How Do I Know If My Child Is Getting Enough Sleep?

During the first few weeks of your baby’s life, he will wake up frequently. This is because his stomach is so small that he needs to be fed every 2 or 3 hours. Of course, parents who don’t know this may wonder if their child is getting enough sleep.

The good news is that as time goes by and babies grow, their sleep times will get longer and longer. However, we play an important role and we need to create a pleasant environment for our baby to get enough sleep.

A comfortable crib or bed, a room with little light and a pleasant temperature are the keys to getting children to sleep well when it is bedtime. It’s also a good idea to make sure the house is quiet before going to bed and to avoid games that stimulate them too much.

Recommended hours of sleep by age

It is important that we know whether our child is sleeping the correct number of hours for his age. This doesn’t have to be all at once. The baby or child may sleep several times a day.

• Newborns : at least 16 hours a day.
• 3 to 12 months : 15 hours.
• 1 to 2 years old : about 14 hours.
• 2 to 5 years old : 13 hours.
• 5 to 9 years old : 10 am.
• 14 to 18 years old : at least 9 hours.

However, we must keep in mind that all children are different, and so are their sleep needs. Some will sleep more and others will sleep less.

If you still think that your child is not getting enough sleep, you should try to find out the possible causes and find a solution as soon as possible.

Pay attention to the indications whether your child is getting enough sleep

You should always be on the lookout for signs of fatigue that babies show. When they are tired:

• they rub their eyes
• do they see red around the eyebrows
• do they suck their thumbs
• yawn

So, as soon as you see these symptoms, try to put your baby to bed as soon as possible.

One thing you should do is not to hold him in your arms to put him to sleep. While this is undoubtedly done with all good intentions, it will actually make it harder for your baby to go back to sleep on his own when he wakes up. He will become dependent on his mother who picks him up.

What should I do if my baby wakes up often?

You may have noticed that your baby often wakes up during naps, or is restless or cries a lot. This could mean he’s having trouble moving from one sleep cycle to another, but he’s not actually waking up completely.

What you should do in this case is try not to wake him up by taking him out of the crib and not giving him his bottle. Go quietly to his room and check if everything is okay, touch him gently to calm him down.

By doing this, you’ll prevent him from fully awakening. If you wake him up, it will be very difficult to get him back to sleep. If you do not follow these guidelines, the child may begin to experience sleep disturbances.

Good Habits to Make Sure Your Child Gets Enough Sleep

Putting children to bed and getting up at the same time every day and encouraging them to sleep alone will help them feel more confident. It’s also a great first step to prevent sleep disturbances.

We must realize that children are born as a blank book. We are largely responsible for filling their pages, depending on their behavior and experience.

If a mother notices that something is wrong and that her child is not getting enough sleep, she should analyze the routines she has taught the baby. Are they adequate and performed correctly?

Parents are responsible for the physical and mental well-being of their child. Therefore, they should be careful about anything that can affect the proper development of their child. Having a good night’s sleep will not only benefit the health of the child, but also the parents.

If we find that after all our efforts our child is still not getting enough sleep, then we should go to a specialist who can recommend the best treatment.

Always remember that sleep is a fundamental part of children’s growth and development.