Sleep Schedule for Newborn to 3 months old

For newborns (0-3 months), naps are frequent and often short, around 3-5 naps per day. As babies grow, the number of naps decreases while the length of each nap generally increases. By 4-6 months, many babies settle into 3 naps a day (morning, midday, late afternoon). Around 7-15 months, most transition to 2 naps, and eventually to one nap between 15-18 months. It's important to follow your baby's sleepy cues rather than strictly adhering to a rigid schedule, especially in the early months.

A 'wake window' is the period of time your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleep periods without becoming overtired. For newborns, wake windows can be as short as 45-60 minutes. As babies get older, these windows gradually extend. Understanding your baby's appropriate wake window is crucial because putting them down too early can lead to resistance, while putting them down too late (when they're overtired) often results in shorter, more restless naps. Observing sleepy cues within their typical wake window can help you time naps perfectly.

Short naps are common, especially in the first few months, as babies' sleep cycles are shorter and they haven't yet developed the ability to connect sleep cycles consistently. To encourage longer naps: ensure they are well-fed before napping, optimize their sleep environment (dark, cool, quiet with white noise), establish a consistent pre-nap routine, and ensure optimal wake windows to avoid overtiredness or undertiredness. Sometimes, gently helping them bridge to the next sleep cycle by comforting them back to sleep as they stir can extend a nap.

Consistency is key. Start by observing your baby's natural sleepy cues (yawning, eye rubbing, staring blankly) and their appropriate wake windows. Create a calming pre-nap routine, similar to their bedtime routine but shorter, such as changing their diaper, reading a short book, dimming lights, and putting them down drowsy but awake. Aim for naps around the same time each day (once they are past the newborn phase) in the same sleep-safe environment. While flexibility is important, a predictable routine signals to your baby that it's time to sleep.

Nap resistance or changes in schedule can be due to various factors: overtiredness (most common), undertiredness, developmental leaps (like rolling, sitting, crawling), teething, illness, or changes in routine. First, reassess their wake windows and sleepy cues. Ensure their sleep environment is optimal. If developmental, try to offer extra comfort and patience. If they truly resist, offer a 'nap opportunity' for about 20-30 minutes; if they don't sleep, get them up and try again at the next wake window to prevent them from becoming overtired for bedtime.