Your baby’s day-night rhythm

Your baby has its own rhythm

15 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period is still perfectly normal. But because your child is becoming more and more actively involved in daily events over time, the days become more tiring and over time something like a rhythm sets in. At the end of the third month at the earliest , your child may sleep for seven hours at a time, as the stomach then begins to absorb more food. However, this is the exception rather than the rule, especially in the case of breastfed children. Breast milk is digested much faster than bottle feeding. Therefore, a breastfed baby gets hungry again more quickly.

You have to accept the rhythm your baby has and you cannot and should not influence it. It cannot yet be adapted to your sleep rhythm. But you can match your rhythm with your baby’s and try to rest whenever your baby is sleeping. After the birth of their child, parents have to learn that the evening can no longer be used to relax, but that relaxation should take place when your child is asleep, regardless of the current time of day.

Night shifts are essential

Nevertheless, many parents are bleary-eyed, especially in the initial phase when everything is new to them. However, it is unavoidable that your baby cries at night and has to be breastfed. Mothers in particular have to get up almost every two to three hours to breastfeed. But parents can support each other: because even if the woman has to breastfeed or prepare the bottle, the partner can take care of the subsequent diaper changing, for example. If there is the possibility of sleeping separately during the night, you can arrange with your partner that he/she will breastfeed the baby at night if it cries and then take it away from you, wrap it and put it to sleep. This is how you get more sleep. Of course, this method depends on your professional situation and your personal preferences. Every couple finds their own way. However, if you are dissatisfied, talk to your partner.

Day-night rhythm: a matter of getting used to

So that you can get your child used to the long night’s sleep as early as possible, you should not keep your baby awake at night by playing or cuddling while changing the diaper. Make sure you only turn on as much light as you need. Over time, try to get into the habit of not going to your cot for every sound your baby makes. Wait a minute, maybe it’s just making noises in its sleep or is already dozing off. At some point, the baby also understands that the night is the phase of rest.

The thesis that babies have to learn how to sleep is wrong. They were born with this instinct and the urge to sleep. It is also in no way important whether your baby falls asleep alone or whether you have to rock him to sleep, it all depends on your child’s preferences. In the beginning it is important for your child if he sees you again shortly before falling asleep, from the fourth month it may only be necessary that he hears you and at some point he just knows that his parents are nearby .

More information about baby sleep

You will also find the most important information on age-appropriate baby sleep in the first year of life in the following articles:

• Newborn: Your newborn wakes up frequently
• 4th-6th Month: The long way to sleeping through the night
• 7th-9th Month: This is how sleeping works
• 10th-12th Month: Find sleep rhythm