How long does light sleep last in newborns? Sleep standards for newborns

Features of sleep in newborns

Sleeping and waking patterns of a newborn by week

In the first days of life, the baby sleeps almost all the time. He doesn't have a specific regime yet. A newborn does not understand when it is day and when it is night. Typically, a baby sleeps about 21–22 hours a day. This time is quite enough to restore strength and for the development of all body systems. Each newborn has different sleep and wake intervals. Breastfed babies may wake up after 1-1.5 hours to feed. Artificial babies usually sleep longer - 1.5–2 hours. During the daytime, a newborn needs about 9 hours of rest, and at night - 10–12 hours. A newborn's daily amount of sleep decreases as they grow older. Thus, babies aged two weeks sleep approximately 20 hours. During short periods of wakefulness, the baby suckles at the breast or formula and falls back to sleep almost immediately. Three-week-old babies gradually increase physical activity. They begin to explore the world, peer into the surrounding objects, raise their arms and legs. At this age, infants have slightly longer periods of wakefulness. They do not fall asleep immediately after feeding, but a little later, so the total amount of time spent sleeping per day decreases by about 1 hour. A one-month-old baby is already beginning to develop an approximate sleep pattern. The baby already feels the change of day and night. At this age, children sleep approximately 19 hours per day. At the same time, night sleep accounts for about 10-12 hours, and daytime rest - 7-9. The intervals between sleep and wakefulness gradually increase and reach 60–75 minutes. At this time, the baby eats and learns about the world around him.

Causes of restless sleep in a newborn

Due to the immaturity of the brain, deep (slow) sleep is absent in children under one month old. Until this age, there is only its prototype - the so-called quiet sleep, which lasts a few minutes. The rest of the time the baby sleeps superficially. This means that the newborn does not go into deep sleep. Brain maturation in infants occurs individually; the timing and speed of development may vary from child to child. On average, infants enter deep sleep between the ages of one and three months. This is the most important reason why a newborn writhes in his sleep and sleeps restlessly, but there are others:

1. The baby is hot. Parents often swaddle and wrap the baby. Due to discomfort, the newborn cries a lot in his sleep, tosses and turns, and wakes up more often than usual. 2. Overflowing diaper. It needs to be changed every 2-3 hours as babies defecate frequently. Urine and feces irritate the skin, so the child may experience itching and other discomfort in the perineal area. 3. Overexcitement. Some mothers think that if they put their baby to bed later, he will sleep longer than usual. This is a misconception. Due to overexcitation and extreme fatigue, the child falls asleep worse and sleeps restlessly. 4. Neurological problems. Children who have suffered a birth injury may experience increased intracranial pressure, headaches, and tearfulness. These babies often have sleep disturbances. 5. The baby is hungry. If the mother does not produce enough milk, the baby does not sleep well because he is constantly hungry. A newborn smacks his lips in his sleep, turns around, cries and wakes up prematurely. 6. Hypertonicity. Many infants have overstrained muscle fibers in their arms and legs. For this reason, young children often startle in their sleep and wake themselves up. By the age of two months, the tone weakens, so the baby sleeps more calmly. If your newborn throws his head back during sleep and shudders very often, you should show him to a doctor. Such symptoms may indicate neurological problems.

Attention! There is no reason to worry if a newborn baby sighs in his sleep, occasionally makes chaotic movements, sobs or groans. This activity is characteristic of the rapid phase of sleep, which in infants predominates over the slow phase.

Should you rock your newborn to sleep?

Newborns most often fall asleep without additional effort from their parents. The baby quickly falls asleep when nursing. However, this is not always the case. Many mothers face the problem that it is difficult to put their baby to sleep without motion sickness. Putting the baby to bed can take quite a long time, while the parents collapse from fatigue, and the baby does not fall asleep.

According to experts, a healthy and well-fed child, who is not bothered by anything, goes to sleep easily and quickly. He doesn't need rocking. It is enough for him to feel the mother’s warmth, which has a calming effect. If a newborn cannot fall asleep for a long time, the interval of wakefulness was probably too long and the child was overexcited. In this case, it is quite difficult to lay him down, but you can still avoid motion sickness if you resort to the following methods:

1. Free swaddling. Pediatricians recommend wrapping a newborn in a diaper, but not tying the arms and legs tightly. A soft tissue cocoon reminds a newborn of the sensations that accompanied him during intrauterine development. 2. Massage. Light massaging movements before bedtime relax the baby's muscles and help him calm down. 3. Swimming. Just being in warm water has a calming effect. If you wash your baby in a bath with herbal extracts added, he will fall asleep much faster and sleep longer.

Recommended sleeping positions for a newborn by month

Until the age of one and a half months, pediatricians recommend putting the baby to sleep only on his back. In the first days of his life, a newborn does not know how to hold his head straight; it turns on its own to the right or left. Thanks to this, when regurgitating, the mouth is freed from vomit. The side-lying position is suitable for babies aged two or three months who already know how to roll over on their own. Newborns are not placed in this way for several reasons:

1. This position creates additional pressure on the chest, making it more difficult for the baby to breathe; 2. The child may accidentally roll over and take a position for which he is not yet physiologically ready.

A newborn can sleep on his stomach for a short period of time and only under the supervision of his mother, who controls the position of his head. In other cases, this position is unacceptable due to the risk of suffocation. The position on the stomach with the knees bent is one of the most favorite for children over three months. In this position, the baby quickly falls asleep. In addition, this pose helps relieve gases and strengthen the muscles of the limbs. According to pediatricians, in order for a newborn to sleep well, you don’t need to wait until he’s tired. It is also important to create favorable conditions for normal rest - feed the baby, remove the light source and ensure silence.

Baby's sleep - from a different "test"

It will take a long time for your baby to sleep until the morning without waking up.

After birth

A baby's sleep begins with the active sleep phase and then moves into the slow-wave sleep phase. Compared to adults, infants have short and shallow sleep phases.

In the REM sleep stage, the baby sleeps lightly, waking up even from slight discomfort or noise. In the deep sleep phase, it is difficult to wake a child - hence the expression “sleeping like a baby.”

Where is the day and where is the night?

Newborns do not distinguish the time of day. However, everything is gradually changing: the brain structures responsible for the functioning of the “internal clock” and responding to the level of illumination are maturing. By the age of 1.5 months, the baby stops “confusing” day with night - periods of wakefulness are “tied” to daytime.

How long does a baby sleep?

A newborn sleeps/naps 18–20 hours a day. Wakes up to eat or cry to announce his uncomfortable condition (wet diaper/cold/heat).

Note: The figures given are approximate and should not be taken as a constant norm. Based on the characteristics of your baby.

Treatment of ENT diseases in infants

The most important task in the treatment of otolaryngological diseases is to prevent the disease from becoming chronic. Therapeutic (drug, physiotherapeutic) methods are used in the treatment of ENT pathology. In recent years, minimally invasive laser and endoscopic methods have been actively used to treat otolaryngological pathologies.

Prevention of diseases of the nasopharynx, larynx and hearing organs in children must be applied from a very early age. A qualified pediatric ENT specialist will help you develop a plan of preventive measures that will help your baby avoid chronic colds and infectious diseases, as well as the risk of various complications.

Remember that, regardless of age and general condition of the body, a child requires constant attention. A pediatric ENT doctor will always help to diagnose the disease in a timely manner, establish its causes, and also prescribe appropriate treatment and prevent possible complications.

Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

The size of the nasal cavity in newborns and infants is relatively small. The nasal cavity is shorter, narrower and located lower, compared to other age groups, due to underdevelopment of the facial skeleton. The vertical size of the nasal cavity is significantly reduced due to the absence of a perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone, which is formed only by 6 years of age. The lower wall of the nasal cavity is in close contact with the tooth germs in the body of the upper jaw, which is associated with the risk of developing osteomyelitis of the upper jaw due to inflammation of the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses. Acceleration of growth occurs already in the first half of life and is associated with intensive development of the skull, mainly the maxillary region, and teething.

Along with the small size of the nasal cavity, a sharp narrowing of the nasal passages, closed by well-developed nasal conchas, is important. The inferior turbinates are located low and fit tightly to the bottom of the nasal cavity, as a result of which the lower nasal passages are impassable for air. The upper and middle nasal passages are practically not expressed; children are forced to breathe through a narrow common nasal passage. In this age group, severe difficulty in nasal breathing often occurs, especially when mucous secretions or crusts accumulate in the nasal cavity.

As a result of the discrepancy between the significant volume of the nasal concha and the narrow respiratory area, acute rhinitis in newborns and infants is severe, with a predominance of general symptoms and the frequent development of complications. Even a slight swelling of the mucous membrane of the narrow and small nasal cavity leads to the cessation of nasal breathing. The child’s breathing takes on a “volatile” character: children breathe frequently and shallowly, but the wings of the nose do not swell, as with pneumonia. Sucking is severely difficult or impossible, sleep is disturbed; the child is restless, body weight decreases, and dyspepsia and hyperthermia may develop. Breathing through the mouth leads to aerophagia with flatulence, which further complicates breathing and leads to disruption of the general condition of the child. When the nose is stuffy, the child tilts his head back to make it easier to breathe, and convulsions are possible. Due to the pronounced tendency to generalize any inflammatory processes in newborns and infants, acute rhinitis occurs as acute nasopharyngitis. At the same time, on the soft palate you can see reddened tubercles protruding anteriorly - clogged mucous glands.

This age group is characterized by the so-called posterior runny nose, caused by the accumulation of infected mucus in the posterior parts of the nose, associated with difficulty in draining secretions into the nasopharynx due to the structural features of the choanae. On the back wall of the pharynx, stripes of viscous sputum descending from the nose are visible, hyperemia of lymphoid granules in the back wall of the pharynx; Enlarged occipital and cervical lymph nodes can be identified.

The mucous membrane of the nasal cavity in young children is very delicate and well vascularized. The folding of the mucous membrane of the nasal septum observed in newborns soon disappears. The ciliated epithelium directly passes into the stratified epithelium of the nasal vestibule. An important feature of the nasal cavity in newborns and children in the first half of life is the absence of cavernous (cavernous) tissue in the area of ​​the free edge of the lower and middle turbinate. In this regard, children of this age practically do not experience spontaneous nosebleeds, unlike older children. If bloody discharge from the nose appears, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination to exclude congenital hemangioma or a foreign body in the nasal cavity. For the same reason, in newborns and children in the first six months of life, it is not advisable to use vasoconstrictor nasal drops, the action of which is designed to reflexively contract the cavernous tissue of the nasal turbinates. The rarity of spontaneous nosebleeds is also explained by the underdevelopment and deep location of the branches of the nasopalatine artery and its anastomoses in the anteroinferior part of the nasal septum (Kiesselbach's bleeding zone).

The paranasal sinuses in newborns are underdeveloped and are formed during the development of the facial skeleton and the growth of the child. At birth, there are two paranasal sinuses: a well-developed ethmoid sinus (anterior and middle cells of the ethmoid labyrinth) and a rudimentary maxillary sinus in the form of a narrow slit (mucosal diverticulum) at the inner corner of the orbit in the thickness of the bone of the upper jaw. The frontal, sphenoid sinuses and posterior cells of the ethmoid bone are in their infancy. In this regard, among diseases of the paranasal sinuses in newborns and infants, damage to the ethmoidal labyrinth (ethmoiditis) predominates, which is especially severe with orbital and septic complications.

How long does a newborn baby sleep at night?

A child who has just been born wakes up quite often at night. An awakening occurs due to hunger. Babies typically wake up every 2 to 3 hours.

The frequency of awakenings depends on several factors:

1. Children who receive formula rather than breast milk sleep longer. The absorption of mother's milk occurs faster than that of an adapted formula, so the baby wakes up faster for a new portion.
2. If the room is hot and dry, the baby will be thirsty and will wake up to quench it with milk.
3. Wet diapers. Parents who do not use disposable diapers are forced to get up more often at night to change wet diapers. You won't be able to sleep in a wet bed for a long time.
4. It has been noticed that children who sleep separately from their mother wake up much more often than those who sleep next to each other. This is due to the loss of contact with the mother, and the fear of being left alone.

Newborn's daytime sleep

The baby still does not know that time is divided into days and nights. Parents should teach him that daytime is for playing and exploring the world, and night is for sleeping and resting. The newborn sleeps a lot during the day, waking up to eat and talk a little with his parents.

It is important to teach your baby not to forget to wake up for feedings. This should be done every 3-4 hours. Even if he is fast asleep, he needs to be woken up. The baby must understand that he needs to sleep for a long time at night, and not during the day. At this age, babies often confuse day and night, which causes inconvenience for parents and prevents them from developing the correct routine.

Restless sleep of a child: what is considered normal?

The baby seems to be sleeping, but his sleep is shallow or interrupted.

“Whining” in your sleep is not a cause for concern

What to do?

Sing quietly - “a-”... So that the baby calms down and falls asleep again. If he bursts into tears, calm him down - stroke him, rock him, take him in your arms.

Sometimes don’t immediately show your presence to your child. He'll grunt and grunt and maybe fall asleep on his own. This way you will help him learn over time to cope with his night loneliness and calm down on his own.

How to understand why a newborn is crying? Memo for mom

Frequent awakenings during the day and night

The newborn wakes up approximately once every 1.5–2 hours, and sometimes every 30–40 minutes (even at night). Often awakenings are caused by physiological needs: hunger, wet diaper, cold. However, often the baby wakes up for no apparent reason.

What to do?

If awakenings are not accompanied by loud crying, there is no cause for concern. Babies sleep like this (although this is little consolation for parents). The time will come, everything will change. Gradually, the child grows up, becomes more active during the day, and wakes up less often at night.

Sometimes newborns sleep up to 4-5 hours continuously - this is how much they can withstand without food. It’s good if this time coincides with night sleep.

Startling during sleep and when falling asleep is understandable and natural

Occur during the transition from wakefulness to sleep and between stages of sleep. Associated with poorly formed inhibitory mechanisms of the nervous system. As the child grows up and the nervous system matures, the twitching gradually disappears.

What to do?

Bathe in decoctions with soothing herbs: motherwort, chamomile, pine extract.

Follow a ritual when preparing for bed: bathing, stroking the back

Co-sleeping with mom and rocking in arms

The controversy continues. Some mothers and fathers advocate for the child to sleep in a separate crib, teaching him to be independent from the first days of life. Other parents are committed to closeness and co-sleeping with their baby. You shouldn’t be so categorical - all children are different!

Agree that no one will rock a baby who falls asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow. And, conversely, if the baby cries, every parent will try to calm their child down - a natural reaction. Try to find a middle ground.

Diagnosis of ENT diseases in infants

Examination and treatment of children differs markedly from working with adult patients. A young patient cannot always clearly explain what is bothering him; he does not know how to properly dissolve pills or gargle. The ability and skills of a good pediatric ENT doctor to find an approach to a sick child and establish psychological contact with him are no less valuable than the professional skills of an otolaryngologist. The physiological and anatomical characteristics of a small child’s body determine the specificity of treatment procedures, examination of ENT organs, and anesthesia (if necessary).

Modern methods for diagnosing ENT pathology include: clarification of parental complaints, questions of the diagnostic and treatment complex, etc., objective examination, laboratory tests, endoscopic and computer studies of the nose, throat, and ear, ultrasound.

How long does a newborn sleep?

A baby up to 1-2 months of age needs to sleep 18 hours a day. The remaining 5-6 hours are devoted to wakefulness, which includes feeding, communication with the mother and hygiene procedures.

But it is worth remembering that each child has his own sleep patterns, and if he is not capricious, has a good appetite and is actively gaining weight and height, then you should not worry that he spends little time in the crib. Some newborns sleep only 16 hours a day, while others sleep all 22. After 2-3 months, the child sleeps less and less. He enjoys playing and exploring the world around him.