Is your baby/toddler sleeping through the night yet? Achieving this breakthrough often depends on the child’s age and developmental stage. Over the years, I’ve observed my two toddlers’ sleep patterns evolve in different ways. I concluded that, to a large extent, sleep (for both child and parent) improves as the former become less dependent on milk. Solids sustain their little tummies longer than milk does, thus promoting better sleep. However, every child is different, and what works for one might not work for another.
My Experience
Over the past couple of months, my 23-month-old son would wake up around 4:00 am and not go back to sleep for two or three hours. This left my husband and I quite frustrated. We wondered why this was happening since he eats well before bed and doesn’t crave milk in the middle of the night (unlike his sister at his age).
The answer dawned on me after a trip to another city where we stayed in a hotel for three nights. Our room had thick curtains that blocked out 95% of external light. Even at 8:00 am during the summertime, the room still looked dark. I quickly realized how well my boy slept without waking up through the night. His sleep was uninterrupted all three nights at the hotel.
On our first night back home, I draped a dark cloth over the blinds to block out any light. My son slept until about 10:00 am the next morning. Over the following two weeks, although he didn’t sleep until as late as 10:00 am again, he also stopped waking up at 4:00 am. This makes me happy, as it showed that reducing the light in the room helped him sleep longer. I am in the process of ordering a tapeable blackout curtain from Amazon.
Tracking Sleep Patterns of Little Ones
It’s helpful to keep a mental or written note of your young child’s sleep routine. This includes noting what time they wake up, and the signs they give when they are sleepy. Also, what makes them cranky and signals to nap, etc. Nap time usually decreases as the child grows. Observing and adapting to your child’s sleep patterns can help create a healthier sleep system for your child. Let’s dive into some research on significant sleep patterns for most young children.
Research Insights
Here are some insights into babies’ and toddler sleep patterns by the NHS-UK (2021), summarized for your convenience. (Follow the link below, for more details).
Newborn to 3 months: Newborns sleep more than they are awake, clocking between 8 to 18 hours of sleep. They wake up primarily for feeding or due to discomfort.
3 to 6 months: Some babies start sleeping longer at night at this stage, for about 8 hours or more, needing fewer nighttime feeds.
6 to 12 months: With the introduction of solids, sleep can stretch to a 12-hour period, though it might be disrupted by teething issues or hunger.
1 to 2 years: Toddlers typically have 1 or 2 naps daily, totaling 11 to 15 hours of sleep.
3 to 4 years: Naps may occur on some days, with total sleep averaging 8 to 14 hours.
Sleep routines can change due to teething, growth spurts, or illnesses (NHS-UK, 2021). According to Tusla, being consistent with bedtime routines helps young children adapt to the flow of things.
Conclusion
Sleep patterns vary from child to child, so observation is key. Understanding your baby/toddler’s sleep routine will help you implement necessary measures. Depending on your child’s age and stage, their sleep pattern will be tailored and eventually evolve. As a parent, be ready to adjust to a new sleep schedule as your child grows and their needs change. Consider reducing the light in the room which might probably help your toddler sleep longer. Finally, be flexible but consistent with maintaining routines.
Action Point
Based on your child’s age and stage, rate their sleep pattern. Is it good or poor? Having read today’s post, what can you do for improvement?
Reference
https://www.tusla.ie/parenting-24-seven/toddler-sleep-what-to-expect