Baby sleep patterns can vary widely depending on the age of the baby. Newborns, for example, typically sleep for short periods of time throughout the day and night, while older babies tend to consolidate their sleep into longer periods at night.
Here are some general sleep patterns for babies at different ages:
- Newborns (0-3 months): Sleep for a total of 14-17 hours a day, with sleep periods lasting between 1-3 hours.
- Infants (3-6 months): Sleep for a total of 12-15 hours a day, with longer sleep periods at night and shorter naps during the day.
- Older infants (6-12 months): Sleep for a total of 12-14 hours a day, with longer periods of sleep at night and 2-3 naps during the day.
There have been numerous studies on baby sleep patterns, including observational studies and sleep tracking studies using devices such as actigraphy or wearable monitors. These studies have provided valuable information about how babies sleep and how sleep patterns change over time.
For example, one study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that newborns have a higher proportion of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep compared to older babies, and that sleep patterns tend to become more consolidated as babies get older. Another study published in the Journal of Paediatrics found that sleep patterns in infants are influenced by both internal factors (such as circadian rhythms) and external factors (such as parental behaviours and feeding schedules).
Overall, these studies highlight the importance of understanding baby sleep patterns and how they change over time, in order to promote healthy sleep habits and address sleep-related issues in infants and young children.
