High And Low Sleep Needs

We all have different sleep needs but how do you know if your baby has high or low sleep needs?

Low sleep need babies will usually sleep 10-11 hours overnight and stay awake happily for longer between their naps. They may drop their naps sooner and also go to sleep quite quickly but find it hard to go back to sleep once awake.

High sleep need babies will usually sleep 12 hours overnight and keep their naps for longer. They are likely to show their sleep cues when they are coming to the end of their wake window and may get upset and grumpy if they don’t nap. They are also likely to be upset if they wake from their nap early.

When I work with families to get better sleep, I look at the whole picture including any signs of high and low sleep needs. A lot of people recommend a 7am-7pm routine which works for some but for many babies and children they need their own schedule.