Table of sleep and wakefulness norms for children. Children's sleep standards at different age periods: detailed characteristics. Tips to help you put your baby to sleep quickly

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 teaching 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.

In the same way, you can set the time of daytime sleep - schedule it at 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 probably wakes up briefly but is able to fall back to sleep on his 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 evening - 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, we change tactics.

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 while lying on a pillow, then waking up in the middle of the night and discovering that the pillow is missing. You will most likely become worried about its absence and begin to look for it, thereby finally waking up from sleep. Likewise, if a child falls asleep every evening listening to a particular CD, then when he wakes up at night and does not hear the music, he will wonder “what happened?" A puzzled child is unlikely to be able 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 the crib, don't be excited, don't curse, 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 Jodi 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 asking 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.

The duration and number of baby sleep episodes are rough criteria. If a child does not sleep as long or often as written in specialized literature, there is no need to force him to fall asleep or wake him up by the clock. The norm of sleep in children is just a guideline for the correct organization of the baby’s regime.

The child is active all day, is completely healthy, nothing bothers him, but at the same time he does not sleep as long as pediatricians recommend? Don't worry. Perhaps the baby is simply ahead of his peers in development. After all, every year the amount of sleep is constantly adjusted downward. In addition, the quality of rest, in particular its duration, is influenced by many factors: well-being, mood, temperament and daily routine.

From 1 year to 3 years

Each age has its own sleep standards. Starting from the birth of the child, the new mother checks with them to monitor its development. Let's consider how much and when a child from one to three years old needs to rest.

The figures given in this table are average indicators. However, it is worth focusing on them, if only because they were developed by specialists. If your baby does not fit into these norms, there is no need to panic, but it still wouldn’t hurt to consult a pediatrician.

Day and night sleep

A one-year-old child needs to spend about 14 hours a day sleeping. By the age of 2, this indicator will decrease by only 1 hour. This is the total duration, which includes an 11-hour night's rest. He usually makes up the missing time by sleeping during the day. Note that at 1 year old the baby still feels the need to go to bed twice during the day. But by the age of 1.5 years, his body is sufficiently prepared to restore strength in one episode. This regime is established until 4 or 5 years. For older children, night time is enough for proper rest.

The transition period from 2 naps to 1 nap a day can be extremely difficult. To make it softer, pediatricians advise alternating days with 2-time and one-time rest.

In addition, it is recommended to take into account the time of going to bed at night. For example, if the baby rested only once during the day, it is advisable to put him to bed in the evening a little earlier than usual. Then the child’s well-being will not suffer, and he will not be capricious because he did not get enough sleep.

From one and a half to 2 years, the duration of night sleep in children should be approximately 10-11 hours. A one-time rest after lunch for 2 hours will help restore strength during the day. However, there are also children who still feel the need for 2 short episodes. There is no need to fight this, since this is a variant of the norm.

At the age of 2-3 years, a child needs to sleep about 11 hours at night. But that is not all. During the day you should also rest for at least 1.5-2 hours.

Many children of this age go to bed between 19.00 and 21.00. They usually wake up from 6.30 to 8.00. At first glance, it is very similar to the daily routine of an adult. However, in a child under 4 years of age, most of the sleep occurs in rapid phases. His stages of sleep change more often, and accordingly, there will be more awakenings in the middle of the night. Therefore, it is very important that the baby learns to fall asleep independently. Then your vacation will be truly complete.

And finally

Parents must understand: any standards regarding the development of a child are relative. If your baby loves to sleep from birth and therefore does not fit within the age limits, there is nothing wrong with that. The main thing is that during the day he is active, cheerful and cheerful. However, if changes in the duration of rest occur “out of the blue,” it is worth consulting with a pediatrician.

There are also children who, on the contrary, sleep less than normal. Pay attention to the physical and intellectual development of the baby. Is it okay? If the answer is yes, deviation from generally accepted figures is not a problem. Noticed something wrong? Consult a neurologist just in case.

In this article we will talk about the daily routine, or more precisely, the waking pattern or the maximum and minimum waking time.

How is the daily routine structured?

Probably every young mother in the first month of her baby’s life experienced a feeling of fear, whether everything was okay, Is the baby sleeping enough? . After all, at first the period of wakefulness was equal to the feeding time: the baby would suck and immediately fall asleep.

The waking hours grow with the baby, it's true. Mothers are afraid that very soon the child will play and walk more and more, which means that they need to come up with all sorts of exercises and tasks that will develop the baby. And some mothers sadly compare the disappearance of another daytime nap from the daily routine with the theft of that very little respite in the series of worries about the baby.

Every day the child poses new challenges, riddles and puzzles for the mother, and the main riddle is when is the best time to organize the child’s sleep. Is it time or not time to sleep? That is the question! And, indeed, guessing the right time that the baby needs to be active, and not missing the right time for his sleep, can truly be considered the pinnacle of maternal skill and intuition. But even this height can be overcome if the mother has an idea of ​​the basic principles on which the day and sleep routine is based, and also has an idea of ​​how long, according to age, her baby can be cheerful and active.

Changing daily routine and waking hours

Often in the first year of life build a schedule strictly according to sleep time does not seem possible. Depending on the weather, the baby’s health, mood and life circumstances, the baby’s sleep time will vary slightly. And in these cases, it is easier for the mother to focus not on the exact time of the regime, but on how much the baby was active before bedtime.

Importantly, the shortest time of wakefulness usually occurs before the first morning sleep, while the time of wakefulness before sleep at night is the longest.

But if you create too much wake time before bedtime, you may experience restless sleep throughout the night and your baby will likely wake up earlier in the morning. At the same time, if you try to put your baby to sleep at night earlier than the time when he is really tired and ready to sleep, you will end up with too long a bedtime, periods of wakefulness are possible at night. In such a situation, the baby tries to exhaust himself so much that he gets tired, in order to accumulate that very fatigue that is not yet enough in the body, besides, he protests and experiences a negative attitude towards all actions around sleep. As a result of this process, the child may develop a dislike for the crib, fear of the dark, and anticipation of negative sensations that will accompany the process of falling asleep. So you Correctly determined the laying time , if the child falls asleep in 15-20 minutes, sleeps well at night, and there are no protests against all the actions that precede sleep.

Waking time for babies from 1 to 6 months

Do I need to wake up my baby in the morning?

Another thing is waking up in the morning. What mother would refuse to sleep those minutes that fate gives her with her baby in the morning? Especially if the night's sleep was difficult. But, no matter how cruel it sounds, you cannot allow yourself to do this in order to maintain your daily routine. For children, and for adults as well, staying awake during daylight hours is no less important than sleeping at night. And if you replace the most suitable time for active games in the morning with sleep, you may be surprised to discover how the child makes up for that most active time at nine or ten in the evening, playing and staying awake without any signs of fatigue.

Babies are extremely sensitive to the balance of wakefulness and sleep. Adults can force themselves to sleep on a day off or be cheerful when it is not intended by nature. Kids live in accordance with their internal clock, they cannot deceive nature, cannot force themselves, and it is extremely difficult to adapt to the incorrect change of sleep and wakefulness.

Wake time for babies from 6 months

The requirements for maintaining sleep, feeding and wakefulness patterns especially increase by the age of six months.

Our task is not to organize the regime in a way that is convenient for us, adjusting it to the work, tasks, clubs and training of all children in the family, but in a way that is dictated by the baby’s internal circadian rhythms, as his body requires for the benefit of health.

The child’s routine consists of performing certain actions during the day strictly according to time. Like all adults, a child needs sleep, nutrition, wakefulness, development of intellectual and physical skills, hygiene procedures and natural needs.

Every baby already has some instincts from birth. For example, newborns feel the need for sleep and nutrition after a certain period of time, but any child is endowed with his own biorhythms.

It will become much easier for you if you stick to a certain schedule, taking into account the individual characteristics of the baby. This will not require much effort, but will bring considerable benefits to others and the baby himself.

Baby's daily routine

During the first time after birth, the baby spends most of its time sleeping. The daily routine of a child up to one year is constant, so it is much easier for the mother to adjust her time and adapt to it. What does a baby usually do during the day? What should a daily routine look like for a baby? Let's try to answer these questions that concern young parents.

Morning hours

Each family usually spends the morning in its own way. One morning the baby is actively awake. He tends to play, smile, and get to know the world around him. Already from infancy, the baby must be taught morning hygiene: the procedure of washing and changing clothes. Morning time is good for gymnastics, massage, and taking air baths for the baby.

A signal that the baby has had enough of playing and is tired is the desire to climb into his mother’s arms and cuddle up to her chest. The first morning feeding occurs between 5 and 9 o'clock. The newborn receives food and goes to bed, and at this time the mother has a free minute.

Daytime hours

Usually during the daytime the baby goes to bed twice, the duration of sleep is from 2 to 4 hours. While the newborn is awake, he continues to explore the world around him. If the baby is satisfied with everything, he is happy and behaves calmly. As soon as the baby becomes uninterested, he begins to act up, wanting to attract attention. It will be better if the baby sleeps outside during the daytime and gets some fresh air, and at this time you can enjoy communicating with friends or family, read or just relax.

Evening hours

Being active during the day, by evening the baby becomes noticeably tired. It is advisable to spend the evening time in a calm family environment. Immediately after birth, the baby needs to be bathed in the evenings. Over time, these water procedures will become a signal for the baby to go to sleep. The optimal time for bathing in the evening is 8-9 hours, 30 minutes before feeding.

It is better for mom to prepare for bed in advance, since after the water procedures the baby will express a desire to be with her, to feel her warmth and native smell. After your baby falls asleep, so that he feels your presence, sit with him for a little more time, and then quietly put him in a separate crib.

Night hours

At night, depending on age, a newborn may wake up once or twice to eat. If your baby is restless and won't fall asleep, rule out possible causes:

1. Too light and noisy. The baby is able to fall asleep only if the environment is quiet and calm. If possible, the computer and TV should not be running, or bright lights should be on. For a good night's sleep, your baby should fall asleep in a comfortable environment.
2. The baby is hungry. If the baby is full, he will not wake up at night. If the baby often gets up at night and demands to eat, tell the pediatrician about this, perhaps he will advise supplementing him with formula.
3. Hot or cold. The baby needs to create comfortable conditions for him. Make sure the room is not too hot. If the baby, on the contrary, freezes at night, freeing himself from the blanket, dress him warmer.
4. Clothes are wet. At night, the baby should be in a diaper so that he can sleep dry and comfortable.

Baby's daily routine from birth to one year - table

The child’s daily routine is formed by the mother, based on the individual characteristics of the baby, and you can simply rely on the table. The time of the procedure can always be changed, taking into account not only the preferences of the baby, but also the interests of the whole family.

Based on the data presented in the table, we can say the following:

1. Sleep duration is approximately 20 hours a day.
2. The baby eats and begins to stay awake. As you grow older, your active time increases. During the waking period, you need to play with the baby, do massage and gymnastics, and have time to carry out hygiene procedures.
3. Starting from the third month of life, the child spends less time sleeping and is more and more awake. Sleep takes about 16-18 hours a day. During the day, the baby eats 6 times every 3 hours and once at night (we recommend reading:).
4. At 3-6 months, a child sleeps about 15-18 hours a day; at night, sleep takes about 10 hours. The number of feedings is reduced to 5 times a day and once at night.
5. At 6-9 months, the baby sleeps 3 times for two hours during the daytime, and the waking time increases to 2.5 hours. The baby needs to be fed 5 times during the day every 4 hours. The last time the baby can get food is late in the evening, thanks to which he can sleep the whole night. Approximately 8 hours are allotted for night sleep.
6. At 9-12 months, the baby goes to bed twice during the day. The duration of sleep at this time reaches 2.5 hours.
7. Walks should be taken with the baby 2 times a day for two hours.
8. During the first year of life, the child's routine has to undergo changes. At first, the baby sleeps 2 times during the day, and as it gets closer to a year, only once. A child's sleep lasts about 10-12 hours a day per year. If you follow the pediatrician’s advice and do everything correctly, then at one year the child’s daily routine should approximately be as follows: feeding – 4 times during the day, sleep – 2 hours, night sleep – 10 hours (without waking up for feeding).

Advantages of the hourly mode

1. If you adhere to a feeding schedule, this will help protect your baby from allergies and diathesis in infancy. In order for your baby to be healthy and always in a great mood, he needs to eat right. Children who eat on a schedule rarely suffer from digestive and metabolic problems.
2. Difficult moments, such as teething or illness, will be much easier for the baby to cope with.
3. If you perform certain procedures for your baby (walks, sleep, morning toilet) at the same time, it will be easier for you to build your routine in such a way as to have time to cope with all household chores (shopping for groceries, cooking, cleaning, etc.). d.).
4. The baby must develop intellectual and physical skills. Parents can ask close relatives (grandparents, sisters) for help in raising their children. This way the little one will be able to feel the love of all family members, and they, in turn, will have a great time.
5. If you follow your child's daily routine, you won't miss any important moments. The baby's development will occur according to his age. He will be able to walk outside for the required amount of time. Thanks to the hourly schedule, your little one will always be full, dry, clean and rested.

What is the best way to plan your daily routine?

When planning a daily routine for your child, do not forget to take into account the peculiarities of his biorhythms. Among children there are both “larks” and “night owls”. Some people like to get up early and go to bed late, and some like the opposite. Some people have a big appetite, some have a smaller one. Some children are too active and mobile, which is why they spend a lot of energy, while some love peace and spend much less energy. This must be taken into account when creating a daily routine for a child.

First, take a closer look at your little one - what does he do while he’s awake, when does he go to bed, and after what time does he ask for food? Look how the baby sleeps at night, and if he gets up, how often? Based on the information received, try to perform all the necessary manipulations at the same time: feeding, walking, putting to bed, morning and evening toilet.

How to teach your baby to follow a daily routine

1. It will take a long time to get your baby to follow the schedule. In the first months of life, children's organs and systems are not yet fully developed. Biorhythms are also at the stage of formation, which is why they can confuse day and night, sleep and wakefulness. Your task is to help your child learn to correctly perceive the surrounding reality.
2. Observe how often the baby asks to eat, what time he goes to bed during the day and at night.
3. Based on the data obtained, sketch out the child’s daily routine on paper.
4. Try in the near future to ensure that your baby eats and goes to bed at the same time. This is the main task of the child's regime.
5. For the next two to three weeks, continue to stick to your chosen schedule. During this period, the little one should get used to the current routine. The result depends on the individual characteristics of the child: some get used to it faster, others slower. On average, 8 weeks is a good indicator.
6. It is important to know that a breastfed baby will ask to eat more often than a formula-fed baby, since breast milk is easier and faster to digest than an adapted formula. For bottle-fed children, pauses will last up to 3-4 hours.
7. Try to wake up at your scheduled time in the morning. If the baby had a restless night, this is not a reason to break the schedule, gently lift him up, give him a morning toilet and feed him.
8. Try to do games, sleep, walks, bathing and feeding strictly at scheduled times. The result will not be long in coming, and your little one will do everything with great desire exactly when it is needed.
9. After about three weeks, try not to breastfeed on demand. If after 1.5 hours he reaches for his chest again, give him some water - perhaps the little one is just thirsty.
10. At night you can read a book or sing a song. If your baby wakes up at night, do not talk to him loudly so that he understands that he needs to continue sleeping.

Advice from Dr. Komarovsky on choosing a daily routine for a baby

The most important thing, says Dr. Komarovsky, is for parents to be able to achieve a daily routine for the child in the first month of life. In subsequent months, this will make it much easier to adjust the baby’s sleep, feeding, and wakefulness schedule. What does Komarovsky advise?:

1. Before changing the baby’s life schedule, observe what regime the newborn adheres to and take this into account (we recommend reading:).
2. Pay increased attention to feeding. A breastfed baby eats every two hours, but bottle-fed babies need to be fed less frequently, otherwise the baby will become overweight.
3. If the baby sleeps well at night, he will be active during the daytime. To achieve this, monitor the temperature and humidity in the room where the baby sleeps. Don't wrap your baby too tightly, let the skin breathe.
4. Patience is the key to success. Don’t rush things; the newborn’s body will gradually get used to the routine.

Komarovsky gives preference to the child's regimen by month. This makes it easier for the baby to adapt to the changed conditions. Don't forget - you need to make sure that the schedule you choose suits not only the child, but the whole family.

What to do if a child confuses day with night?

Some children are active at night and spend most of their time sleeping during the day. This phenomenon is called “inverted graph”.

What actions should be taken if the baby confuses day with night? First, consult your pediatrician. Usually the doctor advises giving the newborn sedatives in the form of an infusion of motherwort or valerian. Make every effort to get your baby back to the normal daily routine of a child before the age of one.

How to return a child to the correct daily routine?

1. Try to find out the reason why this happened. Pay attention to why exactly the baby cannot sleep. Perhaps he is not feeling well: his stomach, throat or ear hurt, his temperature has risen. If this is confirmed, seek help from a doctor and follow his instructions.
2. Make sure your baby is comfortable and comfortable in his crib. Bed linen should be made of natural material. It is not necessary to put a pillow or choose a very low one.
3. After placing your baby in the crib, look for wrinkles in his clothing that might make him feel uncomfortable. Choose pajamas for your baby only from cotton or linen fabric, with the seams facing out.
4. It is best for the baby at night - if he moves his arms and legs, he may wake up from this.
5. Every day, do a wet cleaning in the baby’s room, and also regularly ventilate it. The normal temperature for a newborn is +20 or +22 °C. The baby may wake up and cry if it gets cold or sweats.
6. Try to ensure that your baby is active during the daytime.
7. Strictly adhere to the child’s chosen regimen. Pay special attention to sleep and wakefulness. If your toddler spends more than the allotted time sleeping in the morning or afternoon, wake him up.
8. When bathing, you can add a decoction or infusion to the water, which has a sedative effect. Please consult your doctor first.
9. If your baby wakes up at night, don’t turn on the lights or talk loudly.
10. Make sure your little one is not hungry. Feed him for the last time between 23 and 24 hours.

It is up to you to return your baby to the correct schedule. This will take more than one day. The main thing is patience, and everything will work out. All children should sleep at night. This is what you should achieve from your restless little one.

Shh... your little one is asleep and fast asleep! Watching your baby at such moments brings incredibly pleasant emotions! Every parent knows that good sleep for a child is the most important condition for full development. Sleep plays a vital role in your baby's intellectual, emotional, physical, and social-behavioral development.

What happens when the baby sleeps? Children do not just rest in their sleep. There are actually two different types or phases of sleep for babies: active and slow-wave sleep. These baby's sleep phases change themselves approximately every hour. During moments of active dreaming (doctors call it REM sleep - rapid eye movement sleep), you can notice a smile, the sleeping toddler sometimes twists his arms and legs, movements of the eyeballs appear under the eyelids, or even eyes slightly open for a short moment. This happens due to the fact that during the period of active sleep, when the baby lies motionless, his thought processes do not stop and continue to work hard.

According to research by scientists in the field of children's dreams, during GD, the nerve cells in a child's brain sometimes work much more actively than during wakefulness. The brain is busy processing and systematizing all the data collected during the period of previous wakefulness. While some neurons in the brain of a growing person create new information connections, other cells generalize the day's experience, storing it in the child's memory. In addition to this, during REM sleep, areas of the brain responsible for thinking, learning, and memory are stimulated.

What happens during a child’s deep sleep? Rest occurs precisely during this phase of children's sleep. The baby relaxes and restores the body’s strength spent during wakefulness. During this phase, growth hormone is produced in children.

Do you see how important it is for your child to get enough sleep? To top it all off, it is worth noting that long, healthy sleep is the most important factor in maintaining the immune system in good condition.

Baby sleep schedule

How long should a child sleep? The duration and pattern of children's sleep depends primarily on the age and individual characteristics of the baby's body. A newly born baby has what is called “homogeneous” sleep - for him there is not much difference between day and night, such babies sleep almost constantly, periodically waking up to eat and go back to sleep. After 3–4 weeks, i.e. Somewhere towards the end of the first month, the toddler gradually recognizes the difference between day and night. A certain daily routine is established, long night sleep and periods of daytime wakefulness appear, interrupted by relatively short daytime sleep. In the first months after birth, the child is not able to sleep the whole night without interruption. His rapidly growing body requires a lot of nutrition, which a small stomach cannot accommodate in 3 times, which is usually enough for an adult. Therefore, a sleeping baby will often wake up at night to eat.

If the child's sleep and wakefulness schedule is organized correctly, waking up at night does not last long - the satiated baby will immediately fall asleep again. Children may have trouble sleeping if they confuse day and night. This becomes a real nightmare for their parents - at night, when tired mom and dad dream of getting some sleep, the little one wants to play, and during the day - when parents have to stay awake willy-nilly - he sleeps, curled up in a cozy little ball.

To prevent such a situation or correct it, you need to make it clear to the child: for games and wakefulness there is daylight - day, and for sleep - night. It’s also a good idea to follow certain "bedtime ritual". For example: bathing, then feeding, and just before falling asleep - lullabies or a gentle, soothing melody.

Often, parents put the baby to bed with them, and after he falls asleep, transfer him to a crib. Others prefer not to be separated from their baby at night. There are many pros and cons to this practice, but for some parents it can seriously help in establishing normal night sleep in their child, especially if used for a short time and only to correct the baby’s daily routine.

Below is a child's sleep chart showing how much sleep children need to feel healthy:

Child's sleep chart (child's sleep by month)

Note: * – a child’s sleep immediately after birth in some cases can last up to 20 hours a day, which makes it seem as if he is only sleeping and occasionally wakes up to eat. This is quite normal for this age.

Of course, our child sleep table contains average values ​​for children of different ages. All babies are individual; a child’s sleep by month in each specific case can vary by 1–1.5 hours from the value in the table. However, if your child's sleep is far from the norm indicated in the table, we recommend taking action. You can find out how to improve children's sleep on our website or consult a pediatrician at the clinic.