There’s no question that sleep is a hot topic of conversation for new parents. Babies are up at all hours of the night, and parents are running on fumes trying to keep up with the demands of the house, work, and the new baby. To say that it’s exhausting is an understatement. But getting your baby on a nap schedule can significantly help parents develop a good routine for them and their baby.
Many baby experts agree that a sleep schedule helps everyone sleep better at night.
What is a newborn nap schedule?
How many naps for a 4-month-old?
A 4-month-old baby isn’t going to sleep quite as much as a newborn. They still need about 14.5 hours of sleep a day. But it also means that they are starting to understand the night and day difference and start sleeping longer at night. Most 4-month olds should be sleeping 10 to 11 hours per night with three to four naps during the day.
A sample sleep schedule for a 4-month old would look something like this:
6:30 a.m. — Wake up
8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. — Nap 1
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Nap 2
1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. — Nap 3
4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. — Nap 4
6:45 p.m. — Get ready for bed
7:15 p.m. — Go to bed
To get your baby on this schedule, make sure to treat sleep time in a way that is conducive to sleeping. Turn off distractions such as the television and play soothing music that helps your baby relax. Dim the lights and draw the curtains to set the mood for sleeping.
The bedtime routine is important. It’s helping your baby’s circadian rhythms adjust from day to night mode. It reinforces the natural rhythms that your baby is starting to develop and teaches them between day and night. A bedtime routine means that you do the same or similar activities each night. You might begin with a warm, relaxing bath and then read a book to your baby. The more consistent you are with a bedtime routine, the better you set yourself up for success that your baby will start to sleep well and through the night sooner than later.
As your baby gets older, he will need less sleep. For example, a 6-month-old only requires 14 hours of sleep a day, and a 12-month old only needs 13.25 hours of sleep a day. Stay tuned in to your baby’s needs. If they are getting less sleep but seem fussy, try to go back to the old schedule for a little while to see if that helps. Sleep schedules should be consistent, but parents need to pay attention to what their baby is expressing as well.
