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There is one burning question on the minds of all new parents: When will my baby sleep through the night? This is not an easy question to answer since the time may vary greatly from a few months old to well over a year old. Why does it seem that your baby wants to sleep all day and stay awake all night? Babies sleep an average of 18 hours out of every 24 with periods of sleep and wakefulness throughout the day and night hours. Often, babies do sleep longer periods during the day but there are things you can do to help change this.

A good start is to read The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears. This book is full of useful information and tips for parents of newborns. It also helps to understand that the definition of sleeping through the night for newborns simply means sleeping five hours straight between midnight and 6am…not your typical definition of a good night’s sleep! Since your baby will likely need to be fed every two-four hours, most night time waking is due to hunger and many babies will take up to an hour to go back to sleep after eating. You can help minimize that time by following a few simple steps. First, avoid exposing your baby to traditional yellow or white light since it can disturb your baby’s circadian rhythms. Instead, limit light exposure to red lights as they have a less disruptive effect. You should also avoid direct eye contact or loud, excitable speech while caring for your baby at night since both things can create over-stimulation and keep your baby awake even longer.

You can rest assured that your baby will eventually sleep through the night and you can once again wake rested and refreshed. Until then, following these simple steps will help both your baby and you get through this trying time. For now, cherish the time you spend holding your baby at night. One day you will remember it with fondness and maybe even longing.