{"id":5714,"date":"2021-09-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/?p=5714"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:12:35","slug":"busting-baby-sleep-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/kidszone\/baby-facts\/busting-baby-sleep-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Busting Baby Sleep Myths"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Whilst the journey of parenthood will undoubtedly hold many surprises, you probably expected to have a lot on your plate when it comes to your little one\u2019s sleeping habits. It\u2019s a topic on which everyone seems to have an opinion \u2013 our own parents, friends and even strangers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We can be overwhelmed with so much baby sleeping advice that sometimes it becomes hard to separate fact from fiction. There are a lot of myths out there that brand certain baby sleeping habits as abnormal when they\u2019re perfectly natural and normal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So, to make every second of your babe\u2019s snoozing count, we will put to rest some common baby sleep myths and a few sleeping tips of our own. Before you know it \u2013 you\u2019ll be getting some well-deserved shut-eye as well as peace of mind that your bub\u2019s sleeping habits are far from unusual.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How much should a baby sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Before delving into the myths, let\u2019s talk about how much sleep babies actually need and at what stage. Just like us, little ones sleeping patterns tend to vary. From birth, some babes will need more or less sleep than others. Below, we\u2019ll break down the average amount of sleep babies need over the period of a day according to the <\/span>NHS<\/span><\/a> (including daytime naps):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Newborns<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

Most teeny tinies spend more of their time snoozing than being awake. Their total daily sleep will differ, but it can be anything from 8 hours to 16\/18 hours. Little ones will, of course, wake up during the night because they\u2019ll need to be fed. As well as this, being too hot or too cold can also spoil their peaceful slumber, and often they wake to look for comfort from their parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3-6 months old<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

As your cherub grows, they won\u2019t need as many night feeds and will be able to snooze away for longer. Some little ones will be able to sleep for 8 hours or longer at night \u2013 but it\u2019s important to remember that this doesn\u2019t apply to all. By 4 months old, your baby spends around twice as long sleeping at night as they do throughout the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

6-12 months old<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

Good news for parents \u2013 shut-eye may be around the corner for you now! For bubs between 6 to 12 months old, night feeds may no longer be needed, and some will sleep for up to 12 hours at night. Although, be wary that at this point, teething discomfort or hunger may wake some little ones during the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

12 months+<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

You can expect your sweetheart to snooze for around about 12 to 15 hours once their first birthday passes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s important to remember that your sweetheart will experience developmental changes during this time which can cause <\/span>sleep regression<\/span><\/a>. Whilst it doesn\u2019t happen at exact ages, typically, they can occur around about 4 months, 9 months and 18 months old. If you want to get clued up on everything there is to know about sleep regression, you can read our blog, where we cover <\/span>everything you need to know about sleep regression.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #1: You have to be quiet when your baby is sleeping\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

It\u2019s true that little ones tend to have a lighter sleep during naptime compared to at night. However, tiptoeing when your baby is sleeping may not be needed. Your cherub\u2019s first home was actually pitch black and super noisy. They will have experienced all sorts of noises in the womb, and many of those can be just as comforting now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In fact, <\/span>white noise<\/span><\/a> or soothing music can sometimes help lull your little one into a peaceful slumber. The more your bub gets used to the common sounds around your house, the more likely they will sleep through them. However, our experts advise keeping tabs on whether your baby becomes too reliant on a sound device. This is because it could stop them from becoming familiar with everyday sounds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #2: Weaning early means your baby will sleep better<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\"Baby<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is a big no! Weaning early doesn\u2019t equate to your little one sleeping better. The <\/span>guideline<\/span><\/a> is to begin weaning when your baby is around six months old unless a paediatrician\/dietician recommends differently. For example, babies with reflux are normally advised to be <\/span>weaned earlier<\/span><\/a>. However, in normal circumstances, if your bub isn\u2019t sleeping well or often wakes during the night \u2013 weaning early isn\u2019t a good solution and shouldn\u2019t be a factor in deciding when you should wean your baby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #3: Sleeping less during the day will mean your baby will sleep better at night<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

How many times have you heard this? From friends to mothers in laws \u2013 this is a common one we\u2019ve seen be advised to parents. However, it\u2019s very bad advice, and we recommend steering clear of it. The truth of the matter is if your little one sleeps less during the day, it\u2019ll only make them overtired. Whilst they\u2019ll fall into a deep sleep during the first part of the night, this will then be followed by more frequent night waking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A little one that\u2019s not getting enough sleep during the day can also take longer to doze off at bedtime as they\u2019ll be overstimulated. Your bub will be wide awake for lengthier periods during the night as they struggle to get back to snoozing. No one wants an overtired or grumpy baby on their hands, so make sure they\u2019re well-rested during the day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When your baby reaches toddlerhood, this is when it\u2019s an acceptable time to reduce their daytime nap to encourage them to sleep better at night, particularly if they\u2019re daytime nap warriors. But, for babies, allow them to sleep during the day when they need to because they need far more sleep than toddlers do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #4: Letting your baby cry out is always a bad thing<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\"Baby<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There\u2019s nothing worse than hearing your sweet angel crying. As parents, we naturally want to respond quickly to soothe our babe\u2019s weeping. Therefore, we understand that sleep-training methods where a baby is left alone to cry may seem unbearable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, you need to remember that it\u2019s virtually impossible to teach your little one to sleep through the night without a few tears shed here and there. It\u2019s natural \u2013 changing your baby\u2019s sleeping habits will likely cause them to get frustrated and start crying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The good news is that the \u201ccry it out\u201d sleep-training method is considered by many to have <\/span>no long-lasting negative effects<\/span><\/a>. As your bub gets older, it\u2019s important they learn the essential life skills of self-soothing and falling asleep on their own. If you\u2019re uncomfortable with this, try not to jump to their aid with every little weep, as sometimes they will self-soothe and go back to sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #5: Adding cereal to a baby\u2019s bedtime bottle to help them sleep through the night\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Filling your little one\u2019s\u202fbedtime bottle\u202fwith additional calories may keep their belly full until sunrise; however, that won\u2019t do them any good or their sleep. A good way to think about it is this: how would you feel going to bed after a hefty meal? Of course, you\u2019ll feel full, but at the same time, your body ends up working harder to digest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This fires up your metabolism, making it harder to doze off and stay asleep. The same applies to your cherub. Giving your baby more food to process right before bedtime won\u2019t help them to sleep; it\u2019ll do the opposite and disturb their slumber. If you want some peace and quiet, trust us, you won\u2019t want to do this!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #6: You should never wake a sleeping baby<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Little ones always look so peaceful when they\u2019re snoozing, so why would you ever want to disrupt that? Well, for several reasons, however, the most important one is that babies (especially if they\u2019re newborns) need to eat and gain weight. You may also want to cut naptime short if your little one\u2019s night slumbers are inconsistent and disrupted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The key thing to remember here is that what makes your bub cranky has more to do with how you disturb their sleep than the disturbance itself. As adults, waking up on your own accord is the best way, and babies are the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Therefore, we want their teeny tiny bodies to naturally wake up \u2013 or at least trick them into thinking they do. We recommend doing this by using the space and environmental signals around you. For example, open the blinds to let the light stream in, or gently remove their sock to boost your babe\u2019s body temperature. If your find your little one is still snoozing away after that, take their barefoot and give it a little light tickle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Myth #7: You can sleep train your baby as soon as they\u2019re born<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Little ones are too biologically immature to be sleep-trained straight after birth. We recommend teaching your bub to begin sleeping through the night at around 4 months old. Before that, a sleeping pattern or schedule will be pretty much non-existent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Therefore, until then, your only goal should be to love, snuggle and bond with your bundle of joy. The dependence formed with each other in those first few special months will allow you to help guide your little one to snooze all night long later down the line.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Top tips on getting your baby to sleep and stay asleep<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

\"Newborn<\/a><\/p>\r\n

As we\u2019ve said, there\u2019s so much advice on getting your baby to sleep out there that it\u2019s hard to know what to do. This section gives a simple breakdown of tried and tested advice that works with our top 10 tips. But not all of it will work for you, and that\u2019s fine. Take what you need from it and leave the rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n