Normal infant sleep patterns

Understanding how infants sleep patterns develop, and what parents should expect from their newborn, are the first steps which should be taken to determine how well an infant sleeps, and getting a realistic view of what is, and is not possible for a little one.

In the first week of life the longest sleep period possible for a healthy newborn is about four hours. By the sixteenth week this has extended to over eight hours. Newborns do not have their own internal circadian rhythms. The production of Melatonin, the hormone which regulates sleep, makes you feel sleepy, and Cortisol the hormone assists in the creation of a natural circadian rhythm and keeps you alert, does not happen until infants are several months old. The initial wake sleep pattern is influenced by hunger, feeding, digestion and becoming hungry again. This happens every two to three hours. Most babies do not develop an internal circadian rhythm before they are twelve weeks old, and some take much longer.

Circadian rhythms help determine human sleep patterns and are directly affected by light and darkness in the environment. Light affects waking, rest, activity, hunger, eating, hormone release and fluctuations in body temperature.

Parents can influence waking and sleep patterns in the following ways;-

1. Reduce the light, noise, and social interaction at night time. This will create a difference between night and day which will help regulate baby's body clock.
2. Involve baby in the daily routine of the household so that social cues will help baby acclimatise to a 12 hour day.
3. Once baby is two months old, healthy and gaining weight, start to slightly delay responding to cries at night. This is not a prolonged thing, waiting two or three minutes by the clock, means waking is not immediately rewarded by feeding.
4. When baby is four months old and cries, wait a few minutes longer before responding. This avoids baby becoming distressed and allows a short time for baby to decide if they really need you, or if they can resettle without you.
5. Avoid feeding, cuddling or rocking baby to sleep once they are three or more months old because this leads to baby believing that sleep is impossible without this "help".
6. Put baby down in a safe sleeping place when they are drowsy, but aware that this is happening. This demonstrates that you recognise they are sleepy, and that you are confident that they will be comfortable and safe in this place.
7. Unless the sun is shining directly on baby's face do not darken a room for baby's daytime sleep. Naps should be taken in normal ambient daylight with normal household noise in the background.

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