Newborn Sleep: Understanding Your Baby's Sleep Patterns

Newborns (0-3 months) need a lot of sleep because their brains and bodies are growing rapidly. On average, newborns sleep for 14-17 hours within a 24-hour period, though this can vary from 11 to 19 hours. These hours are usually fragmented, with newborns waking up every couple of hours to feed. Breastfed babies tend to feed more frequently than bottle-fed babies, but both types may need to be awakened to ensure they get enough calories.

Newborns sleep for 11-19 hours a day

Newborns sleep a lot—up to 11 to 19 hours a day. This is because they are growing and developing rapidly, and their brains are making new connections while they snooze. It's important to remember that these hours are usually fragmented, with newborns sleeping in short spurts of two to four hours at a time.

Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, so they sleep around the clock, waking only to feed. They have tiny stomachs, so they need to eat every few hours, whether they're being breastfed or bottle-fed. Breastfed babies tend to feed more often than bottle-fed babies—about every two to three hours compared to every three to four hours.

It's important to keep an eye on your newborn's weight gain, especially in the early weeks. You may need to wake your baby every three to four hours to feed until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's okay to let them sleep for longer periods at night.

Newborn sleep patterns can vary a lot. Some babies start to sleep through the night (for five to six hours) by two to three months, while others don't sleep through the night until closer to one year. Most babies will wake up to feed at least every three hours.

To help your newborn sleep, you can establish a bedtime routine and provide a safe sleep environment. Keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, and try to keep the lights low. You can also swaddle your baby—wrap them snugly in a light blanket—to help them feel secure and fall asleep. However, don't swaddle your baby if they're two months or older or if they can roll over on their own, as this increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

They wake every few hours to feed

Newborns have tiny stomachs, so they need to be fed frequently. They wake up every few hours to eat and will need to be fed around the clock. Breastfed babies feed very frequently, about every 2-4 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3-4 hours.

In the first few weeks, you will need to wake your baby to feed them every 3-4 hours until they show good weight gain. After that, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night. However, if your baby is sleeping for longer stretches during the day (more than 4 hours), you might need to wake them, or they will be less tired 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. They usually sleep in short spurts of 2-4 hours.

It's important to know the signs that your baby is hungry. During the crying phase, they can be so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle. In newborns, crying is a late sign of hunger. It's best to feed them before they reach this phase.

If your baby is sleeping consistently and suddenly starts waking more often, they may be going through a growth spurt and need to eat more often.

They have a strong circadian rhythm

Newborns don't have a sense of day and night yet, so they sleep around the clock. They have to wake up every few hours to feed, as their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long.

Newborns have a strong circadian rhythm, which is why they sleep around the clock. Their sleep-wake cycles are regulated by an internal biological clock, which is influenced by light and dark. This internal clock helps them to stay awake during the day and sleep at night as they get older.

During the first few weeks of a baby's life, parents may choose to room-share. This is when you place your baby's crib in your bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. Room-sharing is safe and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, as bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.

To help your newborn sleep, you can:

• Expose them to light and play with them during the day
• Provide a dim and quiet environment at night
• Swaddle them (wrap them snugly in a light blanket)
• Rock, cuddle, and sing to them

It's important to keep your newborn on a regular sleep schedule as much as possible. This will help them develop a strong circadian rhythm and regulate their sleep-wake cycles.

They sleep in cycles of REM and non-REM sleep

A newborn baby's sleep cycle is divided into two categories: REM (active sleep) and NREM (quiet sleep). In the first few weeks of a child's life, their sleep is split evenly between the two.

REM sleep is characterised by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and vivid dreams. It is associated with memory consolidation and emotional processing in adults, but for babies, it goes beyond dreaming. REM sleep plays a crucial role in the development of a baby's central nervous system. During this stage, the brain is highly active, and it is believed that REM sleep is associated with memory formation and cognitive development in infants. Additionally, it is during REM sleep that babies may process and understand emotions, which is crucial for their emotional development.

Non-REM sleep, on the other hand, is the initial stage of sleep and consists of four substages: NREM-1 (transitional sleep), NREM-2 (light sleep), NREM-3 (deep sleep), and NREM-4 (delta sleep). Each substage has unique characteristics and is vital for physical restoration and growth. NREM-3 and NREM-4, in particular, are the deepest and most restorative stages of sleep for babies, crucial for brain development, memory consolidation, and learning.

As babies grow and develop, they spend less time in REM sleep and their sleep cycles start to resemble those of adults. By the time they are between 3 and 6 months old, babies start to experience less 'active' sleep and more 'deep' sleep. They will begin to enter deep sleep at the start of their sleep cycles, which are now longer, lasting around 40 minutes instead of the previous 20 to 30 minutes.

By the time they are 6 to 12 months old, babies' sleep patterns become even more similar to those of adults. They experience more non-REM sleep and less REM sleep, and their sleep is now more consolidated, with longer stretches of sleep at night and fewer, but longer, naps during the day.

They may sleep through the night by 3 months old

Newborns (0-3 months) need a lot of sleep because their brains and bodies are growing rapidly. In these first few months, newborns ideally get at least 14-17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. However, these hours are usually fragmented, rather than in long consolidated stretches. Newborns follow their own schedule, and it may take a few weeks for their brain to know the difference between night and day.

By the time they are three months old, some babies may start to sleep through the night (for 5-6 hours at a time). However, this can vary a lot. Some babies don't sleep through the night until closer to one year. Generally, newborns sleep a total of about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and a total of about 8 hours at night. But because they have small stomachs, they must wake every few hours to eat. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) until at least three months of age.

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 are very active in their sleep. It may look like they're awake when they're actually still sleeping! They may also experience day-night confusion, where they want to sleep most of the day but wake frequently at night.

If you're looking to establish a sleep schedule for your newborn, it's important to remember that every baby is different, and a rigid schedule will only set you up for frustration. Instead, focus on creating a flexible routine based on your baby's needs and cues. This might include exposing them to light and playing with them during the day, and providing a dim and quiet environment at night.

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