Just as with adults, babies' and children's sleep patterns vary. From birth, some babies need more or less sleep than others.
Your baby will have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's unlikely to be the same as other babies you know鈥
But what should you do if your baby just isn't sleeping?
In this video below, our detective dad Tom tries to crack the case of why his son won't sleep. Have a watch to find out what his five step action plan is for working out why his baby is upset.
Voiceover
Let's talk about sleep, or the lack of it. We all have nights where they just won't settle. They cry, they scream鈥 And you don't know where to turn. Fear not! The Dad Squad are here to help. Join Detective Dad Tom, as he tries to crack the case of 'The Boy Who Wouldn't Sleep.' Muhahaha! Right. I'm off to work. Don't be falling asleep on the job now!
Tom
Come on little guy. Sleepy time! Please! (HUMS A LULLABY)
Aaron
A fine effort, Dad, but I prefer the original mix. (SCREAMS)
Tom
Okay, what do we need to check? Okay, let's do this鈥 Right, any nappy treasures for me? Nope. All clear. Clean and dry.
Aaron
Sorry, Dad. I had a cheesy veg bake for dinner鈥 Now, where was I? Oh yeah! (SCREAMS)
Tom
Is he hungry?
Aaron
Oi! Wake up you slacker! Ey! (LAUGHS) You look like a wet milky zombie! Anyway, that's not it, Dad. (SCREAMS)
Tom
Does he have wind?
Aaron
(BURPS) Excuse me! Needed that.
Tom
Could it be?
Aaron
That's not it, Dad. (SCREAMS) Call yourself a Daddy Detective? Come on! Focus, man! Look! I'm literally showing you the problem!
Tom
That's it! You're teething!
Aaron
No shh, Sherlock鈥
Tom
Woo hoo!
Aaron
Well done, Detective. Only took you two hours. Case closed. (SCREAMING)
How much sleep does a newborn need?
Just as with adults, babies' and children's sleep patterns vary. But on average, a newborn's total daily sleep can be between 8 hours and 16 or 18 hours.
Why is my baby upset? Tom's five step plan
The NHS recommends checking five things if your baby is struggling to settle and seems upset. Try to stay calm, take a deep breath and ask yourself these questions:
- Does your baby need changing?
- Could your baby be hungry?
- Does your baby need winding?
- Are they
- Are they still crying?
Sometimes, babies will just cry and cry for no apparent reason. If it's really getting to you, it's best to make sure baby is safe and take a short breather away from them for a few moments.
More tips and advice from around the website
- Are you a new parent struggling with night feeds? We've got some top advice for you.
- If Tom's list isn't working for you, check out our article listing 8 more reasons babies cry.
- Are you a new parent who can't quite work out whether your baby is ready for a feed? Have a read of this article.
