Miya Pearson
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 12 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they don't know the difference between day and night and sleep in short bursts of 20 to 50 minutes. Their sleep cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, newborns move around, make noises, and can be woken easily. During quiet sleep, they lie still with deep and regular breathing and are less likely to wake up. So, do newborns need quiet to sleep?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How much do newborns sleep? | 12-17 hours in a 24-hour period |
| How long do newborns sleep for at a time? | 2-4 hours |
| Do newborns know the difference between day and night? | No |
| How often do newborns wake up? | Every few hours for feeding |
| What are the two types of newborn sleep cycles? | Active sleep and quiet sleep |
| What is active sleep? | Newborns move around a lot, make noises, and can be woken easily |
| What is quiet sleep? | Newborns are still with deep and regular breathing and are less likely to wake up |
| How long does each sleep cycle last? | 40-50 minutes |
| What happens at the end of each sleep cycle? | Newborns wake up for a little while |
| When do newborns start sleeping through the night? | At least 3 months of age, or until they weigh 12-13 pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep in short bursts
Sleep Cycles
Newborns go through two different sleep cycles: quiet sleep and active sleep. Each newborn sleep cycle has both active and quiet sleep, and each cycle takes about 40 minutes. At the end of each cycle, newborns wake up for a little while and may grizzle or cry.
Active Sleep
During active sleep, newborns move around a lot and make noises. They can be woken easily during this stage. They may open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. Their bodies are not paralysed as adults' are during REM sleep.
Quiet Sleep
During quiet sleep, newborns are still and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake up during this stage.
Tips for Parents
To help your newborn settle, you can put them in their cot when they are tired but still awake, respond to tired signs, and use a gentle, positive, and consistent routine. It is important to create positive sleep associations and avoid negative ones, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, as they may then need this to fall asleep in the future.
When to Seek Help
While some noises during sleep are normal, others can indicate sickness, discomfort, or distress. If you are concerned about your newborn's sleeping patterns or noises, speak to your doctor or a healthcare professional.
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They don't know the difference between day and night
Newborns don't know the difference between day and night. They don't have established sleep-wake rhythms. They sleep during the day and night, and their sleep patterns vary a lot. Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, but this can be as much as 14 to 17 hours. They sleep in short bursts of 20 to 50 minutes, or even up to 4 hours at a time.
Newborns have two types of sleep: active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, they move around a lot and make noises. They can be woken easily during this type of sleep. During quiet sleep, newborns are still, and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake during this time. Each sleep cycle, which takes about 40 to 50 minutes, includes both active and quiet sleep. At the end of each cycle, newborns wake up for a short while and may grizzle or cry.
Newborns wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed. They have tiny tummies and need to be fed every few hours. They may also wake if they are uncomfortable or distressed. It is often hard for new parents to know how long and how often a newborn should sleep. There is no set schedule, and many newborns confuse day and night, thinking they are supposed to be awake at night and sleep during the day.
You can help your newborn learn the difference between day and night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day, and providing a dim and quiet environment at night. Most babies don't begin sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until at least 3 months of age, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. However, this varies, and some babies don't sleep through the night until closer to 1 year.
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Active sleep vs quiet sleep
Newborns have two different kinds of sleep: active sleep and quiet sleep. Each newborn sleep cycle includes both active and quiet sleep, and each cycle takes about 40 minutes to an hour. Newborns spend nearly half of their sleep time in active sleep, with the other half in quiet sleep.
Active Sleep
During active sleep, newborns move around a lot and make noises such as grunting, moaning, and whimpering. They may even cry out, open their eyes, or exhibit irregular breathing. This can be misleading for parents, who may think their baby is awake and signalling for attention. Newborns are also easily woken during active sleep.
Active sleep is similar to REM sleep in adults, with its characteristic back-and-forth movement of the eyes under the eyelids, high levels of brain activity, irregular breathing, and an elevated but variable heart rate. However, unlike adults, young babies' bodies move around frequently during active sleep, and they may even cry.
Quiet Sleep
Quiet sleep is a form of non-REM sleep that young babies experience. During quiet sleep, newborns are still, and their breathing is deep and regular. They move around much less and are less likely to make noise. They are sleeping more soundly and are less likely to wake up.
Quiet sleep is characterised by the absence of rapid eye movements, and more regular breathing and heart rates. Overall, babies in quiet sleep appear calmer and more settled.
Development of Sleep Cycles
As newborns grow, their sleep cycles develop and change. Between 2 and 6 months, quiet sleep develops into the stages of non-REM sleep that adults experience. By the time they are 3-5 months old, their sleep cycles begin to shift into more adult-like sleep stages, and active sleep decreases.
By 12 months, most babies are spending only 30% of their total sleep time in REM, and by 5 years old, this drops to adult levels of 20-25%.
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Sleep cycles
Newborns have two different kinds of sleep cycles: active sleep and quiet sleep. They spend about half of their sleeping time in each. 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 an adult's skeletal muscles are paralysed during REM sleep, a newborn's are not. This means that newborns can move around, make noises, and even open their eyes while they're sleeping.
During quiet sleep, newborns are still, and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake during this type of sleep. Each sleep cycle, consisting of both active and quiet sleep, takes about 40-50 minutes, and newborns usually wake briefly at the end of each cycle.
As newborns get older, their sleep cycles will start to shift into more adult-like sleep stages, and active sleep will decrease. By the time they are 3-5 months old, they will be making much less noise while sleeping. However, they may still move around quite a bit during sleep, and it's not until they are around 5 years old that they will become much more settled in their sleep.
It's important to note that while some noises during active sleep are perfectly normal, others can be an indication that your newborn is sick, uncomfortable, or in distress. If you are concerned about any noises your baby is making while sleeping, or if they are exhibiting any unusual breathing patterns, you should consult your doctor or paediatrician.
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Self-settling
How to Encourage Self-Settling
It is important to create a safe sleeping environment, a bedtime routine, and avoid overtiredness when trying to encourage self-settling. Here are some specific steps you can take:
- Stick to a set bedtime each night to help your child recognise when it's time to sleep.
- Keep the room dark or dimly lit, stay calm and quiet when your baby wakes, and avoid playtime in the evening.
- Create a calming bedtime routine that your baby responds well to. This could include activities such as giving your baby a bath, reading a book, singing a lullaby, baby massage, or white noise.
- Try common settling techniques such as the 'pick-up, put-down settling method' and the 'shush-pat settling method'.
- If your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, try to avoid taking them out of their crib. Instead, quietly comfort them with gentle words, singing, or light pats while they remain in their crib.
Responsive Settling
Responsive settling is responding to your baby's need for comfort while also helping them fall asleep. This gives your baby the comfort they need to feel calm, settled, and ready for sleep, especially if they're tired and upset. Responsive settling also gives your baby a sense of safety and security, which is necessary for healthy development and well-being. Feeling safe and secure can help with independent settling and sleep later on when your baby is developmentally ready.
Signs That Your Baby is Tired
- Jerky arm or leg movements
- Closing their fists or sucking their fingers
- Facial grimacing or rubbing their eyes
- Having trouble focusing or going cross-eyed
- Pulling at their ears
- Demanding more attention
- Being fussy when feeding or eating
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns do not know the difference between day and night and their sleep patterns can vary. They sleep in short bursts, usually 2-4 hours at a time, and wake frequently to feed. Newborns have two types of sleep: active sleep, which is similar to REM sleep, and quiet sleep, which is more like non-REM sleep. During active sleep, newborns may move around, make noises, and even open their eyes, whereas during quiet sleep, they are still and their breathing is deep and regular. While a quiet environment is generally recommended for newborn sleep, it is important to note that newborns can sleep through some noise and do not need complete silence.
Newborns typically sleep for 12-17 hours in a 24-hour period, including both night and daytime sleep. They usually sleep in short bursts and wake up frequently for feedings.
Some signs that a newborn is ready for sleep include:
- Tiredness or drowsiness
- Yawning
- Rubbing eyes
- Looking away
- Being less active or less alert
- Pulling on ears
To help your newborn fall asleep, you can:
- Establish a bedtime routine
- Put them in their cot when they are tired but still awake
- Recognize and respond to tired signs
- Use a gentle, positive, and consistent routine, such as feed, play, sleep
- Play soft music
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