Herbie Murray
Newborns sleep differently from older babies, children, and adults. They sleep in short bursts during the day and night, waking several times at night to be fed or changed. Newborns also spend a lot of time in a sleep phase called active sleep, which is part of their natural sleep cycle and differs from adult sleep. During active sleep, babies are more likely to move, twitch, kick their legs, and make noises, including grunts and other vocalizations. This phase is when the brain is quite active, which is essential for their growth and development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep time in a 24-hour period | 12 to 16 hours |
| Sleep cycles | 20 to 50 minutes long |
| Sleep cycles | Active sleep and quiet sleep |
| Active sleep | Babies move, make noises, and wake easily |
| Quiet sleep | Babies are still and have deep and regular breathing |
| Wakefulness | Wake several times at night for feeds |
| Crying | Main way of communicating |
| Moro reflex | An involuntary response to sudden changes in position or loud noises |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns spend half their sleep time in REM mode
Newborns spend about half of their sleep time in REM sleep, which is also known as "active sleep". During this stage, newborns may move around, make noises like grunts and cries, open their eyes, twitch or jerk their arms and legs, and experience irregular breathing. This is because their brain is more active during this stage, and they are likely dreaming.
Newborns sleep up to 18 hours a day, which means they can experience up to 9 hours of REM sleep daily. This is significantly more than adults, who only spend about 20% of their sleep time in REM.
The active sleep stage is similar to the REM sleep stage experienced by adults, but with one key difference. During REM sleep, adults' skeletal muscles are paralysed, but newborns' are not, which is why they move around so much.
Newborns generally sleep in short bursts or sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. They do not know the difference between day and night and do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. This means they wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed.
Understanding the different stages of newborn sleep can help parents create a better sleep environment for their babies and ensure they get the restorative sleep necessary for their healthy development.
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Active sleep is normal for newborns
Newborns sleep differently from older babies, children and adults. They sleep in short bursts during the day and night, and wake several times at night. Newborns generally sleep 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. They do not know the difference between day and night and do not have established sleep-wake rhythms.
Newborns have two different kinds of sleep: active sleep and quiet sleep. Each newborn sleep cycle has both active sleep and quiet sleep, and each cycle takes about 40 minutes to 50 minutes. During quiet sleep, newborns are still and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake during quiet sleep.
During active sleep, newborns move around a lot, make noises, and can be woken easily. They may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out or breathe noisily or irregularly. This is completely normal, and if their movements are not disrupting their sleep or hurting them, you can just let them be. Active sleep is similar to REM sleep for adults, but with one key difference: adults' skeletal muscles are paralysed during this stage, but babies' are not. Instead, they move around, make noises and sometimes open their eyes.
Newborns spend a lot of time in active sleep, which is part of their natural sleep cycle. It is when the brain is quite active, which is essential for their growth and development. It is also common for newborns to jerk during sleep because of the Moro or startle reflex, which is related to their immature nervous system. This reflex is normal and usually fades by 3 to 6 months as their nervous system matures.
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Newborns sleep in short bursts
Newborns need regular feeding, so they usually sleep in short periods. They sleep around 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period and do not know the difference between day and night. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms like older children and new parents, who can snooze peacefully for hours.
Newborn sleep cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, newborns may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. This is similar to REM sleep for adults, but with one key difference: while adults' skeletal muscles are paralysed during this stage, newborns' are not. Instead, they move around, make noise, and sometimes even open their eyes, all while they're sleeping. During quiet sleep, newborns will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.
It is a part of normal sleep cycles for newborns to wake between sleep cycles. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep. This ability to settle themselves between sleep cycles is called self-settling. Different babies have different temperaments, personalities, and self-settling abilities.
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Newborns don't know the difference between day and night
Newborns have very different sleep patterns from adults. They sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period but do not know the difference between day and night. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and wake up frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed.
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. They spend about half of their sleep time in REM (rapid-eye movement) mode, a light, active sleep during which they move, dream, and may even wake up. This is known as active sleep and is characterised by movements, grunting noises, cries, and open eyes, all while the baby is asleep. During the other half of their sleep time, newborns lie relatively still and their breathing is more even.
Newborns' day and night confusion is caused by the drastic transition from the womb to the outside world. In the womb, they were lulled to sleep during the day by their mother's movements and slept at night when their mother was still. They also came from a dark and warm environment with no cues to help them recognise the difference between night and day.
To help your newborn learn the difference between day and night, you can establish a calm and relaxing bedtime routine that is slightly different from their daytime nap routine. For example, a bedtime routine could include a bath, dimming the lights, reducing noise, a feed, a massage, a diaper change, and a bedtime song. You can also expose them to light and gently play with them during the day and provide a dim and quiet environment at night. It is also important to engage your baby in stimulating activities during the day, such as tummy time, gentle play, and interaction with family members, to promote alertness and make them more tired at night.
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Newborns need to be fed or changed at night
Newborns move around a lot in their sleep, and this is known as active sleep. During active sleep, newborns may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. This is because they are not in the REM (rapid-eye-movement) stage of sleep, and their skeletal muscles are not paralysed as an adult's would be.
It is important to feed newborns on demand, using their cues such as fussiness, rooting, or sucking motions to guide how often they should be fed. Most babies naturally develop a feeding pattern of approximately every two to three hours, although some may require more frequent feedings, especially during growth spurts. It is also important to ensure that newborns are well-fed before they settle for the night. This can help to reduce the number of night feedings, although it is still common for babies to wake overnight in their first year of life.
To help your newborn sleep more at night, you can expose them to light and gently play with them during the day, and provide a dim and quiet environment at night. It is also important to respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds and follow their lead when it comes to a routine. As your baby gets older, you may need to start weaning them off night feedings, but this will depend on their unique development.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is completely normal for newborns to move around a lot in their sleep. They spend a lot of time in a sleep phase called "active sleep", which is part of their natural sleep cycle. During active sleep, they are more likely to move, twitch, kick their legs, and make noises, including grunts and moans.
The most common reason why newborns move so much in their sleep is because of their active dream cycles. During active sleep, the brain is quite active, which is essential for their growth and development.
Newborns typically sleep 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, and wake frequently during the night for feeds.
Newborns need to eat at least every two to four hours, including overnight. You can learn to differentiate between "feed me!" sounds and their other cries so that you can respond quickly when they are truly hungry.
If your newborn's movements are disrupting their sleep, try to establish an age-appropriate sleep schedule and follow a bedtime routine. This may help build up their sleep drive and create deeper, more restful sleep. You can also move their bassinet farther away, set up a sound machine, and turn down the volume on the monitor if they sleep in a different room.
