Herbie Murray
Newborns generally sleep between 12 to 18 hours a day, but this can vary as each baby has a unique sleep pattern. Newborns don't know the difference between day and night and have no established sleep-wake rhythms, so they wake up frequently to be fed or changed. It may take a few weeks or months for a baby's brain to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm, and during this time, parents may struggle with disrupted sleep. While there is no guaranteed way to make newborns sleep better, creating a calm and quiet environment at night and exposing them to light during the day can help them develop a sense of day and night.
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What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep 12-18 hours a day, in short bursts
Newborns typically sleep between 12 and 18 hours a day, including naps. This sleep is accumulated in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. During this time, newborns are still learning the difference between night and day and do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. They wake often throughout the night, usually because they need to be fed or changed.
In the first few months, it is important to prioritise your newborn's feeding needs and create a routine together, rather than trying to establish a strict sleeping routine. Newborns' tummies are tiny, and they get hungry not long after feeding, so they wake up a lot. They also go through a stage of increased crying, which is their main way of communicating that they need your help to feed, change, or settle so they can get back to sleep.
To help your newborn learn to sleep more at night, you can expose them to light and gently play with them during the day. At night, provide a dim and quiet environment. Keeping things calm and quiet during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes will also help send the message that nighttime is for sleeping. You can also offer a pacifier at sleep time, but don't force it.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Holding your baby often, especially in the first few months, can help them feel calm and safe, which can translate to better sleep. However, some settling techniques, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, may be hard to maintain in the long term and can create negative sleep associations, resulting in your newborn needing to be held to fall asleep.
Additionally, it is crucial to always place your baby on their back to sleep and follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Keep the sleeping area free from plush toys, pillows, blankets, and other items that could pose a hazard.
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Babies don't know the difference between day and night
Newborns don't know the difference between day and night. They wake often to eat, no matter the time. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long.
Newborns typically need around three to five naps a day or more, while babies around 4 to 6 months old usually have two to three. Capping these naps to no more than two hours will encourage babies to sleep longer at night. They'll also learn that these long sleep stretches are associated with night rather than daytime.
To help your newborn learn to sleep more at night, expose them to light and gently play with them during the day. You can also provide a dim and quiet environment at night. Keeping them in bright or sunny spaces during the day and removing bright lights at night will help develop their internal clock (circadian rhythm).
It's important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Holding your baby until they fall asleep can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. Newborns may also have trouble sleeping at night if they are overly tired.
By the time your baby reaches 6-8 weeks of age, they usually outgrow this day-night confusion as their biological clock begins to develop naturally and their bodies begin producing higher levels of melatonin.
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Routines and a calm environment can help newborns sleep
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period, but this occurs in short bursts of 20 to 50 minutes, both night and day. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and do not know the difference between day and night.
To help your newborn develop a sense of day and night, you can expose them to light and gently play with them during the day. At night, keep the environment dim and quiet. Keeping them in bright or sunny spaces during the day and removing bright lights at night will help your baby develop an internal clock or circadian rhythm.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Holding your baby until they fall asleep can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. Instead, you can try a simple routine of feed, play, sleep. Offer your baby a feed when they wake up, change their nappy, talk, play, cuddle and interact with your baby, then put them down for a sleep.
It is also important to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes. Keep the lights low and avoid playing or talking with your baby. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
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Babies should sleep on their back, in a crib, with no toys or blankets
Newborns follow their own sleep schedule and have no sense of day and night. They wake up frequently to eat, no matter the time. While there are no tricks to speed up the process, keeping things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes can help your baby settle into a routine. It is also important to keep the lights low and avoid playing or talking with your baby during this time. Instead, let your baby fall asleep in the crib to help them associate it with sleep.
To ensure your baby's safety, it is recommended that they sleep on their back in a crib with no toys or blankets. Putting a baby to sleep on their stomach or side can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by up to 45 times. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended placing babies on their back since 1992, and this practice has significantly reduced the rate of SIDS. Additionally, babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to choke, as the body's natural reflexes help keep the airway clear.
Cribs provide a safe and separate sleeping space for babies. Bed-sharing with your baby can be dangerous as it poses the risk of rolling onto them and causing suffocation. Instead, the AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first six months of a baby's life. This arrangement involves having your baby sleep in a crib or bassinet in the same room as you, which can also reduce the risk of SIDS.
It is important to keep the crib free of toys, blankets, and other loose items. These objects can increase the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. A bare crib is not only safer but also helps convey the message that it is a place for sleeping, not playing. If you want to provide comfort to your baby, consider offering a pacifier, which has been shown to potentially reduce the risk of SIDS. You can also introduce a security object, such as a stuffed animal or blanket, once your child is old enough.
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Breast milk is high in sugar, so newborns need to feed often
Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and are unable to differentiate between day and night. As a result, they wake up frequently to feed, regardless of the time. Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for newborns, even after the introduction of solid foods. It contains the perfect balance of nutrients, including sugar, which is essential for a newborn's growth and development.
Breast milk is high in sugar, which is a source of carbohydrates that provide energy for newborns. Sugar is easily digestible and helps to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, supporting the digestive system and overall health. Newborns have tiny stomachs and feed frequently, so they require small amounts of breast milk at each feeding. On average, newborns feed every 2 to 4 hours, but some may feed as often as every hour, especially during cluster feeding periods.
Breast milk is easily digestible and gentle on a newborn's developing digestive system, including the stomach, intestines, and other body systems. It is recommended that newborns be fed on demand, following their hunger cues, rather than trying to adhere to a strict feeding schedule. Newborns should be fed frequently to ensure they receive adequate nutrition and to stimulate the production of breast milk.
The frequency of feeding may vary depending on the time of day, with some feedings being longer and others shorter. Newborns typically feed about 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period. It is important to ensure that newborns receive enough breast milk to support their health and growth. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of a newborn's life, after which solid foods can be gradually introduced while continuing to breastfeed.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no evidence that bigger newborns sleep better. Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Newborns generally sleep 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period and do not know the difference between day and night. They wake often to eat and need to be fed or changed.
You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. You can also provide a dim and quiet environment at night. Keeping them in bright or sunny spaces during the day and removing bright lights at night can help develop their internal clock (circadian rhythm).
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. The total daily sleep varies but can be around 18 hours.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Holding your baby often, especially in the first few months, can help them feel calm and safe, which can translate to better sleep. It is also crucial to keep your baby safe while sleeping. Always place your baby on their back to sleep and use a firm, flat sleep surface.
