At the age of 3 months, babies not only develop motor skills, but also sleep patterns. At this age, babies will generally start sleeping longer at night than before.
Adequate sleep in babies aged 3 months is needed to support their growth and development. The reason is, when the baby is asleep, his body will activate hormones that can support its development. Not only that, 3-month babies who get enough sleep are also less likely to get various infectious diseases.
3 Months Baby Sleep Pattern
Generally, a 3-month-old baby sleeps the same as a 1-month-old baby, which is around 14-16 hours a day. The difference is, there are changes in the duration and pattern of sleep for babies this age. At the age of 3 months, babies will sleep longer at night than during the day. The duration of the baby's sleep at night is about 10-11 hours, while the nap time is around 4-5 hours.
Changes in the duration and pattern of sleep in this 3-month-old baby are influenced by the growth of the stomach. When the size of the baby's stomach is larger, the breast milk (ASI) and formula that can be accommodated will also be more, so that the baby does not often wake up at night because of hunger.
Keep in mind, not all 3 month old babies have the same duration and sleep patterns. So, don't worry if your little one has a different schedule and length of sleep. Mothers must also be prepared to give breast milk or formula to the little one if he wakes up in the middle of the night.
Tips for Regulating 3 Months Baby Sleep Patterns
Generally, babies aged 3 months already have a more regular sleep pattern, and wake up less often at night. However, there are also 3-month-old babies whose sleep patterns are still irregular. To get used to a good sleep pattern for your little one, you can take the following steps:
1. Get used to the baby with the same schedule
Applying a fixed sleep schedule to your little one can make their sleep patterns more regular. Give a stimulus in the form of kisses, hugs, or singing, before bedtime. If this is done consistently, your little one will get used to the sleeping hours that you apply.
2. Put the baby to sleep when he starts to sleep
Immediately put your little one to sleep when he looks sleepy. Mothers can recognize signs that your little one is getting sleepy, namely yawning, rubbing their eyes, tugging at their ears, and looking more fussy. If you see these signs, immediately put your little one in bed.
3. Breastfeed the baby before bed
If you like to breastfeed your little one to sleep, you should change this habit. The reason is, this habit will only make him depend on breast milk to help him fall asleep. Mothers can change this habit by giving breast milk about 20 minutes before she falls asleep.
4. Increase baby's activities during the day
Mothers are advised to invite your little one to play or do activities that trigger him to be more active during the day. This can make your little one tired and sleep soundly at night. However, you should still give your little one enough sleep during the day.
The sleeping pattern of a 3-month-old baby is generally more regular, and you can gradually shape your little one's sleep pattern with the above methods. However, if your little one's sleep pattern is still irregular, you can consult a pediatrician to find out an effective way to regulate his sleep pattern.
