Sleeping in newborns and infants

[Vania]

Because the nervous system of newborns is immature, newborns sleep a great deal, but only for an hour or two at a time, regardless of whether it is day or night. By 4 to 6 weeks of age, many infants are on a cycle of waking for 4 hours and sleeping for 4 hours. By 4 to 6 months of age, infants usually are capable of adopting a day-night sleep schedule. By 1 year of age, most infants sleep 8 to 9 hours continuously through the night. However, disturbances in sleep are common and occur at different times during the first few years (see Sleep Problems in Children).
Factors that influence sleep patterns vary by age. At 9 months of age and again around 18 months, disturbances in sleep become common because

Separation anxiety develops.
Children can move independently and control their environment.
They may take long late-afternoon naps.
They may become overstimulated while playing before bedtime.
Nightmares tend to become more common.

Parents can assist infants to sleep at night by handling and stimulating the child less in the late evening and keeping the child