleep. Result? Because he makes more transitions from one stage of sleep to another, he wakes up more often than you do. That is why it is so important that the child knows how to calm himself down and fall asleep on his own.

How to instill healthy sleep habits?

Now that your baby is older, you can try some new methods to improve nighttime sleep.

Move your baby to a big bed and praise him when he stays in it

At this age, your baby will likely be moving from a crib to a big bed. The birth of a younger brother may also speed up this transition.

If you're pregnant, move your baby into a new bed at least six to eight weeks before your due date, says sleep expert Jodie Mindell: "Let your older child get comfortable in his new bed before he sees the baby occupying it." crib." If the child does not want to change the bed, do not rush him. Wait until his newborn sibling is three or four months old. The baby can spend these months in a wicker basket or cradle, and your older child will have plenty of time to get used to it. This will create the preconditions for an easier transition from crib to bed.

The main reason why you will have to think about transferring your child to a bed is his frequent crawling out of the crib and toilet training. Your child must get up during the night to go to the toilet.

When your child transitions to a new bed, remember to praise him when he goes to sleep in it and stays in it all night. After transitioning from a crib, your baby may get out of his big bed over and over again just because he feels comfortable doing so. If your baby gets up, don't argue or get nervous. Just put him back in bed, firmly tell him it's time to go to bed, and walk away.

Follow all his requests and include them in your bedtime ritual.

Your baby may try to delay bedtime by begging for “just one more time”—a story, a song, a glass of water. Try to accommodate your child's reasonable requests and make them part of your bedtime routine. Then you can allow your child one additional request - but only one. The child will think that he is getting his way, but you will know that in fact you are firmly standing on your own.

Extra kiss and goodnight

Promise your baby an extra goodnight kiss after you've tucked him in for the first time. Tell him you'll be back in a few minutes. Perhaps by the time you return he will be fast asleep.

What difficulties with sleep may arise?

If, after moving to a big bed, your baby begins to get up more often than before, put him back in his crib and kiss him gently.

Another common sleep problem at this age is refusal to go to sleep. You can solve this problem if you yourself manage your child’s requests before bed. However, be realistic: no child runs happily to bed every night, so be prepared for a struggle.

You've probably noticed that your baby is having some new nighttime worries. He may be afraid of the dark, monsters under the bed, separation from you - these are normal childhood fears, no need to worry too much. Fears are part of your child's normal development. If he has a nightmare, immediately go to him, calm him down and talk about his bad dream. If nightmares recur, it is necessary to look for sources of anxiety in the child's daily life. Most experts agree that if your baby is really scared, it's okay to let him into your bed occasionally.

Sleep standards are approximate!

source babyblog

Sleep norms for a child up to one year old, from one to three years old was last modified: April 5th, 2016 by instamama

Sleep issues and problems are among the most pressing for parents. The importance of proper rest for children can hardly be overestimated, however, the immaturity of the nervous system and some external reasons often prevent children from sleeping according to the age-appropriate schedule. Daytime sleep sometimes confuses mothers: the child categorically refuses to go to bed or, if he does fall asleep, cannot calm down for a long time in the evening. Until what age does a child need naps during the day from a physiological point of view? Why do children sleep in kindergarten and not sleep during the day at home? Should I insist on going to bed or should I still come to terms with the fact that the child has “outgrown” naps?

Why does a child need a nap during the day?

During any sleep - both daytime and nighttime, the nervous system and the entire body are restored after stress during wakefulness. For children, sleep is especially important: the REM sleep phase is associated with memorizing received information, and therefore with the mental development of the baby; During the slow-wave sleep phase, the production of growth hormones is activated. In addition, the nervous system of a preschooler is not yet very stable; it is just being formed, but at the same time it is constantly exposed to new impressions, events, and information. Only a sufficient amount of restful sleep, night and day, can provide high-quality “unloading” of the nervous system, and as a result, maintain the health and normal development of the child. Daytime sleep is no less important than nighttime sleep, since it allows you to divide a day full of impressions into two parts, which greatly facilitates the task of processing information for the brain and nervous system.

Some parents believe that if their baby “gets” the daily requirement of 11-12 hours of sleep per night, then he does not need daytime sleep. However, all pediatricians and pediatric neurologists are convinced of the importance of quiet time for preschool children. Thus, Vladislav Remirovich Kuchma, director of the Research Institute of Hygiene and Health Protection of Children and Adolescents of the Scientific Center for Children's Health of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, states:

“Sleep is an essential element of a child’s life. And this is not only free time for parents, who can go about their business while the baby is sleeping. Sleep is a natural manifestation of a child's life cycle and is characterized by a certain frequency. If a newborn sleeps 19 hours a day, then by preschool age the duration of sleep decreases. But one and a half to two hours of daytime sleep remain mandatory.”

Various studies on the topic of daytime sleep in children prove: preschoolers who sleep during the day have better concentration, behave more calmly, require less attention from adults, are less tired and overexcited, and are less likely to get sick compared to peers who sleep only at night.

Daytime sleep duration by age

The approximate number of hours of sleep according to the baby's age is shown in the table.

Until what age do children sleep during the day?

It is difficult to answer the question until what age should a child sleep during the day, since this formulation of the question is somewhat incorrect. Most parents understand that getting a small child to sleep if he doesn't want to is a daunting task. You can only try and make efforts to ensure that the child’s regimen is close to optimal for his age.

The nervous system of a preschooler is in the process of formation, so it is difficult for him to endure the abundance of impressions of the whole day without an intermediate “quiet hour”. That's why neurologists recommend putting children to sleep during the day until they are 6-8 years old. The younger the child, the greater his need for daytime sleep. If an older preschooler (5-6 years old) does not suffer particularly from lack of rest during the day, for a child under 3 years of age, continuous wakefulness for 11-12 hours can result in behavioral problems (expressiveness of behavior, whims, hysterics), deterioration in learning ability and even decreased immunity . Therefore, parents should try to maintain naps during the day for as long as possible. “Disruptions” and deviations from the regime are possible, but with the persistence of adults, the baby will be sure that sleeping during the day is necessary. It is not for nothing that in kindergartens most children sleep during quiet hours, but at home, on weekends, it is difficult to put them to bed. It's a matter of discipline, including the self-discipline of parents.

In children 7-8 years old, the need for daytime rest may continue, especially taking into account adaptation to new mental stress at school. Do not forbid your child to sleep after school if he wants. And if he refuses, at least advise him to start doing homework after a little rest (not in front of the TV, of course).

What is the normal length of daytime sleep?

Despite the fact that doctors recommend that all children under 7-8 years old sleep for one and a half to two hours during the day, some children can get by with a short nap - about an hour, or even 30-40 minutes. Should parents worry? It depends on the behavior and condition of the child. If he is cheerful, cheerful, plays actively, and is not capricious, we can say that a short daytime rest is enough for him.

What to do if the child does not want to sleep during the day?

Parents of children who refuse naps at an early age are usually quite rightly concerned about whether this is harmful to their health. Only during infancy can one still be sure that the child will “sleep” the number of hours he needs. Children over 2 years old have much more complex mental reactions - new fears, worries and overexcitation often prevent them from falling asleep. Long-term lack of sleep can affect not only a child’s behavior (whims, irritability) and educational abilities, but also susceptibility to colds and the pace of physical and mental development.

• The actions of parents who want to maintain a “quiet hour” in the child’s daily routine depend on the reasons that caused the refusal to sleep during the day:

1. If a baby sleeps the number of hours appropriate for his age, but does it “in one sitting,” at night, it becomes clear why he does not want to sleep during the day. In this case, you should not force him to sleep, because we all know that falling asleep through force is very difficult. But you should still try to divide your daily sleep (for example, 12 hours) into two stages: 10 hours of night sleep and 2 hours of daytime sleep. This will help your child be calmer in the afternoon. Set a clear routine. If your child goes to kindergarten, try to stick to a daily schedule on weekends. Children at home should also get up and go to bed at the same time - then there will be no problems with daytime sleep.
2. The baby is captivated by some kind of game and categorically refuses to sleep: in this case, you need to try to smoothly switch his attention to the activities that usually precede daytime sleep (reading a book, changing clothes).
3. In a state of overstimulation, children often cannot fall asleep, but they need it. The task of the parents in this case is to “calm down” the child, getting him interested in a quiet game, reading or doing something together. A good option is this game while reading, when the parent invites the child to imagine with closed eyes what is described in the book. Gradually the baby will calm down and be able to fall asleep.
4. Perhaps you are putting your child to bed too early, and he is simply not tired enough to want to sleep. Try shifting your bedtime by half an hour to an hour.
5. All children go through periods of no napping. Parental confidence and persistence help the child return to his usual daily routine.

And a few more tips for parents:

• Teach your child to nap by example. You don't need to sleep, but lying down next to your baby when he falls asleep and closing your eyes won't hurt.
• Remember: the process of falling asleep in children takes longer than in adults. 30-40 minutes is the norm. If your child doesn't fall asleep within 15 minutes, don't give up.
• For a comfortable daytime sleep, a child needs silence and relative darkness.
• Keep an eye on your child's biorhythms: perhaps a small change in routine will help you come to an agreement about daytime sleep.
• Don't scold your child if he still doesn't fall asleep. Of course, an hour and a half of trying to lay it down will drive anyone crazy, but still try to control yourself.
• Explain to your baby that he needs sleep, not you. He must understand that sleeping during the day is not a punishment, but an opportunity to relax and gain new strength for games in the evening.
• If your child doesn't sleep, at least let him play quiet games or listen to you read in the middle of the day. Such rest is not as effective for unloading the nervous system, but it is better than active wakefulness throughout the day.
• One-time deviations from the regime are not a big deal. If you are invited to a birthday party or other event in the middle of the day, do not refuse due to strict rules.

In conclusion, I would like to say: few people can predict at what age your child will stop sleeping during the day. But parents can at least try to maintain such a beneficial vacation longer. We wish your children health and good restful sleep!