Sleep Problems and Solutions

What’s there to know about sleeping?

Sleep problems are some of the most common problems parents face with their kids. You may wonder about how to get your child to sleep through the night. Maybe you have a new baby and want to learn how to help them develop good sleep habits that will last a lifetime. Some children may have chronic sleep difficulties, and many children (like most adults!) are actually going through their days sleep-deprived. Read on for information on all these issues and more, and for lots of links to even more resources to help your kids (and you) get a better night’s sleep.

What do I need to know about how babies sleep?
Infants go through a complete sleep cycle about every 50-60 minutes, so they are in light sleep and could wake up many times each night!

Newborns just sleep any old time, on and off, all through the day and night. By age four months, your baby will probably be sleeping a 6-8 hour chunk at night, and by age 6 months, about 10-12 hours. But that’s not to say that they won’t wake up during that time! Most babies still wake up at least once a night even at age nine months. Some can get back to sleep by themselves, and some need you to help them fall back asleep. If all this night waking is not working for your family, then you may find some helpful resources on this page, so read on! (Also see, growth and sleep)

How can I tell if my child is sleep deprived? How much sleep do kids need?
This chart shows you some averages. It will give you an idea of the ballpark you should be aiming for, depending on your child’s age. Some kids will need more or less sleep, and differ in how they nap.

Age	Nighttime Sleep (hours)	Daytime Sleep (hours)	Total Sleep (hours)
1 month	8.5 (many naps)	7.5 (many naps)	16
3 months	6-10	5-9	15
6 months	10-12	3-4.5	14.5
9 months	11	3 (2 naps)	14
12 months	11	2.5 (2 naps)	13.5
18 months	11	2.5 (1-2 naps)	13.5
2 years	11	2 (1 nap)	13
3 years	10.5	1.5 (1 nap)	12
4 years	11.5	0	11.5
5 years	11	0	11
6 years	11	0	11
7 years	11	0	11
8 years	10-11	0	10-11
9 years	10-11	0	10-11
10 years	10	0	10
11 years	10	0	10
12-13 years	9.5-10	0	9.5-10
14 years	9.5	0	9.5
15 years	9.5	0	9.5
16 years	9.25	0	9.25

Does Your Baby Sleep Well?

'Does he sleep well?' must be one of the questions most often heard by the mother of a new baby.

A baby who sleeps long and often is said to be a 'good' baby. Therefore he must have a 'good' mother. But what about the baby who does not sleep as well as expected, and what about his mother? Frustration, anger and guilt feelings can combine to make a mother feel resentful of anyone else, including her partner, who is able to have a good night's sleep.

Small babies need to wake in the night to feed. It is physiologically desirable for them to wake often to refuel. A newborn's stomach is about the size of a circle made by your thumb and forefinger or the size of your baby's clenched fist. How could this possibly last all night without a refill? It is also important that the breasts be emptied regularly to maintain the mother's milk supply. Some babies need night feeds throughout the first year.

Continue: The Importance of Baby Sleep