Newborn Sleep: All-Day Naps And Parenting Tips

Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 12 to 19 hours a day. They don't have a sense of day and night yet, so they sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, waking up every couple of hours to eat. While it's normal for newborns to sleep almost constantly in the early weeks, waking only to eat and then falling back asleep, some babies may sleep more than they need to, which can interfere with the stimulation they need for growth. If you're worried your baby may be sleeping too much, talk to your pediatrician.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually 20 to 50 minutes long

Newborns typically sleep for around 8-9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night, but this can vary. Some newborns may only sleep for 11 hours per day, while others may sleep for up-to 19 hours per day. They usually sleep for only about 1-2 hours at a time, but this can range from 20 minutes to 3 hours.

Newborn sleep cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, they 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 normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles, and as they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep.

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, and there is no way to speed up the process of them learning the difference between night and day. However, keeping things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feeds and nappy changes can help send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.

If you are concerned that your newborn is sleeping too much, it is best to consult your doctor or a pediatrician.

Newborns need to be woken up to feed every 2-4 hours

Newborns have tiny stomachs, so they need to be fed frequently to get the nourishment they need. They wake up every couple of hours to eat—breastfed babies feed about every 2–3 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed every 3–4 hours.

In the first two to three weeks, keep a close eye on the clock and wake your baby when it's time for them to eat. Breastfed babies shouldn't go longer than two to four hours without eating, while formula-fed babies shouldn't go longer than three to four hours.

Letting a newborn sleep for more than two to four hours at a time doesn't just put them at risk of not getting enough to eat; it can also cause a dip in the mother's milk supply. Once a newborn's weight gain pattern is established, a doctor will likely advise that it's okay to wait for overnight feedings until the baby wakes up.

If your newborn is sleeping for longer stretches, they should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night.

Newborns don't know the difference between day and night

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's important to wake your newborn to feed every 2-4 hours, even if they seem to be sleeping soundly. This is to ensure they're getting enough nourishment.

In the first few weeks, it's normal for a newborn to fall back asleep after feeding. They may sleep constantly, only waking for short periods to eat. This is because they're growing and developing rapidly, and all that rest fuels their big changes. Their sleep also helps promote learning, memory consolidation, and sensory processing.

By about a month old, your baby may start spending more time awake, quietly taking in the world around them. You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gentle play during the day, and providing a dim and quiet environment at night.

It's important to note that some babies may be such intense sleepers that they don't wake to feed as often as they need to. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waking newborns to eat every 2-3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night until they've regained their birth weight.

Occasional periods of increased sleep are normal and usually not a cause for concern. However, if your newborn is sleeping longer than usual and has a fever or signs of respiratory distress, call your doctor immediately. Also, call your doctor if your baby doesn't wake up regularly to feed, as this could be a sign of a more serious medical issue.

Newborns sleep for longer stretches during the day

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

In the early weeks, it's normal for newborns to sleep almost constantly, waking only to feed and then falling back asleep. Their stomachs are small, so they need to feed every two to four hours. This means that while newborns sleep a lot, it's not all in one stretch.

Newborns also don't produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. They haven't yet developed a circadian rhythm, so they can't differentiate between day and night.

You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. Provide a dim and quiet environment at night to help them settle.

It's important to keep in mind that every baby is different and will have their own sleep patterns. If you're concerned about your newborn's sleep habits, try keeping a sleep log to track their sleep and wake times. If you're worried that your baby may be sleeping too much, talk to your pediatrician.

Newborns sleep a lot because they are learning and growing quickly

Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 11 to 19 hours per day. This is because they are learning and growing quickly, and sleep plays a critical role in their development. In their first year, babies typically triple their birth weight and reach several developmental milestones, including rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing, eating solid food, learning social skills, and perhaps even walking and talking.

Sleep helps promote learning and memory consolidation, and prepares babies to explore their environments in new ways. It also plays a role in sensory processing. All of this rest helps fuel the big changes they are going through.

Babies sleep differently than adults. Their sleep architecture—the parts of their sleep that are REM and non-REM sleep—is quite different from that of adults. Newborns spend around 50% of their sleep in REM sleep, while adults spend less time in REM sleep and more time in non-REM sleep. Newborns also don't produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep, and they haven't yet developed a circadian rhythm, so they can't differentiate between day and night.

While newborns need a lot of sleep, it's important that they also get enough to eat. Newborns need to be fed frequently—every two to four hours—and their tiny stomachs mean they wake up often to eat, no matter the time of day or night.

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