Your baby's sleep habits will change a lot between birth and the first birthday. Newborns usually sleep for 2 to 4 hours at a time for about 18 hours a day. By age 3 months, most babies sleep up to 7 to 8 hours a night.
But sometimes, your baby will not "sleep like a baby." And if the baby doesn't sleep, no one sleeps. It's normal for healthy babies to have a range of sleep time. But if your baby has trouble getting to sleep every night, or wakes up crying for you several times a night, you may want to try new ways to help your baby sleep.
You can help your baby become a good sleeper. The goal is to help your baby learn to self-comfort so that you don't become your baby's only source of comfort at sleep time.
Don't worry that waking during the night will harm your baby's health. Babies will sleep when they are tired. If your baby is eating well and seems active and happy during the day, your baby is fine. But if your baby is fussy and not eating well or not acting the way you think they should, talk to your doctor. Your baby could be sick.
Until your baby's first birthday, remember to put your baby down to sleep on their back. This decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Watch closely for changes in your baby's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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