Infant Sleep - Child Care Answers

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Health and Safety Infants and Toddlers Sleep

As a child care professional, families may look to you for advice about their child both inside and outside of the classroom. Feel free to use the below information to share with families via newsletters, emails, or other opportunities to support them as caregivers themselves. Indiana 2-1-1 is also an easy way to connect families to local organizations to meet their unique needs.

Bedtime Basics for Infants

Infants generally aren’t good sleepers, and we shouldn’t expect them to be. Babies’ brains are growing and developing significantly in the first year; many infants do not have regular sleep cycles until about six months of age. While newborns sleep a lot, about 16 to 17 hours per day, they may only sleep one or two hours at a time. As babies get older, they need less sleep, and sleep becomes more predictable. However, different babies have different sleep needs. Oftentimes, growth spurts and developmental changes affect their sleep. Learn more about how you can support your infant’s sleep and who to connect with if you need help! Covered in this guide:

Typical sleep patterns
Sleep cues
Sleep routines
Safe sleep

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Sleep Cues

How do I know when my baby is tired?

These are signs your baby gives when they are ready for sleep.

Early Cues

Averts eyes
Turns head
Stares blankly

Mid Cues

Yawns
Rubs eyes
Pulls on ears
Fusses
Moves jerkily

Late Cues

Arches back
Becomes rigid
Makes fists
Cries

Infant Sleep Basics

Establishing a solid infant sleep routine

Follow these tips and tricks for infants over six weeks old.

Give it time

Sometimes a sleep routine can take just two days to stick. Sometimes it can take weeks. Babies truly thrive when their life is consistent and they know what’s coming next. Stick with it!

Practice predictability

A calming bedtime ritual that follows a predictable pattern every night helps give your baby a heads-up that it’s time for bed. It’s also a great way to bond! This can look like a bath, massage, book, and breast or bottle in a room ready to welcome a sleepy baby.

Don't discount daytime sleep

Daytime naps and feedings play a big part in what happens at night. If baby gets too little or too much sleep during the day, it could throw bedtime out of whack. Use the awake windows to help guide daytime naps and watch your baby’s sleep and feeding cues to give you clues into their natural rhythms.

Understand awake windows

Knowing how long babies of a typical age are awake before needing sleep gives you a clue into what time to lay them down next. Observe your baby’s typical tendencies and use our sleep chart to begin establishing a solid sleep-awake routine. The chart will help you get an idea of how often your baby should be awake before offering a nap and how many naps to expect each day. As your baby grows and develops, their sleep needs change as well.

SUID and SIDS

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and other deaths from unknown causes.

CDC

Follow the ABCs of safe sleep

Following the safe sleep recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ensures your baby is safest when sleeping.

Safe Sleep

A – Alone

The baby should always sleep in their own separate sleep space. While the AAP encourages room-sharing (having the baby’s crib in your room) for the first six months, they do not recommend bed-sharing. The sleep surface must be free of pillows, blankets, bumper pads, stuffed animals, or “lovies.” The only thing in the crib should be the baby.

While blankets and lovies are not part of a safe sleep environment, some sleep aids might be helpful. Pacifiers are fine as long as they don’t have attachments to clothing that present strangulation risks. The sucking that pacifiers create helps infants soothe and comfort themselves. White noise machines can be helpful for drowning out background noise.

Safe Sleep

B – Back

Always place baby on their back for every sleep, both naps and nighttime. Sleeping on the side or stomach significantly increases the risk of choking or SIDS.

Once a baby can comfortably roll from back-to-stomach and stomach-to-back on their own, you do not need to flip them over if they roll during the night, but always start them on their back.

Safe Sleep

C – Crib

The baby should sleep in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard with a firm, flat mattress. The mattress should not indent when the baby is lying on it. Use only a tight, fitted sheet designed specifically for that mattress. Car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep, as a baby’s head can tilt forward and obstruct their airway (positional asphyxia).

A smart sleep space follows the ABCs of safe sleep, is dark and cool, and includes white noise. Each element cues baby that it’s time for sleep and helps them get back to sleep on their own. Consistency is key.

Other safe sleep considerations

Keep these recommendations in mind to support a safe, healthy sleep environment.

Don't overdress

Dress infants in no more than one layer more than an adult would wear in the same environment. Excessive clothing increases the risk of overheating, which has links to SUID and SIDS.

AAP

Practice tummy time

Strengthen your baby's neck, shoulder, and arm muscles to improve their ability to move during sleep, prevent flat spots, as well as encourage their long-term physical development.

NIH

Attend a class

Learn more about safe sleep, why it matters, and how you can provide your baby with a safe sleeping environment. Your local health department is a good place to start to find a safe sleep trainer.

IDOH

Moon, R. M.D. 2026. American Academy of Pediatrics. “How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained” Accessed February 13, 2026.

DeJeu, Emily. 2025. The Baby Sleep Site. “Baby Nap Chart: Learn How Long Baby Should Nap, and How Many Naps Baby Needs.” Accessed February 13, 2026