Info for Infants

What to Expect

Infants on average sleep approximately 10 hours a night and nap for 3 to 4 hours during the day. At 2 months, infants typically take between 2 to 4 naps a day, and by 12 months, they take 1 or 2 naps.

Infancy is a special time in a family’s life. While the year is fleeting, the days and nights (oh the nights!) are long. Especially those sleepless nights. As the months pass and developmental milestones are reached, caregivers begin to prioritize sleep once again and often wonder what is normal and realistic for their babies in regards to their sleeping abilities.

Common factors that may temporarily interfere with sleep include, illness, teething, change in routine, developmental milestones such as sitting, standing, and crawling.

0-3 months

The first 3 months of a newborn’s life are erratic, as are their sleep patterns. It is when parents often go into ‘survival mode.’ Most new born baby’s sleep is variable. Some babies wake every few hours while others are able to sleep for longer periods of time. However, the common theme is that new born babies wake to feed. Oftentimes, they wake even when they don’t need to feed. This is all normal and typical.

Within the first 3 months of infancy, babies can benefit from healthy sleep habits such as sleeping in a safe environment , a sleep conducive environment, and a calming and predictable bedtime routine.

4-6 months

The second quarter of infancy is marked by many cognitive and physical changes. Your baby is learning to interact with you and their surrounding world. They also are gaining physical strength and may be able to move around in a way that they could not before. This is the age when your baby develops their internal “alarm clock.” Night/day reversal has often resolved by this age. If that’s the case, parent’s often wonder why their baby is not sleeping through the night.

Oftentimes at this stage in infancy babies develop strong sleep associations. Perhaps, related to the cognitive and physical changes that occur.

Sleep associations are external factors that your child learns to depend on for sleep such as rhythmic movements, feeding, or being held, to name a few. The problem occurs when these sleep associations are necessary to sleep. Breaking a habit of any kind takes a well thought out plan, determination, and consistency. All factors that are essential for teaching your baby to break their habits and get a good night sleep.

6-12 months

Your baby is interacting with the world around them in a way that they could not before. Life with your baby may be fun! Many are able to reciprocate your affection in their own heart-warming way. You may find yourself beginning to find your groove... hang on to that feeling for the brief moment while it lasts because things are about to change!

Oftentimes at this age, babies begin to show signs that they are prepared to drop their nighttime feed. It is important to look for their cues. Perhaps, they are not feeding as well in the morning or during the day, perhaps they are waking multiple times in the night.

Info for Toddlers

What to Expect

Toddlers sleep on average between 11 and 13 hours throughout the day and night. Sometime between the ages of 13 and 18 months, most are prepared to nap once per day. Typically, the morning nap is dropped and the afternoon nap lasts between 1.5-3 hours. Some toddlers continue taking two shorter naps throughout the day. Some continue to wake in the night, typically as a result of poor sleep habits.

Common factors that interfere with sleep at this age are illness, separation anxiety, other stressful events, and switching from a crib to a bed prematurely. Most toddlers transition to a bed between 2 and 3 years, it is best to wait until closer to 3 years.

Info for Preschoolers

What to Expect

Each age and stage in a child’s development brings about new and exciting challenges. Parents often find themselves wondering how to adapt to their child’s changing needs. Preschoolers sleep on average, between 9 and 10 hours per night. Most stop napping between 3 and 5 years of age.

Along with changing sleep needs, children of this age may be more social and may be in formal social settings, such as daycare, preschool, or interacting on a somewhat regular basis with other children. This is a time of increased physical activity and social and emotional growth.

Common sleep challenges at this stage are a change in napping schedule, bedtime resistance, and nighttime fears. Consult with a registered professional if additional support is needed.

Info for School Age

What to Expect

School-aged children typically need between 9-11 hours of nighttime sleep. Factors that interfere with sleep at this age include homework, extracurricular activities, use of electronics, and late bedtimes.

Sleep problems are common at this age and may include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, difficulty waking in the morning, nighttime fear, nightmares, sleepwalking, night terrors, bedwetting, snoring, and difficulty breathing. Consult with a registered professional if additional support is needed.

Info for Teens

What to Expect

Research shows that the average teenager needs approximately 9 hours of sleep a night, not much less than school-aged children. However, the average teenager gets about 7 hours on school nights and tries to catch up on weekends and holidays.

Common sleep challenges at this age include use of electronics in place of sleep, poor sleep habits, bedtime insomnia, middle of the night insomnia, as well as anxious and/or depressive feelings. Consult with a registered professional if additional support is needed.