Key points:
- Babies need adequate sleep for physical and mental development.
- Newborns have different sleep cycles and tend to wake up frequently to eat.
- The ideal sleep range for babies aged 0-3 months is between 14-17 hours a day.
- Sleeping less or more than recommended can have negative effects on a baby’s health and development.
We all know that sleep is very important. We need our bodies to get enough rest so that we can maintain physical and mental health. Sleeping helps our brain function optimally: it improves our learning, our ability to concentrate, and our decision-making skills. Sleeping well affects our quality of life. If sleep is extremely important for adults, you can imagine how important it is for babies! So, how much does a newborn sleep?
The magic behind a newborn sleep
When babies or newborns sleep, they save energy, allowing them to gain weight faster and have a healthy development. Also, their organs mature and their immune system grows stronger to protect them from diseases and infections. When they’re asleep, babies’ bodies release a growth hormone, which helps them to keep growing. Finally, sleeping helps increase your little one’s appetite, so they can eat well and get the nutrients needed for proper development.
How much sleep does my baby need?
It’s important to remember that babies don’t sleep like us: they sleep for brief moments at a time and constantly wake up to eat. During the first few months, babies usually eat 8-12 times a day, causing frequent wake-ups. Their sleep cycles are different from ours, allowing them to sleep a few hours, but deeply.
But, what are the recommended hours of sleep for newborns to 3 months old babies?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the ideal sleeping range for babies that are 0-3 months old is 14-17 hours a day. Some babies may sleep less, between 11-13 hours, while others sleep up to 19 hours a day.
However, going above or below the range of 11 to 19 hours is not recommended. Sleeping less than recommended deprives their bodies of rest and the benefits provided by sleep, and, on the other hand, sleeping too much doesn’t allow them to get the proper food and stimulation needed on a daily basis.
