During the first months, the rhythm of the baby's life changes rapidly. The length of his sleep depends on many factors. If a baby sleeps a lot at 3 months, this is not a cause for concern. It is necessary to hurry to the doctor if the baby's well-being worsens.
A baby at 3 months sleeps a lot
Sleep features of a three-month-old baby
At three months, the baby still sleeps a lot. Long-term sleep for a newborn is a physiological requirement. At this time, the children's nervous system has not yet matured. A significant amount of information coming from the outside world tires the child. Prolonged sleep is essential for the baby's recovery.
At the same age, the body of a small child begins to actively produce melatonin. It relaxes the muscles and has a calming effect. This hormone is released in the dark.
Important! Sunlight and artificial light interferes with melatonin production and negatively affects the length of night sleep.
It is extremely important that the child falls asleep tired and well-fed. He should not feel the slightest discomfort.
When composing a child's sleep schedule, one should take into account the following features:
- at the age of three months, all the baby's senses are actively developing;
- the baby clearly distinguishes the intonation of the parents, his movements become clearer;
- studying the world around, the baby actively uses his hands, mouth;
- he becomes fussy, often capricious, requires a lot of attention.
Daytime
At the age of three months, a child can be awake for no more than two hours in a row. This time includes feeding, hygiene procedures, laying.
Baby's wakefulness
Note! You can't let your kid get tired. If he begins to yawn and rub his eyes, it means that he needs to be put to bed.
The total duration of daytime sleep is approximately 6 hours. It is best if the child sleeps 3 times for 2 hours or 4 times for 1.5 hours.
Night
By the age of 3 months, the child sleeps approximately 10-11 hours a night. Night rest must be interrupted for meals. Children can often wake up due to the peculiarities of the change in sleep phases. The ideal time for an overnight departure is between 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm. Later, it will be more difficult for the child to fall asleep.
Baby's sleep at night is increasingly dependent on constant rituals. Using them, you can establish the process of falling asleep and ensure deep sleep. If a child likes to sleep more than 10 hours a night, he should be woken up in the morning. This will help establish a normal sleep pattern.
How much does a three-month-old baby sleep
The average sleep duration is approximately 15 hours a day. At the same time, at least 10-11 hours are spent on the night part. Each wakefulness lasts an hour and a half on average. During the night, the baby may wake up once or twice to feed.
The danger of sleeping too long
Sleeping too long can cause negative health effects:
- an eating disorder that threatens nutritional deficiencies;
- lowering blood glucose;
- dehydration;
- indigestion;
- diseases of the central nervous system.
Causes of prolonged sleep
There are many reasons for the baby's excessive sleep. Prolonged sleep is normal when the child:
- eats with appetite;
- develops well and gains weight;
- exhibits healthy activity while awake;
- actively "hums".
Common reasons why a baby sleeps a lot for 3 months:
- lack of nutrition;
- vaccination carried out;
- too bright light;
- negative impact of weather conditions;
- previous diseases.
Important! All these reasons are not dangerous for the baby.
In the afternoon
Sleep too long can be caused by:
- lack of a daily routine;
- fatigue;
- binge eating;
- the presence of natural discomfort;
- frequent stress;
- loud TV;
- the mother's ignorance of the rules of latching to the breast, because of which the child goes to bed hungry.
Latching the baby to the breast
At night
Prolonged sleep can be after an illness. During it, the child's body wasted energy. Their recovery requires a longer night's rest.
Too long a night's sleep can be provoked by some pathological reasons:
- a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood (with this develops oxygen starvation);
- asthenia;
- disruption of the central nervous system as a result of kidney and liver pathology;
- hypersomnia;
- imbalance of hormones.
What to do for parents
Many parents find that a 3 month old baby sleeps a lot and start to worry. This fear is natural, and you can't put it anywhere, since due to prolonged sleep you can skip your next meal.
Important! If the baby missed one feeding due to long sleep, this is not a cause for concern. If the baby continues to sleep soundly by the second meal, it is necessary to wake him up. This is best done if the toddler is in REM sleep. It can be determined by the twitching of the cilia, the movement of the pupils under the eyelids.
Baby awakening
To speed up awakening, you must:
- bring a bottle with the mixture to the spout or substitute the breast;
- gently and slowly undress the baby;
- start changing his clothes;
- wipe your face with a damp cloth;
- massage the legs and back;
- start talking quietly with the child.
When to see a doctor
The baby needs medical help if:
- he is in the same position for more than three hours;
- he has no activity after waking up;
- the turgor of the skin has decreased (if you take it into a fold, then it will straighten for a long time);
- the child is crying quietly;
- breathing is heavy or, conversely, shallow;
- fuse fontanelle;
- increased temperature;
- dry and cyanotic mucous membranes;
- there is a rare and weak urination;
- the child is sweating;
- increased body temperature.
Sleep management tips
To improve the sleep of a child of the third month of life, you must follow these recommendations:
- Stop playing with the child in the evening. They lead to overexcitation, which is why the baby will not be able to sleep. When putting a child to bed, you need to take into account that children calm down very slowly.
- The child needs positive emotions. About half an hour before rest, you should calm the baby's nervous system with your favorite toy or lullaby. While bathing, you can add decoctions of medicinal plants to the water.
Baby bathing
- Reduce the volume of the TV to a minimum, reduce the intensity of lighting.
- The child should sleep only in its place.
- The baby should be fed in a lighted room.
- The process of going to bed on a daily basis should always be associated with specific rituals.
- If possible, it is necessary to put the baby to bed in the fresh air. At the same time, make sure that it does not freeze.
- Do not overfeed the toddler.
- In the family, one should not give development to scandals, conflict situations.
Following these tips can help improve baby sleep.
The child's need for long sleep is physiological. However, the duration of the rest should not be exceeded. Parents need to closely monitor the health of the baby. In case of deviations, an urgent need to consult a doctor.
