Baby's sleep

Why does baby cry at night? What can I do to help baby sleep well? When will baby sleep through the night? We reveal all the stages baby will go through before sleeping soundly through the night.

The right position for putting baby to sleep

Before we talk about baby's sleep patterns, it's important to put baby down in their bed in a way that ensures their comfort and safety. The only recommended position is lying baby on their back, according to the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health. This position helps prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As soon as baby starts crawling or sitting up on their own (around 6 months), you can leave them on their tummy or side if they have moved into that position by themselves.

Put baby to sleep on a firm surface: a suitable mattress and a snug-fitting fitted sheet are perfect.

Baby's sleep from 0 to 3 months

From 0 to 3 months, baby has no circadian rhythm. In other words, they can't tell day from night. As their body clock isn't set yet, your newborn will be hungry in the middle of the night. Babies sleep around 17 to 20 hours a day and usually drop off for 2 to 4 hours at a time. New parents, don't forget to rest regularly so that tiredness doesn't catch up with you!

There are a few techniques to help baby tell day from night. During the day, stimulate baby: talk to them, go out with your little one and don't hold back from making noise, even when they're having sweet dreams. At night, keep things calm when they're in your arms, dim the light with a night light, lower your voice and make as little noise as possible if you need to change them, for example.

Baby's sleep from 3 to 6 months

From around 3-4 months, baby's sleeps will start to look a little more like proper nights. Your child will sleep around 15 hours a day, for 5-6 hours at a stretch. During this period, their sleep may be disrupted by crying or pain (a tooth coming through, growth spurts…).

At around 5 months, the signs of tiredness in your little one will become more visible. Crying, yawning, rubbing their eyes… Keep a close eye out and put baby to bed when they show they're tired. During this period, you can set up a bedtime routine. It's up to you to find the formula that suits everyone: bath, song, cuddles, story…

Baby's sleep from 6 to 12 months

85% of babies over 6 months sleep through the night. If yours doesn't, don't panic! It's nothing to worry about for baby. During this period, baby sleeps between 10 and 12 hours a night. On top of these nights come one or two naps a day, lasting an hour or two. At around 8 months, baby's sleep may be interrupted by night waking, as your child goes through separation anxiety. This is a normal stage in a toddler's life, when baby doesn't like being away from mum. They'll simply need to be reassured by their parents' voices or by gentle strokes to drift back to sleep. Little by little, baby won't need as many naps.

Stressed parents, rest assured!

Every baby learns to sleep through the night at their own pace, and there may be setbacks along the way. Changes in their surroundings, such as moving house or travelling, can affect baby's sleep, and that's perfectly normal. You can always turn to your paediatrician if you have any doubts about your baby's sleep.

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.