How much sleep does a newborn baby actually need?
The average newborn sleeps a total of 14 to 18 hours a day, older infants from 13 to 14 hours, says Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center, Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep, revised edition (HarperCollins). “The best way to judge whether or not your baby is getting enough sleep is to look at his behavior throughout the day,” Mindell says. “If he sleeps 11 hours and is perky and happy, that’s enough.” Q: My baby seems to have his days and nights confused. Should I do anything? A: “Encourage him to switch,” Mindell says. “At night, keep the lights low, and move slowly when you feed him. Be boring. Make sure he is exposed to bright light in the morning, and keep him as busy as you can during the day. Make noise. Play with him.” In other words, during the day, be interesting. Q: Are bedtime rituals important? A: Yes. “Sleep time should be consiste
