How to properly put a baby to sleep under one year old

Everything you need for healthy sleep

Sound and healthy sleep is vital for a person, and a child in particular. Physical energy, excellent mood, optimism in life, the ability to focus attention on what is important, patiently cope with intellectual tasks, remember and assimilate knowledge and skills - components of a child’s healthy growth and development.

Buying your first crib is a reason for a lot of doubts and worries. What if the baby prefers to sleep together? Is it necessary to add a new line of expenses to a family budget that is already bursting at the seams? And if so, how to most rationally distribute all purchases related to separate sleeping - so as not to miss and not buy too much?

While you are still preparing for the arrival of your baby and don’t know exactly how circumstances will turn out later, buying a separate crib seems like a moot point. To avoid throwing money away, first choose a crib that will be useful to you in any case.

Rational choice:

• Stroller with detachable cradle. For the first time, such a cradle is an ideal option for separate sleeping. Having lulled your baby in a stroller, you can always move him to a new place without moving him or interrupting his sleep. The main thing is that the bottom of the cradle is not curved, and that the mattress meets orthopedic requirements. If the cradle is to perform the function of the baby’s first crib, when purchasing, you should pay special attention to its weight and the convenience of the release mechanism.
• Transformable bed. Sliding sides, a lowering bottom and/or the ability to attach it to the edge of a large bed (on which you sleep) largely determine the choice of zealous parents. And although such cribs are often more expensive than regular ones, this is a kind of “insurance” for the future.
• Cot-playpen. Not the most popular option among modern parents. But portable playpens are equipped with many useful functions: they can have music, rotating mobiles, vibrating mattresses, a night light, and a changing board. But most importantly, the playpen will serve both during travel and in the future, when you start using it not as a crib, but for its intended purpose - for games. There is one thing: if the baby still prefers to sleep separately and spends most of his time in playpen, it is worth buying a separate high-quality mattress, since those that come with the playpen often do not meet orthopedic requirements. After purchasing a new mattress, you will most likely have to cut it to fit the size of the playpen (they often differ from the standard). Please consult the seller regarding this issue before purchasing.
• Cocoon bed. An ergonomic crib that imitates the position of a baby in the womb. Used for up to 4 months. This is an expensive option that requires replacement after just a few months of use.

Irrational choice

• Cradles, cradles. Of course, the assortment of designer cribs for babies can’t help but evoke affection: some of them resemble nests, others look like old village “wobbly beds”, and others are even covered with a waterfall of lace canopies. All this can turn out to be a simple interior decoration. And even if such a cradle serves the baby in the first months of life, after he learns to sit down, it will turn out to be not only unnecessary, but also dangerous.
• Pendulum beds without the possibility of fixation in one position. Nowadays, fewer and fewer such models are being produced, but they can still be found among inexpensive ones. When the baby learns to roll over and sit up, such a crib will turn from a place to sleep into a playground for endless games.

It is not enough to buy just one crib. It comes with a whole set of additional equipment:

• Mattress (choose orthopedic);
• 4 – 10 oilcloths per mattress - it is advisable to use special oilcloths, which are covered with fabric on top so that the baby does not sweat, or disposable waterproof diapers;
• 6 – 10 cotton sheets/diapers;
• 2 light baby blankets or 2 – 4 sleeping bags/onesies;
• 1 warm baby blanket;
• 1 – 2 sets of soft bumpers for the crib;
• Mobile (from 3 – 4 weeks).

What you should not buy for a baby under one year old:

• A pillow (unless your doctor recommends purchasing one; usually this is a special orthopedic pillow that should help solve neck problems);
• Bed canopy/curtains (they can cause suffocation);
• Bed linen made of synthetic materials, with lace and braid, with decorative elements that can come off or crumble (this can cause irritation on delicate skin and pose a health hazard).

Offer your baby healthy and tasty “Agusha Fall asleep” products, which are designed specifically for use before bedtime. This is live drinking yoghurt with apple flavor and natural lemon balm extract, cottage cheese with strawberry, banana and natural lemon balm extract flavor, as well as porridge with prebiotics and cereals: milk-buckwheat and milk-rice with apple and pear, which will help set your baby up for a healthy and healthy life. deep sleep.

What month should I start giving? How and what to take for a child - instructions

Water-soluble vitamin D for babies is the optimal form of medication. It is absorbed in 2-3 hours, is non-toxic, has a pleasant taste, and is easier for a child to swallow than oil solutions.

Ideally, vitamin D is given to a newborn or infant after a blood test, which is carried out using tandem mass spectrometry:

800 IU (1 mcg = 40 IU)

Up to 6 months inclusive

From 6 months to 1 year

The maximum daily dose that will not harm the child’s body is 4000 IU. You should not take vitamin D in this regimen for a long time, as it can cause hypercalcemia.

Treatment of rickets is prescribed only after a blood test and determination of the level of 25 (OH) D. Typically, the regimen is selected so that the child immediately receives high starting doses (at least 3000–5000 IU), which are gradually reduced until the values ​​are normalized.

Before giving vitamin D to a baby, you should consult your doctor. He will evaluate the child’s general health indicators, dietary features, and perhaps, in addition to supplements, will recommend introducing special formulas if there is no breastfeeding.

In general, the application scheme is as follows:

1. Frequency of reception. Children living in northern regions can be given vitamin D throughout the year. If the child receives enough sunlight in the summer, then during this period you can reduce the dose or take a break. 2. Start of reception. Newborns can receive the vitamin from the fourth week of life, premature babies - from the 15th day. 3. Method of application. For children, vitamin D3 is mainly used in the form of an aqueous solution. In its pure form, the child can spit it out - mix it with a small amount of water, formula or breast milk in a teaspoon and carefully offer it to the baby. You cannot add it to a bottle of formula - if the child does not drink the entire volume, the dosage of the vitamin will be disrupted. It is better to reschedule the appointment until the morning.

Side effects are extremely rare, but constipation and flatulence are possible. An allergic reaction more often occurs to multicomponent supplements, one of the components of which is vitamin D. It manifests itself as peeling and itching of the skin, a red rash on the face and body.

How long should a baby sleep?

The answer “as much as he wants” is only suitable for children with an even, calm temperament. From infancy, they seem to have a built-in alarm clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness, and they “stick” to a fairly stable daily routine. Such children need almost no help to calm down and fall asleep, their sleep is stronger, short awakenings between sleep phases are not accompanied by anxiety and crying.

The picture is completely different for children with an active psyche: if the daily routine is not regulated in any way by adults, children become excessively tired, unable to rest between periods of high activity, become very overexcited in the evening, and spend the night in restless sleep.

• To avoid overwork and accumulation of fatigue, improve the child’s mood and provide him with the sleep necessary for development and growth, it is useful for parents to know how long the child should stay awake and rest during the day.
• Let us make a reservation that any standards are always averaged. Some children need a little more rest, others less. The most striking and unambiguous marker of satisfactory sleep is the child’s good health and mood.
• The younger the child, the more sleep he needs: a newborn sleeps almost the whole day, a one-year-old sleeps 14 hours, younger preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old - about 11 - 13 hours, primary schoolchildren - 10 - 11 hours, high school students - 8.5 - 9 hours, adults - 7 - 8 hours a day.

There is no official sleep “standard”; you can easily determine it for your child yourself if you allow him to sleep in the morning and afternoon as much as he wants. Many doctors claim that this norm for children from 1.5 to 4 years old is 11–13 hours a day, but everything, of course, depends on the individual needs of a particular child.

The duration of sleep also depends on temperament. An active baby will sleep less than his calm counterpart. Some somatic factors can also affect sleep: sudden growth spurts, teething, an impending illness, psychological factors - a change in the family situation, getting used to a new social situation (kindergarten, school).

In any case, the main task of sleep is to ensure adequate rest for the child. Lack of sleep is harmful to the body, and especially to a growing child: it can lead to chronic fatigue, nervous system disorders, decreased concentration, memory problems, and school failure.

How many hours a day should a newborn baby sleep?

Despite individual characteristics, certain sleep standards that parents can follow still exist. So: how much should a newborn sleep in the first days of his life? There is no specific formula for calculating this norm; the average daily waking time is simply taken as a basis. For example, a baby's daytime sleep time from birth to one month can range from 4 to 8 hours, which means that during the day the baby can sleep for about 17 hours. As already mentioned, it is impossible to calculate the exact time, since the determining factor here is the individual characteristics of the baby.

Modern pediatricians believe that a healthy baby sleeps in total about 15-17 hours a day, no more. True, there are also babies who need sleep for 20 hours a day. Longer sleep is necessary:

• babies born prematurely;
• children who have suffered a difficult labor period;
• newborns with pathologies and congenital diseases.

Sleep for low birth weight and not entirely healthy children is the best medicine. They need strength and energy to get through the difficult recovery period. Therefore, unlike healthy peers, these babies require longer rest.

How long does a child sleep from 0 to 1 year?

• 0 – 1 month. A newborn sleeps most of the day - on average 19 - 20 hours. He wakes up only to eat, does not distinguish between day and night, the day is built according to the formula: wakefulness - food - sleep.
• 1 – 3 months. The formula “wakefulness - food - sleep” remains relevant. Night sleep becomes longer, but you should not expect that a two-month-old baby will sleep 10 hours. The maximum night interval without food is 5 – 6 hours (most often no more than 4).
• 3 – 6 months. The child’s activity during waking hours increases noticeably and takes up quite a lot of energy. They can be replenished by sucking breast milk, which, in turn, again requires some effort.
• 6 – 12 months. The number of periods of daytime sleep is reduced: the baby sleeps 2 - 3 times during daylight hours, by 1 - 1.5 years - 1 - 2. Meals are not associated with sleep; there are five of them during the day. It is important to follow the rule: the child eats until he is very tired, otherwise he may refuse to eat and, having fallen asleep, will not sleep for a long time.

Sleep norms are only a rough guide. If the baby is in a great mood, he is cheerful, has a positive attitude, is enterprising and easily takes on any undertaking - a deviation of an hour in any direction is quite acceptable and normal.

But remember: according to one study on the nature of sleep, even one hour of regular sleep deprivation reduces the efficiency of brain functioning, alertness, and leads to increased fatigue in the evening. Excessive sleep is also not beneficial - it leads to lethargy, coldness, and lethargy. Knowing this is intended to remind parents to carefully monitor the amount and quality of their child's sleep.

How long do babies sleep during the day at the age of 1-2 months?

In the first week of life, a newborn’s sleep can last the whole day: nature intended it so that after birth, not only the child, but also the mother can fully rest. The periods of wakefulness during which the baby interrupts to eat and “look around” a little are still very small - no more than 15 minutes or half an hour. This “sleepy kingdom” is an absolutely normal situation for a healthy baby.

But as he grows up, the time of daytime sleep begins to gradually decrease, so that by two months the child sleeps much less: now his period of wakefulness takes a long time, and the baby falls asleep approximately every 3 hours. Of course, this is an approximate norm, since some babies may need to fall asleep every 2 hours. As a rule, the baby requires three times of putting to bed during the day: two of them can happen on a walk, one at home.

How long does a child sleep between 1 and 4 years old?

1 year. A child usually sleeps about 14 hours a day, of which 11–12 hours occur at night. With one daytime sleep, the period of wakefulness is 5 hours, with two - about 3 - 4 hours.

It is also important to remember about the quality of sleep: experts recommend putting your child to bed at night no later than 21:00. Deep sleep 3–4 hours before midnight perfectly restores strength, normalizes the functioning of all body systems, and energizes. The number of awakenings per night can be significantly reduced if you teach your baby the skills to fall asleep independently.

If at 1 year of age your child finds it difficult to transition from two sleeps to one, the second of them usually begins in the late afternoon and bedtime is postponed until later, use this advice: try introducing a flexible sleep schedule. Let the child sleep twice on some days, once on others. This is normal for the transition period. Be patient and your sleep patterns will return to normal pretty quickly.

1.5 years. The child sleeps approximately 12 – 14 hours. By this age, most babies switch to one long daytime nap of 1.5 - 2 hours. The optimal wake time before bedtime is 5–6 hours.

A good mood throughout the day will ensure your baby gets a good night's sleep lasting 10-12 hours. Be sure to pay attention to ensure that the baby is not tired before this. Going to bed too early leads to a long process of falling asleep. Try to find an ideal bedtime for your baby between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

If you notice that after several months of good sleep, your one-and-a-half-year-old child suddenly begins to wake up frequently and takes longer to fall asleep, he most likely has a temporary sleep regression, which is caused by another growth spurt.

There are several such periods in the first years: they usually occur at the ages of 4 and 8 - 10 months, 1.5 and 2 years. Try to prevent bad sleep habits from becoming ingrained: falling asleep with a bottle, drinking sweets at night. Your patience, adherence to the daily routine, avoidance of excessive emotional stress and overwork by the time of evening bedtime - and your baby's night's sleep will be strong and healthy.

2 years. Daily sleep for a 2-year-old child is 12–14 hours, of which 1.5–2 hours are daytime rest.

• It is still important for babies to get enough sleep at night to recharge all body systems. One or two awakenings per night are within normal limits. More frequent awakenings indicate more of a developed habit than a physiological need.
• Mothers note that their 2-year-old child’s sleep is improving. This is due to the fact that the brain and nervous system are developing, the baby is actually able to sleep better than during infancy.
• The quality of a 2-year-old's nighttime sleep may be impaired if the baby sleeps too much during the day. But more often at this age, another phenomenon is observed - refusal of daytime sleep, associated with the next stage of development and growth spurt. The child refuses to go to bed during the day, takes a long time to go to bed in the evening, and while going to bed constantly tries to escape.

Nevertheless, the need for daytime sleep in children of this age remains. One-time absences are acceptable here, but the final transition to a regime without daytime rest can lead to the accumulation of fatigue and deterioration of night sleep.

Periods of no napping usually last several weeks. Try to show restraint, calmness and consistency, continue to follow the regime and focus on the age-specific sleep norm.

What can be done?

• Move developmental activities to the morning hours.
• Calm down yourself: the child will feel your tension and desire to leave the children's room as quickly as possible during the tedious daytime bedtime and will try in every possible way to prevent this.
• Follow the routine, don’t forget about the bedtime rituals (daytime rituals should be different from evening ones - you’ll have to come up with something else for this case - for example, a quiet game with dolls or a construction set will do) and give your baby as much attention as necessary.

2.5 years. Two-year-old children need an average of 12 - 13 hours of sleep per day: about 1.5 - 2 hours during the day and about 11 hours at night.

If the child finally refuses daytime rest and none of your countermeasures work, he should take the entire daily sleep requirement at night.

The main indicator that a child is ready to do without naps is his good and even mood throughout the day. No whims, sudden tears, bursts of hyperactivity, lethargy during the afternoon or early evening. The baby wakes up with a smile, spends the day actively, and goes to bed happy.

It’s good when a child can wake up on his own in the morning. If he is already in kindergarten and you have to wake him up regularly and early in the morning, evening bedtime needs to be moved to an earlier hour.

3 years. Total daily sleep is about 12 hours. With this amount of sleep at night, children can already do without daytime sleep, however, if the norm is not achieved overnight, the child may need rest during daylight hours. The daily routine of preschool institutions includes a mandatory daytime nap of 1.5 hours, and many children, having given up this “habit” at 2–2.5 years, easily return to it.

Indicators that a child can do without naps:

• Smooth cheerful mood throughout the day;
• Getting up independently with a smile and in a good mood;
• Sleep at least 12 hours at night.

The main characteristic of this age is the so-called crisis of three years: parents observe in their child manifestations of negativism, stubbornness, obstinacy, despotism, self-will, a tendency to protest and rebellion, and devaluation of the opinions of adults.

The child increasingly strives for independence, independent actions from adults. At the same time, the baby still needs support and care from the parents. Therefore, despite the fact that his desire for independence extends to issues of regime, mom and dad need to show the firmness expected of them and consistently follow a healthy daily routine.

To avoid turning bedtime into a war, start getting ready for bed early so that your baby has the opportunity to gradually calm down and go to bed voluntarily. A timer, dim lights, quiet games are a clear signal for the child that it’s time to get ready for sleep.

4 years. The baby still needs 11 - 12 hours of sleep per day. If the child continues to sleep during the day, then the duration of this rest is reduced to 1 - 1.5 hours.

Typically, between 3 and 7 years of age, an important change in daily routine occurs—the final abandonment of daytime naps. Therefore, maintaining a routine with sufficient time for night rest is very important at this stage. What should you pay attention to?

• Difficulties may arise with getting to bed, especially if the family does not have well-established evening rituals. It is necessary to begin preparing for bed in advance, allowing the child to calmly finish the game he has started - this way he will have the opportunity to gradually calm down and go to bed voluntarily.
• Going to bed is painless if in the evening the child begins to feel physically tired. However, it is important not to confuse this condition with emotional overload. The baby needs active games, but there should not be excessive emotional fatigue: this will interfere with good sleep.
• Most children at this age are not yet able to adequately assess their condition, so parents may not hear: “I’m tired, it’s time for me to sleep.” Instead, they observe whims, crying, bursts of hyperactivity, anger and aggression. Parents are required to pay close attention to such manifestations: most likely, they signal fatigue, and, therefore, the daily routine needs to be revised.

Try negotiating bedtime routines with your older child, such as setting a timer to end a game before bed or using an alarm clock as a wake-up signal. Follow your usual rituals, act confidently and consistently, and don’t forget to watch for signs of fatigue.

As a rule, children of this age are already quite ready to sleep in a separate bed and even in a separate room. It's time to talk about sleeping independently in a crib.

Tips on how to improve your baby's sleep

For children of the first half of the year:

• Give your child plenty of tactile contact throughout the day, including skin-to-skin contact.
• Put your baby to bed in a dark, cool bedroom. Don't leave the night light on. Don't pick up the phone until your child is asleep. Light - especially blue light coming from gadget screens - destroys the sleep hormone melatonin.
• Try to go to bed after your baby's last evening feeding.

For children from 6 to 12 months:

• Start introducing rituals for falling asleep: before going to bed, try to reduce the activity of games and dim the lighting, give your baby a bath if bathing calms him down, give him a light massage, read a fairy tale or sing a lullaby.
• Pay attention to whether your child eats enough during the day.
• If you rock your baby in your arms or lie next to him until he falls asleep, do not rush to put him in the crib and immediately leave. After 15-20 minutes, the child will go into deep sleep and will not be alarmed by your absence.

For children from 1 to 3 years:

• If possible, delegate nighttime motion sickness to your dad.
• Make sure you follow your daily routine. Adjust evening rituals based on the baby’s age. Put your child to bed at the same time every day so that his body is prepared for a night's sleep in advance.

No matter how tiresome your baby’s night awakenings may be, sooner or later they will definitely stop.

Repeat this to yourself on particularly difficult nights and remember:

1. All children wake up at night.
2. The reason for night awakenings is in the peculiarities of the child’s physiology: the immaturity of the brain and nervous system.
3. Newborns wake up on average 4-5 times per night. By one year, some babies can sleep through the night, but most still disturb their parents 1-2 times a night.
4. Up to three years of age, occasional awakenings not every night are normal.
5. Adequate nutrition of the child during the day, a calm environment, a well-functioning daily routine, a normal microclimate in the bedroom, and rituals before bedtime will help reduce awakenings at night.

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When and how to transfer your baby to a separate bed

WHO does not recommend co-sleeping due to the potential risk to the baby's health. And there is not enough space in the bed - especially for dad; at first, parents are afraid to move, and this situation interferes with the relationship between a man and a woman.

Of course, there is no consensus on the question of where it is better for a baby to sleep. Proponents of co-sleeping disagree with proponents of sleeping separately, and each side has ample arguments to defend its position.

Some parents believe that when sleeping together, the child falls asleep easier, feels safe, and it is more convenient to feed him at night. To make it easier for your baby to move out, it is better to do this between 2 and 3 years. After 3 years, co-sleeping already prevents the child from solving the problems of age - to separate psychologically from his parents, realizing and experiencing his own emotions, thoughts, needs and desires.

Experiment to choose your own option that suits both you and your child.

• The child falls asleep in his own bed, but remains in the parent's bed after the night feeding.
• Sleeping in your own crib (sometimes with the side wall removed so that it becomes an extension of the adult’s bed), closely moved towards the parent’s. In this case, it is important to remember safety and lock the bed wheels.

There are various other options invented by moms and dads in an attempt to learn how to put their children to bed faster and easier. But supporters of all approaches are unanimous on one thing: sooner or later the child ends up in his own bed, and until retirement he will not sleep next to his parents.

By the time of the three-year crisis, which begins at 2.5 - 3 years and can be easily described by the phrase “I myself!”, the child needs to allocate his own place to sleep.

In the case of co-sleeping, the algorithm for transferring to a separate crib is as follows:

• Buy a toy crib and start putting dolls and bears in it together with your child, sing lullabies to them and tell them how nice it is here;
• Buy a real crib - you can take your baby to the store with you and choose together;
• “Place” a protector in the crib - a bunny, a bear, an elephant;
• Start using your bed for naps during the day;
• If the child begins to wake up more often at night, returns to the practice of night feedings, and cries, postpone the transition and try later.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, you shouldn't:

• Combine transfer to a separate bed with weaning;
• Transfer the baby to a separate crib when he is unwell or recovering from an illness;
• Combine this process with important changes in the child’s life - the appearance of a brother or sister, the start of kindergarten, moving to a new house, the passing of older relatives, etc.

Is it possible to overdose on vitamin D?

Vitamin D for infants, especially in the form of ergocalciferol, can accumulate in the body. When it is in excess, the following symptoms occur:

• vomiting and frequent regurgitation:
• stool disorders:
• frequent urination;
• early closure of the fontanel;
• dry and itchy skin;
• restless sleep, limb cramps;
• irritability, moodiness or, conversely, lethargy and apathy.

If such symptoms appear, you should stop taking it and consult a doctor. In severe cases of overdose, monitoring of heart function, blood pressure and regular urine testing are indicated.

Do I need to adjust my baby’s diet when taking this vitamin?

The body of any person synthesizes vitamin D on its own under the influence of sunlight, a significant part comes from food, provided that the diet is properly formulated. If the formula that the child receives contains vitamin D3, the dosage must be calculated correctly so as not to provoke hypervitaminosis. Provided breastfeeding is established, nothing needs to be adjusted - if the mother is well-nourished, the baby will receive a daily dose; the vitamin can be given separately only for preventive purposes during the cold season.

To prevent rickets when introducing complementary foods, you need to enrich it with the following products:

• oat and buckwheat cereals;
• meat rich in animal proteins;
• butter and vegetable oils;
• egg yolk.

Gradually, closer to a year, you can introduce cod liver, fatty sea fish, beef and chicken liver, cream and other fatty dairy products.

The most common and cheapest source of the vitamin is fish oil. Previously, it was sold in the form of an oily solution and had an unpleasant smell and taste, which is why children often refused to drink it. Now fish oil is sold in the form of capsules in a gelatin shell. They can be given to children who can already swallow large tablets - on average, no earlier than 3 years.

If the baby sleeps alone

In the case of separate sleeping, there is usually no question of transferring the child to his own crib, since the baby already sleeps in it. There may be a problem with visiting parents in bed at night. Often, a baby, having learned to get out of the crib, climbs under the blanket with mom and dad. If the door to the parents' bedroom is closed, then adults can find a child sleeping on the threshold in the morning. How can it be easier for a baby to stay in his crib when sleeping separately from birth?

• Hang up a night light and observe bedtime rituals, which include bathing, a fairy tale and various other pleasant activities of choice and preference.
• Don't let your baby cry alone in the crib. If it is difficult and scary for him, it is better to temporarily move the crib to the parent’s bed and give the baby the necessary support, support and protection.

In a situation where you notice that the child is clearly not getting enough sleep (becomes capricious, excitable, breaks down over trifles, may suddenly fall asleep very early), try gradually shifting the bedtime to an earlier date - 15 minutes every day, and perhaps , in just a week or two (maybe in a month) you will be able to bring the child’s life schedule to its age norm.

Night sleep

The question of how long a child should sleep at night worries parents during the first year of a baby’s life. Any mother wants her baby to sleep soundly all night, in order to fully rest herself. Working all day with the baby and doing household chores at the same time, at night the mother really wants to rest.

However, you should prepare yourself for the fact that you will only have to dream about restful sleep for a long time. On average, children begin to sleep through the night only after reaching 1 year.

At the age of 3 weeks, night sleep cannot be long, since the child wakes up from a feeling of hunger, and after eating, he will want to have a bowel movement or burp. A caring mother will have to wash the bottom and change the diaper. Only after the baby has fulfilled all his natural needs will he be ready to go further into sleep.

Typically at this age, babies wake up every 2-4 hours during the night. It all depends on how long it takes for the milk to be digested in his body. If the baby is bottle-fed, then the periods of sleep will be longer, since artificial formulas are “heavier” than breast milk and take longer to digest.

Mother's milk is more familiar and familiar to the baby's intestines, and therefore its absorption occurs very quickly.
With natural (breast) feeding, the baby can wake up every 2 hours for a new portion of milk. *On a mobile device there is horizontal scrolling at the bottom of the table

Make a nutrition schedule online: Nutrition calculator for a child up to one year old

As a rule, breastfed babies often wake up lacking nutrition - the mother either has little milk or it is of insufficient fat content.

The duration of night sleep depends not only on hunger, but also on the baby’s sensitivity to the environment. Some children can easily sleep in wet diapers, but for others this fact becomes the reason for waking up. The same goes for extraneous noise. Some children sleep with the sound of the TV on, while others require complete silence to sleep.

Struggle to sleep in a crib

There are different approaches to the problem of sleep.

If you look at the root, mothers choose those theories that relieve them of stress and anxiety and help them feel like good enough parents. But with any approach, 3 years is the milestone after which a child can already sleep in his own bed.

How to help your child get used to falling asleep on his own:

• Mode. Many kids cannot fall asleep on their own, because in the life of an urban family too many events happen in the evening. Dad returns from work, the house is full of activity: washing, cooking, talking while the TV is on. In order for the baby to fall asleep without problems, the last 1.5 hours before bedtime should be very calm and measured, subject to a stable daily routine. For example, a walk, dinner, quiet games, bathing, bedtime, bedtime story. A stable routine gives your child a sense of security and prepares him for sleep. Evening rituals help to calm down after a day filled with impressions and make up his world - cozy, predictable, warm.
• Its own place. It’s good if the crib is in a separate room or isolated with a curtain or screen. This is necessary so that the child has his own separate space for sleeping: when the curtain is pulled back, the baby is still in the common world with his parents and is not sleeping. When it is closed, it is a clear signal that it is time to fall asleep.
• Helpers. There is another very important participant in the ritual of falling asleep: a bear, a bunny, a doll, an elephant - in a word, a favorite toy. The significance of this object is difficult to overestimate. He has a very serious job: instead of the mother, he protects the child’s sleep. The child transfers the feeling of security that his mother’s presence gives him to his favorite toy. That is why child development specialists call such bears, bunnies and piglets “transitory” (transitional) objects. The baby interacts with them as with living people, endowing them with the properties of the latter - this is how, in the child’s eyes, part of the mother’s power is transferred to them. A transient object has a colossal beneficial significance in the mental life of the child. True, only if the boundaries between his reality and the imaginary world are maintained. Parents don’t have to worry about a child’s obsession with his favorite toy: a bunny or a bear will not be a companion throughout childhood. Children grow up, the toys are put away in a box, sent to the closet, to the dacha, or given to other children, and the child (perhaps already a schoolboy) forgets about their existence. Also, do not worry if the baby takes a whole regiment of plush animals and a stack of toys to bed with her favorite books. This is normal and means that one bear in the scary world of dreams cannot cope and the baby calls on an entire army of loyal friends to help him.
• Night light. Another necessary item in a children's sleep corner is a night light, which provides soft, subdued light. Children are afraid of the dark, and the best way to cope with this fear is a night lamp. In addition, having a night light will protect you from the child’s requirement to leave the door to the room open. Often this requirement begins a whole series of conditions for sleep, tying parents hand and foot: keep the door open, turn off the TV in the living room, put a glass of water next to the bed and etc. The child delays the moment of going to bed, checking whether all conditions are met.

Getting used to sleeping in your own crib

The main rule for falling asleep is this: as soon as all the evening rituals are completed, the fairy tale is told and the wish of good night with mother’s kiss is also said, that’s it! No wandering around the apartment! Parents are serious in their intentions, and nothing can pity them.

The child is afraid to fall asleep alone, and he tries with all his might to attract the attention of adults. Have a drink, go to the toilet, have a stomach ache, a mosquito bites you, don’t like the noise - anything to get a little attention!

This upsets his sleep and forms a rather bad habit - using any manipulative means to force his parents to play by their own rules.

The most appropriate parental reaction is to take her by the hand and silently lead her to bed. Trying to console, reassure or, conversely, scold or shame is already an act of attention, and it means the child got what he wanted. If you silently escort your baby to bed - three, five, ten or twenty times in a row - he concludes that the parents are serious in their intentions and, obviously, it’s time to sleep.

Both adherence to the regime and firmness in bedtime require high discipline and organization from parents. Once a month, you can arrange a Break the Rules Day (for example, on Friday or Saturday) - give yourself and your child a break from routine and rituals. Make unusual food, dress up in funny clothes and ask that you not put the child to bed, but he puts you to bed.

Speaking about age-related sleep standards and strategies for complying with them, it is impossible not to mention why, in fact, you need sleep in the required amount.

Several reasons to improve your baby's sleep

If a child does not get enough sleep, it is obvious: his mood is noticeably low, he goes to bed and gets up dissatisfied, and in the evening he is capricious, not only in early childhood, but also during his school years. These are reactions that lie on the surface. What problems are hidden from our eyes and can be stopped by replenishing the sleep deficit?

• Development and growth of the child’s brain. The child will never sleep as much as in the first months of life (up to about six months). During the first time after birth, all systems of the baby’s body “ripen”: nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, etc., but most importantly – the brain. This important process occurs precisely in sleep: scientists have proven that dreams contribute to the emergence of visual images and thereby stimulate brain growth.
• Restoration of strength. It is known that during sleep (its deep phase), blood flows from the brain to the muscles, and this helps to restore strength and prepare for the physical exertion of the new day. A baby who gets enough sleep is able to engage in outdoor games for as long as is appropriate for his age during the day; a child with a sleep deficit will spend the entire day in his mother’s arms or on the floor with his favorite toy.
• Attention and memory. During sleep, the brain organizes the impressions of the day, knowledge and ideas about the world received from the senses. The functions of attention, memory, and systematization are involved in this process. Sleep deficiency or disorder significantly reduces the productivity of these functions and prevents the assimilation and consolidation of new knowledge and skills.
• Growth and development of the body. Growth hormone is produced at night (from 23 pm to 1 am). Experts recommend going to bed no later than 10 p.m., and by 11 p.m. sleeping soundly. Lack of sleep in childhood can lead to slower physical development.
• Psychological protection. Sleep promotes psycho-emotional relief of the nervous system, mental relaxation, helps relieve stress and free yourself from negative emotions.
• Strengthening the immune system. According to some studies, resistance to infections drops by almost a third if a person does not get enough sleep. This is due to a decrease in the production of white blood cells, proteins, antibodies to infectious agents and other health defenders. Sound and quality sleep strengthens the immune system. This explains the fact that both children and adults sleep more during illness.
• Good mood and behavior. Sufficient sleep can light up the day with the smiles of the baby, and its absence is fraught with whims. And then the day will not go well not only for the child, but also for the whole family. It has also been found that lack of sleep can manifest itself in poor behavior of the baby: scientists have proven that children with a lack of sleep have an increased risk of behavior problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Safety. Sleep deficiency reduces the body’s ability to correctly position itself in space, leading to some physical retardation and uncoordinated movements. This is fraught with children falling from bicycles and other unpleasant and, at first glance, completely invisible consequences. The ability to “collect all the steps (angles)” comes from here (however, it becomes more acute at certain stages of physical and spatial development, but in this case it is more regular and protracted).
• Problems with excess weight in the future: Lack of sleep may cause obesity in the future - these are the results of one recent study. Young children, schoolchildren, teenagers and adults are all at risk. The principle is always the same: when a person sleeps little, he begins to eat more. Presumably, leptin (the satiety hormone) is responsible for this, the production of which decreases due to lack of sleep.
• Mom's Depression: Finally, a child's poor sleep can be so exhausting for the parents (usually the mom) that it leads to depression. According to research, up to half of women who suffered from lack of sleep during the first three years of their baby’s life need treatment for depression, and with medications (psychotherapeutic methods are no longer enough).

Finally, let us remind you of the basic rules of sleep.

When the baby is only 1 month old, establishing a daily routine by the hour will be problematic. The baby’s whole day consists of alternating: sleeping, eating, changing a diaper and bathing procedures.

Establishing a routine hourly per month will be problematic and here’s why - in the coming months, the baby’s waking time will increase, he will want to stay awake more, and his sleep time will also change. In other words, the baby’s biorhythms have not yet formed, and therefore it will not be possible to introduce a full-fledged regime. Despite all the difficulties in establishing a regime, there are some things you can start doing right now.

Speaking about the daily routine of a newborn, it is worth noting the fact that the mother needs it more than the baby. When a child has a clear schedule tied to time, it is easier for mom to plan her day and complete the planned tasks. And when the mother has a resource, the whole family lives in peace. Communication with the baby and loved ones is more positive. But don't forget about the baby's needs.

How long should a 1 month old baby sleep and stay awake?

Sleep in a one-month-old baby is one of the basic physiological needs that must be satisfied regularly. Therefore, it is necessary for parents to pay special attention to their child’s sleep.

A 1 month old baby's waking time ranges from 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Daytime sleep takes from 5-8 hours throughout the day. In terms of quantity, this is approximately 4-5 dreams. The length of each nap will vary. In one nap the child will sleep for 30 minutes, in the other for about 2 hours. The duration of night sleep ranges from 8-11 hours, and the child can sleep up to 5 hours without waking up. The total daily sleep duration for a 1 month old baby ranges from 16-20 hours. Some babies sleep more, some sleep less. It is worth noting that all numbers are approximate and individual for each baby.

Circadian rhythms at 1 month One of the common problems of this age is a violation of circadian rhythms. In other words, the child confused day with night. The baby often alternates sleep and food at night, and during the day his sleep is longer, with breaks for 1-2 food awakenings. To help your child adjust his biorhythms and eliminate the possibility of disruption of circadian rhythms, it is necessary to be outside more often during the daytime, as well as during nap breaks, open the curtains and create maximum lighting in the room.

A 1-month-old baby's routine is not varied: the baby sleeps, wakes up, eats, changes a diaper, and if there is time left, communicates with mom or looks at home furnishings. When awake, it is important not to tire the child and not allow too much sleep, so that the baby calmly and without resistance goes to sleep. In addition, it is important for the child to spend enough time outside.

Walking in the fresh air saturates the brain with oxygen and promotes sound and long-lasting sleep. When a child understands the sequence of actions, it is easier for him to adapt to the rhythm.

An example of a baby's daily routine at 1 month:

• 7:00 — Wake up, change diaper;
• 7:20-8:10 - Feeding, wakefulness with mom;
• 8:20-10:20 - Sleep;
• 10:20-11:00 - Feeding, activities with mom;
• 11:00-12:30 - Walk combined with sleep;
• 12:30-13:00 — Feeding, hygiene procedures;
• 13:00-13:20 — Quiet time with mom;
• 13:20-15:30 - Sleep;
• 15:30-15:50 — Feeding, diaper change;
• 15:50-17:00 - Walk and sleep;
• 17:00-17:30 - Feeding after sleep, bath, diaper change;
• 17:30-18:00 - Wakeful with mom;
• 18:00-19:30 - Evening sleep;
• 19:30-20:30 — Feeding, preparation for night sleep, ritual;
• 20:30-07:00 - Night sleep.

Important! This mode is approximate. It is not worth maintaining it minute by minute. It is worth carefully studying the needs of your baby and adjusting the rhythm of the day to the child’s wishes.

How to improve your baby's sleep at 1 month:

• Swaddling . The diaper gives the baby a sense of security; it reminds him of those feelings when he was in his mother’s tummy. That is why swaddling can make your baby's sleep sounder and longer. Another advantage of the diaper is that the baby does not wake himself up with his arms and legs. There are different opinions on whether to swaddle or not. The decision always remains with the parents.
• More is spent in the fresh air . You can even organize some naps outside. It is important that the stroller is in a static state at the time of sleep, otherwise the sleep will be short and not deep, and the baby may wake up in a bad mood, since he did not fully rest. If the apartment has a balcony, then you can walk with your baby on the balcony. This is especially helpful when the weather outside is bad.
• Pacifier . If lactation is established and there are no problems with breastfeeding, you can use a pacifier to calm and satisfy the sucking reflex. There are many advantages and disadvantages of pacifiers. Only parents decide whether to use a pacifier or not.
• External conditions . You can check them by downloading the “COMFORT AND SLEEP” CHECK LIST.
• Air temperature and humidity . Two components that affect the depth and quality of sleep. In order for the child to wake up less, it is necessary that the temperature in the bedroom where the baby sleeps is between 18-22C. Air humidity should be between 45-75%.
• Light . When it's time to go to bed, you need to darken the room. While awake, on the contrary, open the windows and let as much light into the room as possible.
• Watch for signs of fatigue . Don't let your child overplay. As soon as you see that the baby is yawning or rubbing his eyes, you can safely move on to the laying down process.
• Sleeping position . From a safety point of view, when sleeping, the baby should be placed on his back. Over time, when the baby begins to roll over on his own, he will not need to be put back on his back.
• Using "white noise " Don't be afraid to use sounds to help your baby sleep. “White noise” will remind the child of the noises that he heard while he was in his mother’s stomach. White noise not only helps you fall asleep, but can also calm your child down during a tantrum.
• Ritual . Start developing and introducing it before each child's sleep. In the first month of life, the ritual takes 1-3 minutes. Come up with actions that will remind your baby over and over again that sleep is coming. And repeat them over and over again. It is imperative that the entire duration of the ritual be accompanied by voice support. Mom can hum a lullaby or just a slow melody.

If you are unable to establish your child’s sleep and rhythm, we recommend that you take the COURSE “BABY’S SLEEP MOTHER IN RESOURCE (+SZ).” The author of the project, Tatyana Kremneva, with her team of certified consultants, will help you with your problem. In addition to the course, there are several tariffs that allow you to work individually with a consultant, and there is also 24/7 support.

Feeding

On average, a baby who is one month old should eat once every 2-2.5 hours at any time of the day. Therefore, it is very important, especially in the first month of life, to satisfy the child’s need for food at his first request. To make it easier for the mother, it is necessary to organize feeding at regular intervals. This will help improve the baby’s nutrition and also increase the intervals of night feedings. In other words, if during the day the mother feeds the baby by the hour, then at night he will most likely wake up at the same intervals as during the day. Over time, the frequency of feeding will decrease, and mommy will become more free and mobile.

Walks

It is extremely important for a baby to spend enough time outside. It is recommended to go out into the fresh air twice a day: morning and evening. At first, you can go out for 10-15 minutes and then increase the time to 2 hours. In the fresh air, it is worth considering that the baby lies and does not move, so you need to dress him accordingly. Overheating threatens the baby with a serious illness, so clothes should be selected carefully.

Bathing

Another not unimportant procedure in a newborn’s daily routine. It is carried out immediately before bedtime. A small bathtub is filled with water at a temperature no higher than 35-37 C. You can hold the baby in your arms or use a special slide for newborns.

It is necessary to wipe all areas on the baby’s body with different cotton pads. Eyes, armpits, genitals are wiped separately. Body parts can be wiped with a simple cloth or a special soft sponge for bathing babies. It is important to wipe and wash all the folds on the baby’s arms and legs.

Caring for a one-month-old baby is not as difficult as it seems. By repeating the same actions every day, your baby will soon adapt to your rhythm. The most important thing is to improve the baby’s nutrition and sleep. And then, as you grow older, you will be able not only to establish the rhythm of the day, but also to establish the child’s routine by the hour.

Author: Tatyana Kremneva.