3 Month Olds Sleeping Patterns

Updated on May 06, 2007
A.J. asks from Sterling, VA
15 answers

Okay, so I have a wonderful, happy and healthy 3 month old boy (just turned 3 months on the 29th) well, he doesn't stay awake for really any longer than 2 hours. He goes to sleep at 10 PM, usually wakes up once during the night (if at all) and then wakes up at 8 AM. By 10AM he wants a nap which is normal, but he'll only take about 1-1.5 hour nap, then within 2 hours, MAYBE 3 if I stretch it he's ready for another nap, then he'll take a longer nap 2-3 hours, then once he wakes up, same thing....around 2 hours later he's ready for his last nap before going to sleep again. I am a little concerned that this isn't normal....

Any input is much appreciated.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Girl, don't worry about his sleeping. Sounds like he is doing just fine!! Matter of fact I don't think I would go around bragging about his sleeping for fear of a another mother strangling you!! Lol

Keep up the good work, he's doing fine!!

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

This is very very normal! You should be thanking your lucky stars he does so well overnight!

I am a nanny for an almost 6 month old and she naps for 45 to 90 minute increments throughout the day, and is awake for somewhere between 1 to 3 hours between naps (depending on what else is going on). She sleeps 12 hours over night and has since she was 8 weeks old. Also, she goes to sleep on her own just fine with hardly any fussing.

I recommend reading the Weissbluth book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child".

3 moms found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Washington DC on

I think your son has a wonderful sleeping pattern that I would have wanted for my son at that age. You should be ectstatic that he is sleeping through the night! Babies usually take about 3 naps like that around that age. Dont worry, as long as hes eating enough and getting his 15 or so hours of sleep for his age, you are doing great.
Keep up the good work!
A.

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A.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Breastfed babies are often on a 2 hour schedule for the first 3-6 months of their lives. This is totally normal! Formula babies tend to sleep longer because formula takes longer to digest. Really, you don't want a breastfed baby going longer than 4 hours between meals during the day. And at this age, they're all about eating - whether they drink breastmilk or formula!! :) A breastfed baby sleeping for 4-6 hours at a stretch at night is normal. You are lucky to get that reprieve there!! Take full advantage of the sleep you do get and try to take a nap with baby during the day. It will help you to be able to cope with him when he's awake.

Sounds perfect to me!! Keep up what you're doing!!

A.
____@____.com
www.Dreambirths.com

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S.W.

answers from Harrisburg on

Hi A.,
from experience I can only say you might want to rest up for the future.... I have four sons they are now 25, 23, 17 and 15... well the 17 yr old was quite a trip! He was the sweetest mildest tempered baby... he was like your son is doing... then when he hit 2 and I had another baby... he hit the 'terrble twos'... after that i was toast...

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S.C.

answers from Richmond on

This is very typical for a baby this age. My last child slept like this and now she's an energetic, curious almost 15 month old. Enjoy this time now because in a few short months, he'll be rolling, crawling, then walking and life will never be this calm again!!!

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T.I.

answers from Washington DC on

A.,

Enjoy it while it lasts! Once something disrupts his sleep, like teething his schedule will change! And the Weissbluth book someone already recommended is great! Good Luck and enjoy your little man they grow up so quickly. It sounds cliche, but is so true!

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M.W.

answers from Washington DC on

A., there is a wide range of what is considered to be normal. We use the term "normal" for the average, but it does not mean that if a baby is different they are abnormal. They are all individuals. My son required solid food at 5 weeks because he was taking in over 40 ozs. of formula, which was too stressful for his kidneys. At that time he started sleeping all night as well. It was not the usual, but it was not abnormal. He continued to be a healthy child. Although he was very pudgy as an infant and toddler, he slimmed out over one astonishing year and now looks like a bean pole at 23. If he were a baby today, he would be put on a diet, and maybe it would not be the right thing for him. So, if your child looks healthy and acts happy, don't sweat it. Relax and enjoy your night's sleep. And, give in to the urge to brag about how your son is already sleeping through the night to those moms who are still in the night feeding loop.

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S.L.

answers from Richmond on

I have twins and when they were your sons age they were exactly like that. They would wake up at like 6 in the morning for a bottle and go right back down after the bottle then they would wake up at 8 for the day but then go right back down at 10 and then would get up again at like 12 and go right back down at 2 and then take a longer nap and then get up again about 5 and go back down at 7 and sleep til 9 and then go down for bed for good about 11 p.m. I think that is pretty typical for a baby your sons age to be having 3 naps a day, my kids did this until they were more than 6 months old, gradually I got them on a 2 nap a day schedule and then to an only 1 nap a day schedule but I dont think they started taking only one nap a day until they were almost 1 and then it was 3 or 4 hours. Some kids just like to sleep alot, my pediatrician never said that there was anything wrong with it so I wouldn't worry probably just typical baby sleep! I hope that I helped you in some way if you ever want to chat you can IM me on AIM my screen name is Mom2bgtwins05 or e-mail me at ____@____.com, My twins are now 2 and I have another baby going to be induced on Wensday with him so I do have experience, so if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.

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M.Y.

answers from Washington DC on

A.!! Enjoy that!! And be blessed that you have an amazing li'l sleeper!! Some babies sleep alot some don't. I managed to have two of them that never slept... So while you can soak it all up and enjoy it. On average, babies that young are supposed to sleep 10 or more hrs a day. Wow you are so lucky!!

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C.J.

answers from Harrisburg on

YOU ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM SLEEPING THE WAY THAT YOU DO! That is amazing, and I will tell you why....My daughter is 20 months old, and still wakes up sometimes in the middle of the night to have a drink......it drives me nuts, but hey, thats what mommy do best......care for there children

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L.P.

answers from Harrisburg on

Hi A.,

I agree that you should feel very fortunate to have a baby that sleeps so well. Enjoy it while you can because before you know it he will be up running all over the place and you will wonder what happened to that baby that slept so much :)

L.

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A.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm sure that you are already reassured by now but I wanted to add that the book people have posted about actually states that you need to try to put down your baby by 2 hours from the time he woke up last! So yours is right on schedule and you are paying good attention to his natural body rhythms by letting him sleep and not messing him up. And if it changes, that's okay too! My three month old (girl who just turned 3 months on the 23rd!) was on a pretty good schedule like that, but when the weekends come and visitors disrupt the schedule, I can really notice it in her happiness.

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A.K.

answers from Washington DC on

A.,

First, Congratulations on your new little one! Now - count your lucky stars you have such a wonderful sleeper!!! :) This is normal sleeping for a three month old baby and besides that you are also helping him set wonderful sleeping habits. I would enjoy it while it lasts (hopefully he will continue!) My daughter was always a great sleeper but my son hit the 4 month mark and went haywire!!!! He was not a very good sleeper from the 4 - 6 month mark. After having two great sleepers this became very frustrating and emotionally draining. So for now all I can say is that your baby is perfectly happy and healthy and sleeping wonderfully! It won't be long that you will look back on these days and wonder what happened! :)

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K.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Just my opinion....very normal and nothing to think twice about.

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