For parents of babies up to a year, it is important how much a child should sleep at 5 months and beyond. This is due to the fact that during this period not only the body develops, but also the nervous system. Emotional and psychological skills, demeanor, mental perception and other important aspects are laid down. Rest and good sleep contribute to the rapid recovery of strength and energy. It is necessary to comply with the age norm, as it allows you to maintain health and reduce emotional stress.
Good sleep promotes health
How much should children sleep
It is necessary to calculate children's sleep in order to maintain the norm of rest and wakefulness. The sleep period continues to be long - at least 16 hours a day. A special moment that occurs at 5 months is that the periods of active wakefulness increase. The child spends more time in games, tries to communicate and learn about the world around him.
Doctors indicate that a child can remain active for up to 3 hours in a row. This is not considered a pathology. This happens because at 5 months, the baby no longer wants to just look at the objects around him, but to learn about them. The boundaries of interest and fields of activity of the infant expand significantly.
The reduction in sleep time is also due to improved motor skills:
- the child can squeeze toys;
- turns over;
- crawls;
- actively moves around the crib;
- plays in the arena.
A variety of devices for active games are also used: jumpers, children's swings. Information and impressions increase the child's emotionality. To normalize rest periods, it is recommended to walk outside during the day.
Attention! Fresh air soothes the baby. Emotional tension subsides. The baby quickly falls asleep.
It should be borne in mind that a five-month-old baby does not always sleep deeply on the street in a moving stroller. This is due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus transmits signals to the brain about a change in body position. The reason is swaying while driving. The body cannot fully relax. Eliminating "stressful" sleep is easy - you need to stop the stroller.
Compliance is important for harmonious development
Norms of night and day sleep
Observing the norms of sleep and wakefulness is required to maintain health and form the correct internal biorhythm. At this age, a child can sleep soundly at night up to 10 hours, during the day - 2-3 hours. Discrepancies depend on individual characteristics, nature and health status. Weakened children will sleep longer, active and mobile - less. If problems arise, or the regime is very lost, it is recommended to seek the advice of a pediatrician. The average sleep duration at 5 months is 3-4 hours during the day.
Table of the daily regimen of children at 5 months
| Sleep during the day (time of one rest) | In nighttime | The waking period | Total rest time per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 hours | At least 10 hours | Up to 11 hours a day | 15-16 hours |
Sleep time may shift a little, as the regime is built individually. Two or three naps are chosen. Also, one of the rest periods may be for a walk. The nutritional system also influences the formation of the regime - when choosing a gv for a baby, it is preferable to eat by the hour.
Child's sleep at night
At 5 months, the baby is already adapting to the peculiarities of the outside world. A break is formed between the stages of play and sleep. Long nights of sleep (sometimes up to 11 hours in a row) are considered normal. At this time, the body actively replenishes the strength and energy spent on the development of new skills and abilities.
Council. There is no need to specifically wake up the child if he has a long night's sleep.
Doctors at the reception tell how much a child should sleep at 5 months. At this age, he usually wakes up only once at night to eat or take hygiene procedures (change of diapers). It is not uncommon for babies to skip nighttime feedings. They will not wake up when nothing bothers them. It is recommended to follow the regimen in order to avoid the development of health problems in the future. It is believed that insufficient sleep has a negative effect on the psychological components (the child becomes timid, has problems in communication).
Night rest at 5 months should be complete, as it is the most important
How much should I sleep during the day
Rest during the day is equally important for the development and health of the child. The break between sleep is normally 3 hours. During this period, communication with parents, food intake, and obtaining new information take place. At five months, the waking period is cognitive, not passive.
Daytime sleep can be divided into 2 or 3 times. In total, it is recommended to give the baby 4 hours of rest. During this time, the energy will be fully restored, and the emotional state will return to normal. If the three-time option is selected, then the mode will look like this:
- The first period of sleep in the afternoon, it should be organized 2 hours after waking up in the morning. You need to lay it immediately after eating. Duration in time - 40 minutes-1 hour;
- The second rest period is 2 hours. You need to pack after lunch. A day walk is suitable for this stage;
- The third day's rest occurs at 16.30-17.00. Its duration is about 1 hour.
Council. It is recommended to ensure that there are no loud noises or too bright light during sleep. The child will be distracted by them, which will negatively affect the quality of rest and its duration.
How to put to bed
Parents should know not only how much a 5 month old baby sleeps, but also how the rest is organized. When a child is already five months old, it can be difficult to put him to bed. Emotional fatigue may be the cause. In order for the child to be able to sleep and not wake up the allotted time, you need to properly organize the laying process.
Experts recommend:
- reduce emotional stress 30-40 minutes before bedtime;
- provide comfortable conditions for rest;
- dim the light in the room or curtain the windows with blackout curtains;
- remove all bright and eye-catching toys that might interest the baby.
A good way of styling is to develop a sequence of actions that show the child that it is time to rest. This method is the most effective, as it is a kind of ritual. Laying steps can be made not standard, but interesting for the baby. Positive experiences can help eliminate the likelihood of crying and other expressions of frustration. The main feature is the sequence of actions.
Over the course of a certain time, you need to perform the same actions that will help the child understand that it is time for sleep:
- carry out hygiene procedures (before laying at night - bathing);
- feeding;
- stroking or lightly massaging the hands;
- lullaby or fairy tale.
You also need to take into account that the rest time will also be required. It is important to know not only how much the child sleeps during the day at 5 months, but also what time the ritual should be performed. You cannot skip stages, break the regime or adjust it to your own needs - there will be no result.
It is necessary to provide comfortable conditions in the children's room
Why bad dream
In most cases, a baby falls asleep fast and soundly at 5 months. There is an opinion that at this age he can already see colorful and interesting dreams. Sometimes parents are faced with the problem of falling asleep or a short period between rest and wakefulness. You need to know the minimum required, which will indicate the possible causes of the problem. A violation can manifest itself:
- crying;
- short nap;
- restlessness while falling asleep;
- unwillingness to rest.
If there are no health problems, then you need to pay attention to the features of the child's day regimen, the manner of his behavior, and general well-being. Sometimes bad sleep occurs after an emotional shock or the emergence of a new skill.
Sleep disorders
Doctors are aware of the various causes that affect sleep disturbance and reduce sleep quality. At 5 months, rest and wakefulness are cycles. If the baby wakes up, it will be almost impossible for him to fall asleep again immediately (unlike adults). This is why the baby starts crying.
Among the main reasons that can lead to sleep disturbance are:
- The beginning of the process of active teething - during this period, not only gum swelling is observed. The teeth come out, which is accompanied by discomfort and pain. Fever and inflammation are present. The combination of processes leads to a decrease in rest time. To reduce pain and the amount of saliva, it is recommended to use special means and teethers that the child can actively bite;
- General malaise and feeling unwell are the causes of poor sleep. In 90% of cases, they are caused by allergic reactions to the introduction of new components of complementary foods. Viral infection, the influence of bacteria, pain in the abdomen are also among the reasons that reduce the quality and duration of sleep;
- Emotional overwork - a child may start to be capricious when the influx of new information and impressions is greater than his nervous system is able to perceive. At this moment, he cannot correctly assess what is happening. It is recommended to carry out a light massage before going to bed to relax the muscles and distract the child's attention from the events;
- The feeling of hunger is the reason that does not allow the child to rest in peace. Parents should ensure that their baby's diet is appropriate for age. Feeding must be complete;
- Discomfort - Sleep rates can be disrupted when the baby is hot or cold. Stuffiness, uncomfortable or multi-layered clothes, too soft or hard bed also have a negative effect.
It will be bad for a baby to fall asleep in wet clothes, so you need to change them before going to bed. Crumbs at this age can already roll over from side to side. They actively jerk their legs, raise their arms and swing them from side to side. These movements lead to the fact that the awakening process takes place. The movements are performed by the child involuntarily. The brain reproduces in a dream the processes that it did during the waking time. Games, communication saturate with emotions that become a reason for stirring.
To reduce negative causes, parents must take into account common mistakes. You cannot overload the child's body. This applies to both food and games. Dr. Komarovsky advises to regularly ventilate the nursery and carry out wet cleaning in it. As a result, the air will become light, the stuffiness will disappear. The baby's hormonal background will return to normal, which contributes to high-quality and long-term rest. Breastfeeding is a good way to relax. That is why it is recommended to carry out the process before bedtime. Another common mistake is carrying your baby frequently. If he cries for no reason, then you do not need to be rocked. A gentle touch or a little massage is enough.
Elimination of gaps and errors will eliminate problems with falling asleep
Parents should know in advance how much a healthy 5 month old baby should sleep. Sleep rate decreases or increases if there are problems with the body. 2-3 transitions from play to rest should be done per day. For this, a ritual is being developed that helps the baby gradually change the type of activity and calm down. If he does not know where to put the accumulated energy, then it is recommended to play games in the water.
Consider! An hour before bedtime, the first signs of fatigue appear: yawning, whims, thumb sucking. Also, a few minutes before falling asleep, the baby actively begins to rub his eyes.
