How many naps should my baby take during the first month? That’s the question many parents ask when their newborn first arrives home from the hospital, and it’s a good one to ponder, too! How you approach this first month of your baby’s life can set the tone for his or her sleep habits in the months and years to come. Here are some things to keep in mind as you establish your newborn’s first month of napping, followed by some examples of how to get started with your own nap schedule.
When should my baby start napping?
While every baby is different, most babies have a set naptime and nighttime sleep routine by around 3 months old. Before then, it’s hard to say when your baby will be ready for naps or consistent bedtimes. But, you can look for signs that your baby might be ready for a solid nap schedule. For example, if he wakes up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., you might want to try putting him down at 7:30 a.m., rather than letting him sleep in until 9:30 a.m. If he falls asleep quickly and easily (after about 20 minutes of soothing), try sticking with a new time until he gets used to it. By 6 months old, most babies are taking two daytime naps—one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon—for roughly 2 hours each. He should still be taking a longer nighttime sleep during these early days as well; remember to always follow his lead on how much rest he needs and always be sure to keep him swaddled properly and dressed for sleep with either a well-fitting onesie or these cute baby gowns from Sandstone Avenue.
How many naps should my baby take during the first month?
First-month sleep can be a confusing and somewhat stressful time for any new parent. Trying to figure out how much napping your baby should be doing and what he should be sleeping in, and whether or not his Baby Tula swaddle is tight enough, is sometimes hard to do. The good news is that there are some standard guidelines you can follow to help get your new baby on a healthy sleep routine from day one. In general, here’s what you can expect from your baby’s first month of sleep: — Newborns don’t need too many daytime naps during their first month of life; most babies only need about two 20-minute naps per day. This gives them plenty of opportunities to practice falling asleep without feeling like they’re going to miss out on anything. — Over his first few weeks, your baby will likely start taking longer naps (30 minutes or more) at least once or twice a day. These longer naps allow him to consolidate his sleep into slightly longer periods each day so he’s not waking up constantly throughout each night! — Around 2 months old, you’ll probably see some developmental changes in your little one’s schedule—particularly when it comes to naptime. Your newborn might begin taking 3 or even 4 short naps every 24 hours by now.
Is my baby sleeping enough during the day?
Babies sleep a lot during their first month and there’s no reason to worry. But just how much is enough? That depends on your baby’s age, though there are some general guidelines to follow. The first thing you want to know is that there’s no such thing as too much sleep in a newborn’s case. If your baby has been waking for night feedings, it may seem like he should be getting up more often throughout the day to eat. This isn’t necessarily true. Newborns wake at all hours of the night because they’re still learning about their world—not because they need food. Your newborn will likely be content snoozing through most of his early naptimes —and some babies aren’t capable of staying awake for longer than 45 minutes anyway. But keep an eye out for signs of drowsiness: Tummy time might cause him to startle, or a wide-eyed stare at an object (or perhaps nothing) could mean that he’s tired and ready to drift off.
After one month, your baby should have a solid schedule of naptime and nighttime sleep. If you’re still worried about their sleep habits, you can talk to your pediatrician. It may seem like your little one is only going down for cat naps, but rest assured that your little one will be sleeping a lot longer once you introduce solids. With a full belly in between their naps and at bedtime, you’ll be able to get some sleep, finally. You may be asking “When do you introduce solid foods to baby?” is another question you may want to ask your pediatrician at your four-month check-up since some babies may start earlier than others.