Miya Pearson
Newborns have very different sleep patterns from adults. While healthy adults sleep for at least seven hours uninterrupted at night, newborns require up to 18 hours of sleep in multiple short periods over 24 hours. Newborns spend close to equal amounts of time in REM and non-REM sleep, with their sleep cycles lasting between 30 to 50 minutes. In contrast, adults have sleep cycles lasting around 90 minutes, with REM sleep making up only 20% of their sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration | Newborns sleep up to 18 hours every 24 hours |
| Sleep cycle length | 20-50 minutes |
| REM sleep duration | 9 hours |
| Sleep stages | Two stages: REM and non-REM |
| REM sleep percentage | 50% |
| Non-REM sleep percentage | 50% |
| Sleep patterns | No set schedule; days and nights may be confused |
| Sleep cues | Fussiness, crying, eye-rubbing |
| Feeding | Awake and fed every 3 hours |
| Sleep position | On their back |
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What You'll Learn
- Newborns spend close to equal amounts of time in REM and non-REM sleep
- REM sleep supports the maturation of the central nervous system
- Newborns wake up frequently due to their stomach size
- Newborns don't understand the difference between day and night
- Newborn sleep cycles are shorter than adult sleep cycles
Newborns spend close to equal amounts of time in REM and non-REM sleep
A newborn baby's sleep cycle is quite different from that of an adult. Newborns require up to 18 hours of sleep per day, broken up into multiple short periods over 24 hours. By six months, this decreases to an average of about 13 hours of sleep per day, with babies beginning to sleep for longer periods at night and shorter periods during the day.
Newborns experience two distinct sleep stages: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During REM sleep, or "active sleep", newborns make small movements, such as twitching of the limbs or facial muscles, rapid eye movements, and irregular breathing. NREM sleep, or "quiet sleep", on the other hand, is characterised by stillness and the absence of these movements.
Newborns spend close to equal amounts of time in REM and NREM sleep. This is in contrast to adults, who spend only about 20-25% of their sleep in the REM stage. As babies grow and develop, their sleep cycles mature, and they gradually spend less time in REM sleep, with their sleep architecture beginning to resemble that of adults around the age of five.
The REM stage of sleep is vital for brain development, supporting the maturation of the central nervous system and playing a critical role in learning and memory consolidation. Non-REM sleep, on the other hand, includes the deep, restorative sleep necessary for physical growth and cellular repair. This is the stage during which the growth hormone is secreted and the body conserves energy.
Understanding these unique characteristics of a newborn's sleep cycle can help caregivers provide the optimal environment and support to promote healthy sleep patterns. This includes creating a safe sleep space, recognising sleep cues, and gently encouraging self-soothing techniques as the baby grows.
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REM sleep supports the maturation of the central nervous system
REM sleep is crucial for the maturation of the central nervous system. It plays a vital role in the development of the brain and nervous system during infancy, a period of significant neural plasticity. The high amounts of REM sleep in newborns support the maturation process, with this type of sleep accounting for up to 50% of their sleep time.
REM sleep is characterised by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and physiological changes such as faster breathing and increased heart rate and blood pressure. This stage of sleep is essential for learning and memory consolidation. It is during REM sleep that the brain processes and consolidates information and memories from the day, strengthening neural connections and supporting overall brain development.
The role of REM sleep in brain maturation has been observed in various studies. For example, research on the developing feline visual system found that suppressing REM sleep processes altered the effects of visual experience, suggesting that REM sleep helps direct brain maturation by controlling neural activity.
Additionally, REM sleep has been linked to increased blood flow to the brain, further supporting its role in central nervous system maturation. The unique characteristics of REM sleep, including the high level of brain activity and the processing of sensory information, make it a critical period for the development and maturation of the central nervous system in newborns.
As newborns progress towards adulthood, the amount of REM sleep they experience decreases. By adulthood, REM sleep accounts for only about 20% of total sleep time. This reduction in REM sleep is accompanied by the emergence of more complex sleep cycles, including the three stages of non-REM sleep, which become more prevalent as individuals mature.
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Newborns wake up frequently due to their stomach size
Newborns have small stomachs, and this is one of the main reasons they wake up frequently. When a baby is born, their stomach is about the size of a marble. By day 10, it grows to the size of a golf ball. Due to their tiny stomachs, newborns need to be fed regularly, and this is why they wake up so often. They need to be fed every few hours, about every three hours on average.
Newborns sleep a lot, requiring up to 18 hours of sleep every 24 hours. However, they wake up multiple times during this period as they have not yet developed a strong circadian rhythm, which helps them understand the difference between day and night. Their sleep patterns are also very different from those of adults. While adults sleep for about seven hours at a stretch, newborns sleep for only two to three hours at a time.
Newborns go through two types of sleep: REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. They spend about half their sleep time in each of these stages. REM sleep is light sleep, where dreaming occurs, and the eyes move rapidly. Non-REM sleep is deep sleep, and the baby does not move during this stage. As they grow older, they start experiencing three stages of non-REM sleep, and their sleep patterns start resembling those of adults.
Newborns also go through different alert phases when they are awake. After waking up, they go through a quiet alert phase, where they are still but taking in their surroundings. This is followed by an active alert phase, where they are more attentive to sights and sounds and move around. The final phase is the crying phase, where their body moves erratically, and they may cry loudly.
It is important to understand the unique sleep patterns of newborns so that caregivers can provide the right environment and support to promote healthy sleep habits.
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Newborns don't understand the difference between day and night
Newborns are adjusting to life outside the womb, and it takes time for them to settle into regular sleep patterns. This can lead to day and night confusion, where a baby sleeps when they're supposed to be awake and stays awake all night. Not all babies experience this, but it's common for newborns to have their days and nights mixed up.
This happens because newborns are still developing their internal body clock, known as their circadian rhythm. In adults, this rhythm is regulated by hormones, light and darkness, and the daily schedule we follow. Newborns don't have this rhythm yet, and their sleepy hormones aren't regulated until around 3-4 months.
To help your baby figure out the difference between day and night, there are several things you can do:
- Expose your baby to sunlight or indirect daylight when they're awake during the day. Studies have found that exposing babies to natural light helps promote the development of their circadian rhythm. Just remember to keep infants under 6 months out of direct sunlight as their skin is sensitive and can burn easily.
- Encourage a longer stretch of sleep at night. Newborns will sleep for 14-17 hours or more in a 24-hour period, and they usually have the ability to sleep for one longer stretch during this time. Limit daytime sleep to 2-hour naps, or 90-105-minute naps, to encourage longer sleep at night.
- Pay attention to your baby's sleep cues. Every hour or so, check in with your baby to see if they're showing signs of tiredness, such as a change in disposition, a glossy gaze, rubbing their eyes, or yawning.
- Place your baby in their crib when they're drowsy, but not yet asleep. This will help train their brains and bodies to fall asleep without help and at the proper times.
- Keep to a consistent bedtime routine, such as a warm bath, a feeding, a book or song, and then placing them in their crib. Keep things quiet and calm at night, and expose them to regular daytime noise and activity so they learn to sleep through it.
- Use swaddles and pacifiers consistently to help establish a good sleep routine. Swaddling can help your baby stay calm and sleep longer, while pacifiers can help some babies settle and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
It's important to remember that it takes time for a newborn's circadian rhythm to develop, and it usually starts to become regulated around 4-5 months. In the meantime, these steps can help your baby understand the difference between day and night and get them into a better sleep pattern.
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Newborn sleep cycles are shorter than adult sleep cycles
Newborns sleep for longer periods overall, requiring up to 18 hours of sleep every 24 hours. This sleep is broken up into multiple shorter periods as they wake between cycles. In contrast, adults sleep for fewer hours overall, typically sleeping for at least seven hours in a single, uninterrupted block.
The shorter sleep cycle in newborns is due to their developmental needs and their greater requirement for both REM (rapid-eye movement) and non-REM sleep. REM sleep is vital for brain development and maturation of the central nervous system, while non-REM sleep allows for physical growth and cellular repair. As a result, newborns spend roughly equal amounts of time in REM and non-REM sleep.
As newborns grow and develop, their sleep cycles change. They begin to spend less time in REM sleep and experience the three stages of non-REM sleep instead of just one. Gradually, their sleep cycles lengthen and start to resemble those of adults.
The transition between sleep stages in newborns is also less smooth than in adults, which can lead to more frequent awakenings. However, these awakenings are a normal part of their developing sleep architecture. By fostering an optimal sleep environment and routine, parents can help their newborns achieve the restorative sleep necessary for healthy development.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns spend roughly 50% of their sleep in REM, which is significantly more than the 20-25% that adults spend. However, a newborn's sleep cycle is shorter than an adult's, lasting between 30 to 50 minutes, so they do experience shorter periods of REM sleep overall.
Newborns require up to 18 hours of sleep every 24 hours, which is broken up into multiple short periods. They wake up frequently throughout the night as they have not yet developed a strong circadian rhythm.
REM stands for rapid eye movement sleep. It is a light sleep during which dreams occur and the eyes move rapidly. REM sleep is important for brain development, learning, and memory consolidation.
