How much awake and sleep time for baby in a 24 hour period?

Jazz is almost 2 months, and I'm not really sure how much awake and sleep time she needs/should have? At the moment its usually about 8-10 hours a day awake and the rest asleep. She's usually awake about 2 out of every 5 hours... Is this right? I *think* it is but I'm not sure.

Sorry for all the little questions... I haven't been able to see a child health nurse since we came home :( had some issues because I birthed in the Northside District but considered Sunshine Coast so was taken off Northside books but not put on SC books :( But I have an appointment Monday YAY!

Hi there,

I remember reading some guidlines somewhere and my DD never slept anywhere near them, I managed to forget them, so not much help on the suggested awake/sleep periods..:doh:

However I have always just let DD be a guide within reason.. If she wasn't tired and grumpy after 1/2 hr nap, then I didn't try and make her have longer.. I also don't have a 'routine' of sleep, and I normally get/got longer sleeps from not forcing the issue..

I suppose what I am trying to say is that it doesn't sound like an issue, as long as she is not tired or distressed..

I really can't think back that far now, but I really think that every baby is different. I do know that for the first 3months I just watched DD's tired signs etc and eventually she fell into a pattern and I could then do a routine for her.

I am sure someone else that has it fresh in their mind will be able to give you a rough guide though :)

ETA: There is a good website CYH Home - Home If you click on the "parenting and child health" tab (The orange one), it will have information in there. I find it a good site with lots of helpful information :)

hi leasha
at 2 months.. DD was feeding every 2 hrs with a 40 min sleep in that cycle.
At night would go maybe 3 hrs between 8-11pm if i was lucky

Hey Leasha

I am still figuring it all out too- and for the last two weeks or so- i have had a very awake very cranky bubba- he was only sleeping for half hour- hour blocks during the day and would be awake for 2 out of every 4 hours and would end up REALLY awake and cranky by the afternoon and not sleep for up to 5 hours!!!- and i saw a thread about having trouble with day sleeping- and i have figured out he was having way too much awake time!!!

Ok huge long story coming up now.... :)

So just yesterday and today i have put him back on the 3 hours sleep to one hour awake- and i have found he is much happier!! He even sleeps a bit longer than the 3 hours- and i can now put him down when he is still awake- and he goes to sleep on his own rather than me having to feed him to sleep or walk around the house rocking him!! Because he is much more content and happy!! The trick i learnt was when he is sleeping- babies have what are called "sleep cycles" they will stir every half hour or so- now until yesterday- i would see him start to stir after that first half hour or hour and think he was ready to wake up and i would either pick him right up or i would leave him and he would wake up crying within 5 minutes.... well now i have learnt to go to him as soon as i see the very first signs of stirring and gently bounce him in the bouncer and soothe him back to sleep before he gets to the point where he wakes up.... apparently then he flows into his next "sleep cycle' and will be right for another half hour or so- eventually he will learn to flow through the sleep cycles without help... but until then i just keep an eye on him- and do this until the time he wakes up with out a grumble- his eyes just open- and he will look around and he is happy!!!!! lol I have noticed a HUGE difference in him just from yesterday and today- and last night he had his first sleep through the whole night- from 8pm till 4am- and today he has slept from 5-9am then from 10-1pm and he is down again now. He went down at about 2 and i havent had to soothe him- yet... he is just sleeping soundly!!!

LIke i said he is happier than ever and he isnt feeding as much- we were going through a stage where he was so grumpy and upset that the only thing to soothe him was boobie- but he wasnt really hungry as he would usually chuck most of it back up- now today- he is feeding only coz he is hungry and is soooooo much more content- and no spews yet today!! lol

The only down side- is that i miss him now coz he is sleeping so much!! lol I was told that by this stage he would be having more awake time and even though he was tired and grumpy- i liked spending time with him!! lol He would be ok during the day- just hell in the afternoon!! But after the last two days.. i know he is better off with the extra sleep during the day for now!!

Hope that helps- and sorry i rambled so much!! :)

From the Ngala website

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A newborn baby sleeps around 16 hours in a 24 hour period, but this will be broken down into sleeps that can last between 20 minutes to 5 hours.

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About Sleep

The site has some good sleep charts.

You'll hear lots of different theories, Leash. 2 hours awake seems like a lot for a 2mo... but Natalie was always a terrible day-sleeper so I understand the frustration of fitting your baby into a 'set pattern' IYKWIM.
I would guess that if Jazz seems content then she's probably getting enough. As a pp mentioned, they are all different. If she seems overtired, cross, upset, difficult to settle, then I would think you'd want to try putting her down earlier.
It must be tough not having that clinic support. GL for your appointment on Monday :)

Those figures on those websites are a good guide, but all babies are different. My second DS has always slept heaps more than "average" (and still does), while DS1 has always had less than "average". The best thing to do is to be in tune with Jazz - if she seems tired all the time she might need more sleep. Otherwise she is probably getting just the right amount. And as you have noticed, at that age they don't have long "awake" periods. So it is not unusual for them to show tired signs within an hour of waking up (both my DSs used to have their first nap just 1/2 an hour after waking up from their night sleep). It does get easier to read the signs as you go. You are doing a top job so far, just trust your instincts.

those magical figures did my head in when dd was a baby... absolutely worried me to the core... dd was always awake hours on end and didn't sleep nearly 'enough' according to what she should be.

the thing about those figures is, the number (ie 16 hours out of every 24) is the AVERAGE, therefore there are loads of babies that may sleep as little as 10 hours out of 24, and some lovely babies that sleep as much as 20 hours out of 24..... so really you need to throw the numbers out the window and just go with what works for you. i wish i had of realised this all those months ago it would have saved me a lot of worry (and wrinkles)...

it DOES get easier and you do learn to read their tired signs really well... but personally i think as long as they are coping okay, how long they are awake etc isn't too important... on the other hand if they are crying, cranky, highly strung etc etc etc, then clearly things aren't working too well and i'd be working at having bubs awake for maybe 1.5hrs then trying for a nap.

good luck and enjoy your bubba xx

Instead of looking at figures look for tired signs......

Not all babies are Average... they will sleep more or less then the guidelines.

I spend 3 weeks in a M & B unit and we learnt so much about settling etc etc.

I have just put DD into a routine which helped greatly because for the first time since she was born she was only sleeping 40 minute blocks during the day and waking at 4am. Now she expects sleep time and goes downs without a fuss - most days.

If you dont want to do a routine like I said look for tired signs. I didnt know what i was looking for before hospital but now I do. For instance DD:

Blows Raspberries
Arches her back
Arms get jolty
Yawns
Rubs face
If laying down she will roll over and rub her face against her mat
Whinging

Even if she cries when you go to put her down it could just be a case of overtiredness or just fighting to stay awake so she doesnt miss out on anything. Try rocking her till she is sleepy (but not asleep) or use a dummy. Are you still wrapping her?? It could help extend sleep times.

My DD is 3 months and is definately tired after being awake for about 1.5 hours. She is sleeping 12 hours at night and 4 to 5 during the day. Which if you were looking at figures is pretty average.