The Importance Of Baby Sleep & How much will my baby sleep in the first year?

All living creatures need sleep. Sleep gives humans and all living creatures time for the body to recover and regenerate. Lions need 16 to 18 hours of sleep, while primates need ten to twelve hours of sleep. People need an average of six to eight hours of sleep to rejuvenate. Human babies need a full eight hours of sleep and take naps in between. The body uses sleep as a way to regenerate cells and refresh the brain, and overall it helps the development of our body, mind and health. During sleep, the human body is able to regenerate hair follicles, fingernails, toenails and even the outer layer of the skin. This happens because of the automatic pilot that is built into our body. People tend to think that the body only needs to recharge the energy spent on the day's work, but in fact the body works with the regeneration cycle much faster when the brain is not controlling too many actions. Babies therefore need time to sleep to develop their muscles, limbs and skeletal structure. In order to give your baby a good night's sleep, it is important that your baby has comfortable and pleasant bedding. The secret to a good bed is one that feels just right. Beds that are too big can make your child feel insecure. Your baby's bed should be comfortable and provide security for a good night's sleep. Choosing the right bed linen should also be an issue. Bedding should be easy to touch and feel cozy. Bedding that is stiff or even fluffy reduces your baby's comfort level and thus shortens his sleep time. We want our babies to enjoy their beds and think of them as a place of safety. Try to make your baby's sleep pleasant. Bedding should be pleasing to the eye. There are so many beautiful patterns and fabrics on the market today that choosing the right bedding shouldn't be difficult. Remember that your child needs enough rest to stimulate his growth and development, and when he gets this, your child can reach his full potential. How much will my baby sleep in the first year? During the first year of life, your baby will sleep and nap a lot – 12 to 18 hours a day. The amount of sleep a child gets at each time slot is mostly controlled by hunger. Newborns will wake up and want to be fed about every three to four hours at first. Don't let your newborn sleep for more than five hours at a time in the first five to six weeks. After that, you can keep the following general milestones in mind: At four months, most babies begin to show some preference for longer sleeps at night. By six months, many babies can go five to six hours or more without needing to feed and begin to "sleep through the night". Daytime naps decrease as the child grows. A two-month-old baby can sleep up to four times a day, while an older baby can only sleep once or twice a day.