Understanding Your Baby's Sleep Cycles

• Newborns

  Sleep in cycles of 20–50 minutes, alternating between active and quiet sleep. During active sleep, babies may move around, cry, or breathe irregularly. During quiet sleep, they're more still and breathe more evenly. Newborns often wake up between sleep cycles and may need help falling back asleep. 
• 3–6 months

  Babies start to have more deep sleep and less active sleep. They may sleep for 10–18 hours, with some waking up at night. 
• 6–12 months

  Babies' sleep patterns become more like adults', sleeping 10–16 hours a day. They may sleep for 2–4 hours during the day and up to 12 hours at night. 
• 5 years

  Children's sleep architecture, or how much time they spend in each sleep stage, starts to mirror that of adults. 

• Babies may wake up frequently due to hunger or needing to be changed. 
• Babies may start to respond to light and dark instead of hunger around 4–8 weeks. 
• Babies may rub their eyes, yawn, or fuss when they're getting ready for sleep. 
• Breastfeeding can help babies settle and relax. 
• Babies form memories and practice new skills during REM sleep.

 This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. Generative AI is experimental.