Ashwin Lewis
Laying a newborn to sleep can be a challenging task for new parents. Newborns sleep around the clock, waking up every few hours to feed. They need 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18-19 hours a day. It is important to establish a safe sleep environment for newborns, ensuring they sleep on a firm, flat surface, without any soft toys or blankets that could pose a risk of suffocation. Room-sharing is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but bed-sharing is not, as it increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. Establishing a bedtime routine can help newborns settle into a sleep pattern, and it is beneficial to keep things calm and quiet during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | Newborns sleep around the clock, and wake up every couple of hours to eat. They should get 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18-19 hours a day. |
| Sleep surface | A firm, flat surface is recommended, such as a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard. It should meet current safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). |
| Room-sharing | The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths. |
| Bedtime routine | Establishing a simple bedtime routine can help set the tone for bedtime and avoid overstimulating the baby. This can include changing a diaper, putting on pajamas, singing a lullaby, swaddling, and laying down in the crib or bassinet. |
| Sleep position | Babies should be placed on their back to sleep, both during naps and at night. |
| Safe sleep environment | Keep soft items, such as toys, pillows, crib bumpers, and blankets out of the crib. Avoid using weighted blankets, swaddles, or inclined sleep surfaces. |
| Daytime naps | It is recommended to offer feedings every 2-3 hours during the day according to the baby's hunger cues. Holding the baby for some of their naps is fine, but it's important to practice laying them down awake for bedtime and at least one nap a day. |
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Safe sleep surfaces
A newborn baby may feel more secure in a bassinet than in a crib. However, it is important to always use a firm, flat sleep surface for your baby. Safe examples include a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard that follows the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Make sure the surface meets current safety standards and is not broken or missing instructions or parts. The space between crib bars must be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent the baby from getting their head stuck. It is also important to keep soft items such as toys, crib bumpers, and blankets out of the crib.
Additionally, do not use a car seat, carrier, swing, or similar places for your baby to sleep. These sitting devices are not advised for routine sleep. It is also advised that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first 6 months, but in a separate crib or bassinet.
It is also important to note that bed-sharing is not recommended as it increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths. Instead, you can bring your baby to your bed for feedings and comforting, but return them to their own sleep surface afterward.
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Room-sharing
To create a safe sleep environment for room-sharing, follow these guidelines:
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface for your baby, such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
- Avoid using inclined surfaces, car seats, carriers, swings, or similar places for your baby to sleep.
- Keep soft items, such as toys, crib bumpers, and blankets, away from the crib to prevent the risk of suffocation.
- Ensure the space between crib bars is no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent your baby from getting their head stuck.
- Maintain a smoke-free environment. Smoke increases the risk of respiratory issues and sleep-related deaths, especially in sick babies.
In addition to room-sharing, establishing a bedtime routine can help cue your baby's brain that sleep is approaching. This can include activities such as changing diapers, putting on pajamas, singing lullabies, swaddling, and laying your baby down in their crib or bassinet. Remember, every baby is unique, and it may take some time to find a routine that works best for you and your little one.
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Swaddling
To swaddle a baby, spread a swaddle blanket on a flat surface in the shape of a diamond, with one corner pointing up. Fold the top corner down about 6 inches, and place the baby's head above the folded edge, with their body extending straight down. Wrap the left side of the blanket over the baby's left arm and chest, and tuck it underneath their right arm and back, leaving the right arm free. Bring the bottom corner up over the baby's body and tuck it under the first fold, below their chin. The swaddle should be snug around the chest, allowing the baby to breathe easily and preventing them from overheating. The bottom should be loose enough for the baby's legs to bend up and out, encouraging healthy hip development.
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Sleep patterns
Newborns sleep around the clock and wake up every couple of hours to eat. They get their sense of day and night after a few weeks or months. During this period, you can help them distinguish between night and day by keeping things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Try to keep the lights low and avoid playing with or talking to your baby at 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. Breastfed babies feed about every 2–3 hours, while bottle-fed babies feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. 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.
Newborns are active sleepers. They move and make noises when they are sleeping. Sometimes, they might even seem awake when they are actually still asleep. They also follow their own sleep patterns, which may not fit in with your own sleep needs. It's important to try to sleep when your baby sleeps.
To help your baby sleep better, you can swaddle them (wrap them in a light blanket) or rock and cuddle them. You can also establish a bedtime routine to cue your baby's brain that sleep is coming. A simple bedtime routine can include changing a diaper, putting on pajamas, singing a lullaby, swaddling, and laying down in the crib or bassinet.
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Soothing techniques
Newborns fall asleep while eating all the time, but if your baby routinely dozes off during feedings, they'll think they need to eat in order to get back to sleep. To avoid this, gradually move the feeding earlier until your little one can get through it without falling asleep. Then, finish the bedtime routine with a diaper change and a calming book or song, and place them down drowsy but awake.
Before putting your baby down to sleep, make sure they've had a feed and have a clean diaper. Check they're not too hot or cold. Your baby might need some help with relaxing and falling asleep. Swaddling your baby can help them settle. It's safe to swaddle your baby until they start trying to roll. A safe infant sleeping bag is an alternative to swaddling your baby. It can also be used once your baby is rolling onto their tummy.
Rocking your baby can also help them settle. You can hold your baby in your arms and pat, rock or stroke them while talking or singing softly to them. Once they are calm, put them into their cot. Very young babies might need to fall asleep in your arms before you can put them down.
It's important to establish a bedtime routine. About 30 minutes before bedtime, turn the noise down and dim the lights. This helps set a baby's internal clock. Our brain associates light and dark with being awake or asleep. Turning the lights low at night—and exposing your baby to bright light in the morning—will help this process along. Once you minimize the stimuli, you can introduce other calming rituals, like a warm bath, nursery rhymes or lullabies, and softly spoken stories.
During the day, a good pattern is 'feed-play-sleep'. After a feed and nappy change, your baby will probably be alert and happy. This is a good time to play with them before putting them down to sleep. At night, you can try waking your baby for a feed just before you go to bed. This might help them—and you—sleep for a bit longer.
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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.
You can start by establishing a bedtime routine to cue your newborn's brain that sleep is coming. You can also practice laying them down awake for bedtime and at least one nap a day.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first 6 months. The baby should be placed on a separate crib or bassinet with a firm, flat sleep surface that meets the current safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
You should avoid bed-sharing as it increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths. Also, do not use soft toys, pillows, blankets, or bumper pads in the crib as they increase the risk of suffocation.
To create a safe sleep environment, always place your baby on their back to sleep, ensure the room is well-ventilated, and keep the lights low during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes.
