Infant Sleep: All-Day Naps And Nighttime Wakes

Newborns generally sleep between 11 and 19 hours a day, in very short segments, and without a sense of day and night. As a baby grows, the total amount of sleep slowly decreases, but the length of nighttime sleep increases. Most babies start sleeping through the night by 6 months of age, but this can vary widely.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles

It is normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles as they do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. They rely on their caregivers to help them feed, change, or settle so they can get back to sleep. Newborns need regular feeding, so they usually sleep in short periods of about 1–2 hours at a time, although this can range from 30 minutes to three hours.

Newborns generally sleep for 8–9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night, totalling 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. However, this can vary, and some newborns may sleep for up to 18–19 hours a day. As newborns grow into infants, they begin to develop a more consistent sleep schedule, sleeping longer at night, although they may still wake several times to feed.

By the age of 6 months, 90% of babies sleep through the night, although this can vary significantly from baby to baby. At this age, babies may start to experience sleep regression, which can cause them to wake up more frequently during the night.

Sleep cycles are usually 20-50 minutes long

Sleep Cycles for Infants

Sleep cycles are the periods of active and quiet sleep that a person experiences throughout the night. During active sleep, a person is more likely to move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.

Sleep Cycles for Infants

Infants' sleep cycles differ from those of adults. They spend less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is when dreams occur, and their cycles are shorter. Sleep cycles for infants are usually 20-50 minutes long.

Active and Quiet Sleep for Infants

During active sleep, an infant may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even. It is common for infants to wake between sleep cycles. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep.

Self-Settling for Infants

An infant's ability to settle themselves between sleep cycles is called self-settling. Different babies have different temperaments, personalities, and self-settling abilities. You can help your infant to settle by putting them in their cot when they are tired but still awake, recognizing and responding to tired signs, and using a gentle, positive, and consistent routine, such as feed, play, sleep.

Sleep Cycles and Age

As infants grow older, the total amount of sleep they get slowly decreases, but the length of nighttime sleep increases. Generally, newborns sleep about 8-9 hours during the day and about 8 hours at night, while infants 4-12 months old should sleep 12-16 hours a day, including naps.

Babies' sleep cycles are different from adults

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Newborns do not have established sleep-wake cycles and are unable to differentiate between day and night. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually 20 to 50 minutes long. During this time, they will experience active sleep, where they may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. This is followed by quiet sleep, where they will lie relatively still with more even breathing.

REM Sleep

Total Sleep Time

Newborns generally sleep for a total of 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18 or even 19 hours. This sleep is spread out in small chunks throughout the day and night, especially during the first few months. As babies grow, the total amount of sleep slowly decreases, but the length of nighttime sleep increases.

Self-Soothing

Infants younger than three months rely on their caregivers to soothe them back to sleep as they cannot yet regulate their emotions. However, after the three-month mark, babies can begin to learn to self-soothe.

Sleep Training

Sleep training methods vary, and what works for one baby may not work for another. It is essential to be consistent with the chosen sleep training method and to create a positive sleep environment for the baby.

Newborns don't know the difference between day and night

The first few months of a baby's life can be the hardest for parents, who often have to get up many times during the night to tend to their baby. Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Some start to sleep "through the night" (for 5–6 hours at a time) by 2–3 months of age, but some don't.

Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day.

It can take a few weeks for a baby's brain to know the difference between night and day. There are no tricks to speed this up, but it helps to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes. Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play with or talk to your baby. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping. If possible, let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night so they learn that it's the place for sleep.

It's important to remember that newborns follow their own schedule. Over the next few weeks to months, you and your baby will begin to settle into a routine.

• Expose your baby to sunlight when they're awake. Studies have found that exposing babies to natural light during the day also helps promote normal circadian rhythm development. Just be sure to keep infants less than 6 months old out of direct sunlight since their skin is sensitive and can burn easily.
• Encourage a longer stretch of sleep at night. Newborns will sleep about 14 to 17 hours or more in a 24-hour period, and usually, babies in this age group have the ability to sleep for one longer stretch in that timeframe. Capping daytime naps to no more than two hours will encourage babies to sleep longer at night.
• Keep nights boring and dark. When your baby wakes for feeding and changing, remain quiet and calm. Try to avoid turning on the lights and keep your voice low and soothing.
• Make daytime exciting. Your baby should see that daytime is when all the fun stuff happens. When your baby is ready for a nap, don't fully darken the room, and resist keeping the whole house quiet. Do chores, play with older children, and go about your normal routine. The presence of ordinary daytime sounds reinforces the difference between day and night.
• Be consistent with your bedtime routine. A 20- to 30-minute bedtime routine can help your baby calm down and know it's time for sleep. You can do things like give your baby a bath, sing a lullaby, or read them a book. It's a good idea to feed your baby at the start of their bedtime routine so they don't rely on feeding to fall asleep.

Newborns sleep for around 8-9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night

Newborns typically sleep for around 8–9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night. However, this varies from newborn to newborn, with some sleeping for up to 19 hours per day and others for as little as 11 hours. In the early stages, newborns might not sleep at what many people consider to be the appropriate times, as they are not accustomed to schedules or the rhythms of a typical day and night.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, and wake frequently during the night to be fed or changed. They do not yet have established sleep-wake rhythms, so they are unable to differentiate between day and night. As they get older, they will start to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm, also known as a circadian rhythm, which will help them understand when they should be awake and when they should sleep.

It is important to note that newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. They will usually settle into a daily sleep routine of 2-3 naps during the day, followed by a longer stretch of sleep at night. Most newborns also do not sleep in one stretch and will usually sleep for only about 1–2 hours at a time.

To help your newborn develop a sense of the difference between day and night, you can expose them to light and gently play with them during the day. Providing a dim and quiet environment at night will also help them understand that nighttime is for sleep.

Additionally, it is recommended that newborns be put to sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface with a snugly fitting sheet. The room temperature should be adjusted to a comfortable level, generally between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius), and they should be dressed appropriately to avoid overheating. It is also important to keep them away from smokers, as second-hand smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Frequently asked questions