How to Log Your Baby's Sleep, and Why You Should

Are you struggling with baby sleep problems in your home? Is your baby waking often at night, even though you know she is capable of sleeping straight through? Is your little guy taking short mini-naps, instead of long and restful ones? (Or perhaps refusing naps altogether?) There are lots of ways to solve these issues, but here’s a step you may not have considered yet: try keeping a baby sleep log.

Why You Should Bother Keeping a Baby Sleep Log

Here’s a fact that may be helpful to remember, as you work to understand your baby’s sleeping patterns: the amount of sleep a baby gets in 24 hours will stay relatively constant. However, babies can shift sleep between daytime and nighttime. For example, if your 9 month old baby sleeps 14 total hours, and she takes 3 naps each day that are about an hour each, then you can expect that she will probably sleep about 11 hours at night. But if her naps are extra long, then her nighttime sleep amount will likely decrease. This won’t always work perfectly, of course, but it should generally remain true.

Keeping a baby sleep log will help you keep track of how much overall sleep your baby is getting. (This is useful information to have, to help determine if your baby is sleep-deprived!) It will also help you see how that sleep is divided up between naps and nights, and will help you spot any inconsistencies or problems.

Logging your baby’s sleep will also help you see if there are patterns to your baby’s sleep issues. For example, your sleep log will reveal which naps are consistently shorter, and what times (on average) your baby wakes at night.

Finally, if you keep a log of your baby’s sleep, you can take the average amount of sleep in 24 hours and use that as a guide when adjusting schedules and setting your expectations on wake times.

How to Log Your Baby’s Sleep

Logging your baby’s sleep is easy and straightforward. You simply need to keep track of wake times, nap times, nap lengths, and bedtime. You’ll need to do this for 1-2 weeks before you will be able to see patterns in your baby’s sleep, and before you will have enough information about your baby’s sleep to start working on sleep solutions.

Your log can be as high tech or as low tech as you would like. A notebook and a pencil are all you need to keep a basic log. You can also create a simple spreadsheet (using a program like Excel) on your computer or phone, and keep a digital file of your log.

Of course, we do live in the digital age, and you know what that means… There’s an app for that! BabyConnect is one of the most popular baby log apps on the market (available for both Android and Apple). BabyConnect will help you log your baby’s sleep, yes, but it will help you track much more than that. It is a great tool to use if your baby has multiple caregivers. The Sprout Baby app (for Apple) is another top-notch choice! Track feedings, diaper changes, medication, sleep cycles, milestones, growth and development, and more!

Bonus tip: While tracking sleep, learn how much sleep your baby needs at every age and stage! Check out our article, How Much Sleep Does Your Baby Need?

Get Professional Baby Sleep Help That Works – Guaranteed!

Even if you keep a careful and detailed log of your baby’s sleep, you may find that you need additional sleep help. That’s perfectly okay! Some parents can solve sleep problems on their own, but other families struggle with sleep problems that are so challenging, they need outside, professional help. And we offer just that! Connect with an expert consultant today, and she will create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ (using your sleep log, if you send it!) that’s uniquely tailored to fit your baby’s temperament and personality, and your parenting goals. Browse our sleep support options here.