Miya Pearson
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 19 hours a day—but they do so in short bursts of 2 to 4 hours at a time. They also don't have a sense of day and night yet, so they sleep around the clock. This can be challenging for parents, who have to tend to their newborns several times a night. Newborns need to be fed every few hours, and they should be awakened to feed until they show good weight gain. It's important to establish a safe sleep environment for your newborn, including putting them to sleep on their back on a flat, firm surface, and keeping them away from smoke and secondhand smoke. Introducing a consistent bedtime routine early on can help encourage longer stretches of overnight sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sleep hours | 12-19 hours in a 24-hour period |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes long |
| Sleep position | On their back |
| Sleep surface | Firm, flat surface, like a crib or bassinet |
| Sleep environment | Safe, dim, and quiet |
| Sleep routine | Consistent bedtime routine |
| Self-settling | Newborns will learn to settle themselves over time |
| Sleep interruptions | Frequent waking due to feeding and changing |
| Sleep associations | Positive sleep associations are important |
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What You'll Learn
Safe sleep environment
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period. They do not know the difference between day and night and do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. They wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed.
- For at least the first 6 months, your baby should sleep in the same room as you, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Infants should sleep on their back until they are 1 year old. Back sleeping significantly reduces the likelihood of SIDS. Sleeping on their side makes it easy to roll onto their stomach, so parents should try to roll the baby back onto their back.
- Infants should sleep on a firm, flat surface, like a crib or bassinet. Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards. The crib should be empty.
- Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help to soothe a crying baby. However, be sure the baby's breathing is not obstructed and keep the swaddling no higher than their shoulders. If your baby tries to roll over in a swaddle, it is a sign to stop swaddling.
- Offer your baby a pacifier at sleep times, but don't force it. Some studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.
- 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.
- Establishing a bedtime routine can help encourage longer stretches of overnight sleep. This may include dimming the lights at a consistent time each day, bathing, and a special book or song.
- Getting your baby into a simple, soothing bedtime routine may help them settle and can be a great opportunity to bond with your baby. Singing a lullaby or having a wind-up musical mobile you can turn on when you've put your baby to bed can be helpful.
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Sleep cycles
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and do not know the difference between day and night. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long.
As they progress through the sleep cycle, newborns will enter a quiet alert phase, where they are still and awake, taking in their environment. They will stare at objects and respond to sounds and motion. This progresses to the active alert phase, where the baby is attentive to sights and sounds and moves actively. After this phase is the crying phase, where the baby's body moves erratically, and they may cry loudly.
It is normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep, a process known as self-settling. Different babies have different self-settling abilities, and it is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, may be challenging to maintain long-term and can create a negative sleep association, resulting in the baby needing to be held to fall asleep.
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Sleep duration
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period, with some newborns sleeping up to 18 or 19 hours a day. They do not know the difference between day and night and do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. They wake frequently during the night to be fed or changed.
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. During active sleep, a newborn 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 they may have difficulty settling themselves back to sleep in the first few months.
Newborns should be fed before they reach the crying phase, as they can become so upset that they may refuse to feed. Signs of sleep readiness include yawning, rubbing their eyes, and pulling at their ears. Recognizing these signs and teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own can help them develop good sleep habits.
In the first few weeks, you may find that your baby only falls asleep in your arms or when you are standing by the cot. Introducing a consistent bedtime routine early on can help encourage longer stretches of overnight sleep. This may include dimming the lights at a consistent time each day, bathing, and reading a special book or singing a song.
It is recommended that for at least the first 6 months, your baby should sleep in the same room as you, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
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Sleep position
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period, waking up every couple of hours to feed. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and do not know the difference between day and night.
It is recommended that infants sleep on their back until they are 1 year old. Back sleeping significantly reduces the likelihood of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID). Sleeping on their side makes it easy to roll onto their stomach, so parents should try to roll the baby back onto their back. Once your baby can roll independently, you do not have to place them on their back each time they roll.
Infants should sleep on a firm, flat surface, like a crib or bassinet. Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards. The crib should be empty.
Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help to soothe a crying baby, but be sure the baby's breathing is not obstructed and keep the swaddling no higher than their shoulders. If your baby tries to roll over in a swaddle, it is a sign to stop swaddling.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents share a room with their infant but not a bed. Bed-sharing greatly increases the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
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Establishing a routine
To help your newborn settle into a routine, you can create a soothing bedtime routine. This could include dimming the lights, bathing, and reading a special book or singing a lullaby. You should also try to keep things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Keeping the lights low and resisting the urge to play with or talk to your baby will help to reinforce that nighttime is for sleeping.
It's important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques, such as rocking or holding your baby until they fall asleep, may be difficult to continue long-term and could create negative sleep associations. Instead, you can try swaddling your baby (wrapping them in a light blanket) to soothe them. However, be sure that your baby's breathing is not obstructed and stop swaddling if they start trying to roll over.
In the first few weeks, you may find that your baby only falls asleep in your arms or when you're standing by the cot. It's best to avoid letting your baby fall asleep while eating or in your arms, as this may become a pattern and they may begin to expect it. Instead, try to let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night so they learn that it's the place for sleep.
Remember, the amount of sleep your baby needs will depend on their age. Newborns and infants under 4 months often sleep 14 to 17 hours per day, while babies aged 3 to 5 will need about 12 hours of sleep and may still need a nap during the day.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep a lot, usually around 14-17 hours in every 24 hours. However, newborn sleep patterns vary, with some newborns sleeping up to 18-19 hours a day. They sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours each, waking frequently to feed.
It is recommended that newborns sleep on their back on a flat, firm surface, such as a crib or bassinet. The crib or bassinet should be in the same room as the caregiver for at least the first 6 months, but not in the same bed, as this can increase the risk of SIDS. The crib should be empty, without any loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys, and the baby should be placed in the ''feet to foot' position.
Newborns follow their own schedule, but you can introduce a consistent bedtime routine to encourage longer stretches of overnight sleep. Keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, and let your baby fall asleep in their crib to associate it with sleep. Avoid keeping your baby up during the day in hopes of better nighttime sleep, as this can lead to an overtired infant who has more trouble sleeping.
