Infant Sleep Patterns
By: Mark ShowalterTotal Views: 361, Word Count: 550,
The Infant sleeping patterns is different from that of adults. Infants have the habit of sleeping almost throughout the day. Generally, a newborn takes time to adjust with the new surrounding as he or she had been accustomed to the warmth of the mother’s womb for nine long months. The longer the baby sleeps the healthier will be the baby. So, as a young parent you must not get tensed if your baby sleeps for as long as 15 to 16 hrs a day or even up to 24 hours a day.
As an anxious mother of a baby you must be interested to know the general infant sleep patterns. The brain of a new born baby can not distinguish between day and night as the biological clock is not developed at that age. As a result of which for at least first 8 weeks, the baby sleeps for about 16 to 20 hours a day. As the baby grows the duration of sleep sessions gradually shortens.
The sleep of very young babies are broken by pangs of hunger and that occurs an interval of every about 2 to 3 hours. But you need not worry if you find that your baby is up to for a sleep of a continuous stretch of 10 hours.
Schedule of Infant Sleep Patterns
It is quite common for infant to go for long hours of sleep and during the time of sleep the pituitary gland secretes growth hormones that initiates the physical growth and good health of the baby. The following information will help you to get a clear idea about the infant sleep patterns with respect to the duration of sleep of infants with growing age.
- The new born babies sleep for 16 to 20 hours per day
- The babies of age around 3 weeks sleep for about 16 to 18 hours per day
- 6 weeks old infants sleep for 15 to 16 hours per day.
- Babies of 4 months generally sleep for 9 to 12 hours including two short sessions of nap of about 2 to 3 hours each.
- A six months old baby will sleep for about 11 hours along with two short naps of about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours a day.
- A nine months old baby would sleep for 11 to 12 hours.
- 1 year old child will sleep for approximately 10 to 11 hours.
- An 18 months old child will sleep for about 13 hours.
- A child of 2 years would sleep for 11 to 12 hours.
- 3 year old child would sleep for 10 to11 hours
- An infant of about 4 to 5 years would sleep for around 10 to 12 hours without short naps.
In case you are experiencing poor quality sleep and lack of energy while working you may take up an effective sleep aid like Melatrol. You must be cautious enough to select the right sleep promoting medicine as most of them cause harmful side effects.
About the Author
Mark Showalter is an expert in treating various types of sleep disorders. He has carried out series of research works that deal with the various mysteries of sleep and its associated disorders. If you find yourself to be too stressed out during the day or suffer from disorders caused by improper sleep, you may take a good medical sleep aid. You must be prudent enough to select the right one for you that would keep you away from any form of harmful side effects.
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