Evie Summers
Sleep is vital for the overall well-being of both parents and newborns. While newborns sleep for large portions of the day, their sleep schedules are more interrupted than adults, and this can be challenging for parents to adjust to. Newborns go through two different sleep cycles: quiet sleep and active sleep, and they spend about half of their sleeping time in each. During active sleep, newborns are consistently moving and making noises such as grunting, moaning, and occasionally crying out. These sleep sounds are usually normal and settle down after the newborn phase ends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep patterns | Newborns sleep anywhere from 14 to 17 hours out of every 24 hours. |
| Sleep cycles | Newborns have short sleep cycles, constantly drifting in and out of sleep. |
| Sleep duration | Newborns sleep for about 30 minutes to three hours at a time. |
| Sleep interruptions | Newborns wake up a lot due to their tiny tummies, and they get hungry soon after feeding. |
| Sleep environment | A comfortably warm, dimly lit environment with white noise or soft music can help newborns sleep. |
| Sleep position | Newborns should sleep on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib or bassinet, without blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals to prevent SIDS. |
| Sleep sounds | Newborns make various sounds during sleep, including grunting, wheezing, whining, and crying, due to their developing digestive and respiratory systems. |
| Self-soothing | Babies younger than 3 months rely on caregivers to soothe them back to sleep, but after 3 months, they can begin to learn self-soothing techniques. |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep for 14-17 hours a day
Newborns sleep for 14 to 17 hours a day, but it's rarely peaceful and quiet. Newborn sleep is unpredictable and restless, and babies make a lot of unusual sounds. Newborns have very tiny tummies, so they need to be fed at least every two to four hours, including overnight. They also have short sleep cycles, constantly drifting in and out of sleep. They spend about half of their sleeping time in quiet sleep and the other half in active sleep. During active sleep, babies move around, make noises like grunts and moans, and sometimes even open their eyes, all while they're actually asleep. Their digestive and respiratory systems are still developing, so swallowing and breathing take a little extra effort.
Newborns also have a higher percentage of REM sleep, which is a lighter sleep state associated with dreaming. Their sleep patterns aren't an exact science, and every baby is different. However, newborns can't tell the difference between day and night, and it takes time for them to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm or "circadian rhythm".
To help your newborn sleep better, you can swaddle them or put them in a sleep sack to make them feel more secure. Creating a comfortable environment with a consistent bedtime routine can also help. This may include dimming the lights, using a white noise machine or fan, and maintaining a warm temperature in the room. It's important to prioritize your own sleep as a parent to provide the best care for your baby.
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Babies' sleep noises
Newborns have short sleep cycles, constantly drifting in and out of sleep. It is normal for them to make noises as they fall asleep and when they wake up about an hour later. They also have a higher percentage of REM sleep, which is a lighter sleep state associated with dreaming. Babies might be noisier when they dream. While some babies are noisy sleepers throughout their lives, most sleep sounds settle after the newborn phase. By the time a baby is between 3 and 6 months old, they will be spending more time in deep sleep versus active REM sleep. Their overall sleep cycles will lengthen, meaning there will be fewer disruptions.
There is a wide range of "normal" when it comes to the sounds a baby's respiratory system might make while they sleep. Babies' airways are narrow, so dry air or even a small amount of mucus can cause whistling, rattling, or wheezing sounds while they sleep. Acid reflux or milk-chugging can clog their throat and cause uneven breathing sounds. It is also normal for a baby to cough or sneeze while sleeping for the same reasons.
Babies are also learning to regulate their breathing, which can lead to strange sounds. Their tiny nasal passages tend to get congested easily. Their digestive system is also developing, so babies tend to make noise if they are hungry, passing gas, or having a bowel movement.
Sleep noises in babies are completely normal and rarely a cause for concern. These include moaning, grunting, hiccuping, gurgling, cooing, and snorting. Babies might moan during the transition between different stages of sleep. Grunting helps babies regulate their breathing and maintain a steady supply of oxygen through the night.
Babies can also sleep more soundly and comfortably on their parents due to the warmth and comfort of being close to their caregiver. The movement and sounds of their parent's breathing and heartbeat can provide a calming and soothing environment for the baby to sleep in.
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Sleep cycles and patterns
Newborn babies have short sleep cycles, which means they are constantly drifting in and out of sleep. They spend about half of their sleeping time in quiet sleep and the other half in active sleep. During active sleep, babies move around, make noises (grunting noises and cries), and sometimes even open their eyes, all while they are actually sleeping. This is because their skeletal muscles are not paralysed during this stage, unlike adults.
Newborns can be very noisy sleepers, prone to grunting, wheezing, whining, and even crying in their sleep. Most nocturnal noises are nothing to worry about; even the occasional cry or shout doesn't mean you should rush to your baby. Irregular breathing is also normal for newborns as their lungs are still developing and their brain is figuring out how to communicate with the rest of the body. Their digestive and respiratory systems are not fully developed yet, so swallowing and breathing take a little extra effort.
Newborns wake up a lot because their stomachs are tiny, and they get hungry not long after feeding. These short bursts of sleep and wakefulness are normal and an important part of your baby's growth. Newborns and infants under 4 months old often sleep 14 to 17 hours per day. Babies 4 to 12 months old should sleep 12 to 16 hours a day, including naps.
As infants grow, their sleep cycles and wake periods gradually lengthen. By around 6 to 8 months old, infants are typically capable of sleeping through the night (about 10 hours) and taking two 1- to 1.5-hour naps per day. By the time your baby is between 3 and 6 months old, they will be spending more time in deep sleep versus active REM sleep. Their overall sleep cycles will lengthen, meaning there will be fewer sleep-wake disruptions.
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Safe sleep practices
Newborns have short sleep cycles, constantly drifting in and out of sleep. They also have a higher percentage of REM sleep, which is a lighter sleep state associated with dreaming. Their sleep patterns are unpredictable and restless, and full of unusual sounds.
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep in their own sleep space with no other people.
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat, and level mattress and a fitted sheet. The crib should have spindles no wider than 2-3/8 inches apart and sides that do not drop down.
- Avoid soft bedding, comforters, pillows, loose sheets, blankets, sheepskins, toys, positioners, or bumpers in the crib or sleep area. These could cause your baby to suffocate.
- Babies should not sleep on adult beds, couches, armchairs, car seats, swings, or other soft sleep surfaces. They should always be placed on a firm mattress in their own sleep space.
- Room sharing is recommended, as it can help prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS). Keep your baby in a safety-approved crib next to your bed, or in a separate, safe surface like a bassinet, crib, or portable play yard in your room.
- Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the risk of SUIDS. You may breastfeed your baby in bed with you, but always put them back in their own separate sleep space when you are finished nursing.
- Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
- Do not use products that claim to reduce the risk of SUIDS, such as wedges or baby positioners, unless prescribed by a doctor.
- If your baby has a medical reason for a monitor, the doctor will prescribe a medical home monitor.
- Tummy time reduces the chance that your baby will get flat spots and bald spots on their head.
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Self-soothing
Newborns typically sleep for short bursts of time, between 30 minutes to three hours at a time. They also have a higher percentage of REM sleep, which is a lighter sleep state associated with dreaming. As a result, newborn sleep is often unpredictable and restless, with unusual sounds.
- Establish a sleep routine and healthy sleep habits from birth.
- Put your baby to bed at the same time each night in a quiet, dark room.
- Establish a bedtime routine, which may include a bath or a bedtime story.
- Be warm and affectionate at bedtime so that the baby feels safe.
- Avoid letting the baby nap for more than three hours during the daytime.
- Recreate a soothing environment in the bassinet, as babies tend to sleep more soundly and comfortably on their parents due to the warmth and comfort of being close to their caregiver.
It is important to remember that the age at which babies are able to self-soothe can vary, and newborns are not typically capable of self-soothing. As a baby gets older and their sleep patterns become more regular, self-soothing becomes easier.
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Frequently asked questions
A newborn baby will sleep anywhere from 14 to 17 hours out of every 24 hours. They will probably only be awake for 30 minutes to an hour at a time and will nap anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours at a stretch.
Newborns go through two different sleep cycles: quiet sleep and active sleep, and they spend about half of their sleeping time in each. During active sleep, babies move around, make noise (grunting noises and cries), and sometimes even open their eyes, all while they're actually asleep. Their digestive and respiratory systems are not fully developed yet, so swallowing and breathing take a little extra effort.
Newborns are used to the sounds of their mother's heartbeat and stomach gurgles. They might find the hum of a fan, soft music, or a white noise machine soothing. Alternatively, they might prefer silence. The room should be comfortably warm, but not too hot or too cold. Swaddling your baby or putting them in a sleep sack may make them feel extra secure and encourage them to fall asleep.
