Herbie Murray
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. They don't yet have a sense of day and night, so it may take a few weeks for them to settle into a routine. It's important to create a safe sleep environment for your newborn, reducing the risk of sleep-related infant deaths such as SIDS. To help your newborn sleep, you can swaddle them, offer them a pacifier, and establish a bedtime routine.
How should newborns sleep?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | 14-17 hours over a 24-hour period; some may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day |
| Sleep position | On their back until they are 1 year old |
| Sleep surface | A firm, flat surface like a crib or bassinet; approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meeting federal safety standards |
| Sleep environment | Safe, simple, and soothing; reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) |
| Bedtime routine | Consistent and established early on, including dimming lights, bathing, singing, or reading a book |
| Sleep interruptions | Waking up every couple of hours to eat; breastfed babies feed more frequently (every 2-3 hours) than bottle-fed babies (every 3-4 hours) |
| Sleep patterns | No sense of day and night initially, gradually learning the difference |
| Self-soothing | Babies may need help falling asleep, but should be taught to fall asleep on their own; swaddling and pacifiers can help |
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Safe sleep environment
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. They do not yet have a sense of day and night, and their sleep is often interrupted. As such, it is important to create a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, such as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Firstly, newborns should sleep on their back until they are 1 year old. This significantly reduces the likelihood of SIDS. If they roll onto their side and tummy, simply roll them back onto their back. Once your baby can roll independently, you do not have to place them on their back each time they roll.
Secondly, newborns should sleep on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib or bassinet. Ensure that the crib is empty and meets federal safety standards. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approves certain sleep surfaces and products to help your baby sleep safely.
Thirdly, room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended for at least the first 6 months. This means keeping your baby in the same room as you when they are asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS. If possible, let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night so they learn that it is the place for sleep. You can bring your baby into your bed for feedings and comforting, but they should be returned to their own crib for sleep.
Lastly, swaddling your baby can help to soothe them and make them feel secure. However, be sure that their breathing is not obstructed and keep the swaddling no higher than their shoulders. If your baby tries to roll over while swaddled, this is a sign to stop swaddling.
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Sleep duration
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every couple of hours to eat. They don't yet have a sense of day and night, so it may take a few weeks for their brains to develop a distinction between night and day. During this time, it is important to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, keeping the lights low and refraining from playing with or talking to your baby. This will help them understand that nighttime is for sleeping.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that newborns get 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. Some newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed every 3-4 hours until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it is okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night.
Introducing a consistent bedtime routine early on could 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. It is recommended that, when possible, you let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night so they learn that it is the place for sleep. It is also important to ensure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards.
Additionally, it is recommended that infants sleep on their back until they are 1 year old, as this significantly reduces the likelihood of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID). A parent can swaddle their baby, but it is important to ensure that the baby's breathing is not obstructed and that the swaddling does not go higher than their shoulders. If your baby tries to roll over while swaddled, it is a sign to stop swaddling.
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Sleep position
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. They do not yet have a sense of day and night, so it may take a few weeks for their brains to develop a distinction between night and day.
To help your newborn settle into a routine, it is recommended that you keep things quiet and calm during nighttime feeds and diaper changes. Keep the lights low and avoid playing with or talking to your baby. This will help them understand that nighttime is for sleeping.
It is also important to establish a bedtime routine. This could include dimming the lights at a consistent time each day, bathing, and reading a special book or singing a song. The best time to put your baby to bed is when they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them form sleep habits that make it easier for them to sleep in a crib and, eventually, by themselves.
The recommended sleep position for infants is on their back until they are 1 year old. Back sleeping significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID). Sleeping on their side can make it easy for them 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.
It is important to ensure that your baby's sleep environment is safe. The sleep surface should be firm and flat, such as a crib or bassinet, and free of any objects. All sleep products should be approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
Swaddling your baby can help soothe them to sleep, but it is important to ensure that their breathing is not obstructed and that the swaddle is no higher than their shoulders. If your baby starts trying to roll over while swaddled, this is a sign that you should stop swaddling them.
Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing but not bed-sharing. Keep your baby's crib near your bed for convenient breastfeeding and parent contact for the first 6 months. Infants can be brought into the parents' bed for feedings and comforting but should be returned to their own crib for sleep. Bed-sharing with adults, siblings, or other children is not recommended.
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Sleep routine
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every couple of hours to feed. They don't yet have a sense of day and night, so it may take a few weeks for their brains to develop a distinction. During this time, you can help your newborn settle into a routine by keeping things quiet and calm during nighttime feeds and diaper changes. Keep the lights low and avoid playing with or talking to your baby, so they gradually learn that nighttime is for sleeping.
In the first few months, newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day, waking every 2-4 hours to feed. It is recommended to wake your baby every 3-4 hours to feed until they show good weight gain, which is usually within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's okay to let them sleep for longer periods at night.
- Keep the sleep environment safe and comfortable. Ensure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing but not bed-sharing. Keep your baby's crib near your bed for the first six months for convenient breastfeeding and parent contact.
- Infants should sleep on their back until they are one year old. This significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID).
- Swaddling your baby (wrapping them in a light blanket) can help soothe them and make them feel secure. However, be sure their breathing is not obstructed, and stop swaddling once they start trying to roll over.
- Offer your baby a pacifier at sleep times, as this has been associated with a lower rate of SIDS.
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine. This may include dimming the lights, giving them a bath, reading a book, or singing a lullaby.
- Recognize signs of sleep readiness and teach your baby to fall asleep on their own. Avoid letting them fall asleep while eating or in your arms, as this may become a pattern that is hard to break.
- Keep your baby comfortable. Being too hot or too cold can disturb their sleep.
- In the early weeks, your baby may only fall asleep in your arms or while you're standing by the cot. This is normal, and you can gradually transition them to falling asleep in their crib.
- Newborns may experience a crying phase when they are overly tired. It's okay to rock, cuddle, and sing to your baby as they settle down.
Remember, every baby is unique, and their sleep patterns may vary. Be prepared to adjust your routine as your baby grows and enters different stages, as factors like growth spurts, teething, and illnesses can all impact their sleep.
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Sleep difficulties
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking up every couple of hours to eat. They should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some newborns sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day.
Another common issue is that babies often feel more secure sleeping on their tummies, but this position is linked to a much higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Experts recommend always putting your baby on their back to sleep. If your baby won't settle on their back, you can try swaddling them and giving them a pacifier.
Additionally, some babies may develop inappropriate sleep associations, such as relying on being rocked or held to fall asleep. This can lead to difficulties with falling back to sleep on their own during the night. It's important to teach your baby to fall asleep on their own and to comfort them with awakenings. You can also introduce a transitional object, such as a small blanket or soft toy, but only when they are old enough to avoid the risk of suffocation.
Other factors that can disrupt your baby's sleep include illness, changes in routine, and developmental milestones such as pulling to a stand or crawling. It's also important to maintain a comfortable temperature in your baby's bedroom and to avoid overheating during sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, so they wake up every couple of hours to eat, no matter the time. They also wake up when they move from deep sleep to light sleep, and may struggle to get back to sleep.
You can help your newborn sleep by creating a safe and comfortable environment, and by establishing a bedtime routine. You can also try swaddling your baby, and offering them a pacifier.
The AAP recommends that parents share a room with their newborn but not a bed, for the first 6 months. Newborns should sleep on their back until they are 1 year old, as this reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUID).
