As they grow, a baby's sleep patterns change significantly in the first three months of life.

In these first three months, babies will:

• sleep for around 14-17 hours per day in short bursts
• sleep for 2-3 hour periods and then wake up for feeds
• need help settling to sleep.

Babies, parents and caregivers will all learn to communicate with each other and understand signals for basic needs during this period. It's important to be flexible and follow your baby's lead.

By the time a baby is three months old, their sleeping patterns should start to mature and become slightly more predictable.

During this time, a baby will: 

• start to produce melatonin, which will help their internal body clock with more regular bedtimes
• sleep for 2-3 hour periods and wake for feeds
• have around three naps during the day
• still need help settling to sleep.

Babies may also begin to roll over in their sleep, so it's important to transition from swaddling to a sleep sack that allows their arms to be free.

Doing this helps babies to roll back over and lower the risk of SIDs.

During the day, babies usually follow a pattern of waking up, playing, feeding, and then returning to sleep.

Consistent bedtime routines can create a positive association with sleep, making it easier to transition into longer evening sleep. 

This routine might include a bath, song, story, or any other calming signal that lets the baby know it's time to wind down. 

Sleep patterns should become more predictable at six to nine months, and sleep signals may be easier to recognise.

At this stage, a baby may drop from three to two naps, which can take a while to get used to.

Babies will also learn the difference between day and night and may slowly lower their need for night feeds. This leads to sleeping for longer stretches of up to six hours or more at night.

On average, babies between six and nine months need 12-16 hours of sleep within a 24-hour cycle. They will need help settling to sleep and may still wake up regularly throughout the night while they develop the ability to self-soothe.

Developmental milestones, such as crawling or teething, can affect a baby's sleep and lead to periods of "sleep regression."

Regression might include:

• waking up more during the night
• shorted naps than usual
• resisting sleep
• more crying than usual.

Babies who have started rolling will need to transition to having their arms free during sleep time to lower the risk of SIDs.

As babies grow, they will have longer periods of being awake and will want to explore their surroundings.

Sleep developments between six to nine months can include:

• needing around 10-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period
• fighting naps during the day
• dropping from two naps to just one
• dropping overnight feeds and stretching out evening sleep.

Babies will also start to use self-soothing methods like: 

• sucking on their hands
• making quiet humming noises
• rubbing their hair and ears
• using fine motor skills to put a dummy back in their mouth if it has fallen out.

Developmental milestones and growth changes will still impact sleep, and caregivers are still needed to provide comfort and help with settling.