how much sleep baby needs
SCIENTIFIC BABY SLEEP FACTS
Adequate sleep is essential to a baby's normal growth and development, immune system response, and mood management.
Babies and toddlers need AT LEAST 14 hrs of sleep in a 24 hour day. In the newborn stage, it’s closer to 17-20 hrs
By 3-4 months, a baby needs about 12 hours of uninterrupted nighttime sleep. Uninterrupted stretches of sleep give their digestive systems a chance to rest
This means there's no such thing as babies who are "good sleepers" or "bad sleepers" or those who don't really need sleep and those who do. ALL BABIES need sleep. And they all need roughly the amount. As special and unique as your baby is in many areas, their sleep needs are not one of them. This is good news. Your baby is not in fact some sort of mystical creature that doesn’t need sleep.
But we know very few babies who actually get the sleep they need, and so we think it's normal, and that chronic lack of sleep is part of the sacrifice of parenting.
Parenting does require sacrifices, but chronic, daily, sleep deprivation isn't one of them. Sleep deprivation has been literally used as a form of torture in war. But so many moms are unnecessarily depriving themselves of the sleep they need.
Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per 24 hour day.. Our bodies and minds aren't designed to handle many days in a row with less sleep than that. This is part of the reason postpartum depression and anxiety are on the rise. If we average less than 6 hours a night over a two week period, it is as if we’re intoxicated and not fit to drive a vehicle. Adequate sleep is also important for maintaining your milk supply. When we as parents are getting the rest we need, we’re able to be more present and effective in parenting and all areas of our lives.
Sleep training isn’t something we do because we are lazy and selfish, it is best for a baby too. We know the aadequate sleep is essential to a child’s growth and development, immune system, mood management, language development, and overall health and wellbeing. Your child needs and wants sleep just as much as you do….this is good news!
You will be a better, more present, more effective parent if you're getting the rest you need. Sleep isn't something that you have to give up long-term. Don't believe the lie that you'll never sleep again once you have babies!
You’re WORTH getting the sleep you need and I’d love to walk alongside you to make that happen.