Colin Snow
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 19 hours a day, waking up every few hours to be fed and changed. They do not have an established sleep-wake rhythm and cannot differentiate between day and night. As a result, new parents often struggle to determine how often they should check on their newborn while sleeping. While there is no set schedule, experts recommend adopting soothing and consistent daily habits to help newborns get the rest they need. This includes creating a bedtime routine with activities like cuddling, rocking, and walking, as well as keeping the room dimly lit and quiet during nighttime feedings.
How often should I check on my newborn while sleeping?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration | 12-19 hours in a 24-hour period |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes long |
| Feeding | Every 2-4 hours, depending on breastfed or bottle-fed |
| Room temperature | Comfortable for a lightly clothed adult |
| Clothing | Light clothing to prevent overheating |
| Room-sharing | Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) |
| Bed-sharing | Not recommended by the AAP due to increased risk of SIDS |
| Sleep position | On their back, as recommended by the AAP |
| Tummy time | Supervised tummy time during the day may lead to longer nighttime sleep |
| Self-settling | Newborns will learn to settle themselves as they get older |
| Sleep routine | Establish a relaxing and predictable bedtime routine |
| Sleep training | Experiment with different strategies to teach your baby to fall asleep on their own |
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What You'll Learn
How to establish a sleep routine for a newborn
Establishing a sleep routine for a newborn can be challenging, as their sleep patterns are unpredictable and vary from baby to baby. Newborns sleep around the clock, waking frequently to feed and can sleep up to 14-17 hours over a 24-hour period. Here are some tips to help establish a sleep routine:
Understand Newborn Sleep Patterns
Newborns do not have an established sleep-wake rhythm and cannot differentiate between day and night. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually 20 to 50 minutes long. During this time, they will experience active and quiet sleep, with the former involving movement, crying, and irregular breathing, and the latter characterised by stillness and more even breathing.
Create a Sleep-Conducive Environment
To help your newborn develop an understanding of day and night, expose them to light and gentle play during the day, and create a dim and quiet environment at night. Keep the room temperature comfortable, avoid overdressing or overbundling your baby, and ensure their head is uncovered to prevent overheating.
Develop Positive Sleep Associations
Responsive settling techniques are crucial. Follow your baby's lead and respond to their cues. If they show signs of tiredness after feeding, it's time for a nap, even if you haven't played much. Similarly, if they seem hungry after playing, offer a feed before settling them to sleep. A full tummy promotes better sleep.
Establish a Bedtime Routine
Implement a simple, flexible routine that includes calming activities such as turning down the lights, playing soft music or white noise, reading a story, giving a soothing bath, or singing a lullaby. Once your baby recognises this pattern, they will start to associate it with sleepiness.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
Do not overfeed your baby in the hopes of longer sleep, as their tummies are too small to handle excess food comfortably. Also, avoid propping a bottle in their mouth, as this can lead to health issues and choking hazards. Never give medicine or alcohol to aid sleep, and ensure their sleeping area is free from hazards like plush toys, pillows, and loose blankets.
Remember, the first few months can be challenging, and you may need to adjust your routine as your baby grows and their needs change. Be patient, flexible, and responsive to your newborn's unique temperament and requirements.
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How often a newborn should sleep during a 24-hour period
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18 or even 19 hours per day. Newborns 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. They wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed.
During the first few weeks of a baby's life, some parents choose to room-share, which involves placing the baby's crib or bassinet in the parent's bedroom instead of a separate nursery. This practice is considered safe and facilitates feeding, comforting, and monitoring during the night. However, it is important to ensure that the baby sleeps in their own crib or bassinet, as bed-sharing increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths.
To create a safe sleep environment, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other sources recommend the following:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, never on their stomach or side.
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface that meets safety standards.
- Keep soft toys, pillows, blankets, loose sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of the baby's sleep area.
- Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature to avoid overheating or becoming too cold, both of which can disturb their sleep.
- Do not cover your baby's head while they are sleeping.
- Keep your baby away from secondhand smoke, as it increases the risk of SIDS.
- Offer a pacifier at sleep time, but don't force it.
- Be mindful of hazards, such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that could pose a strangulation risk, and objects with sharp edges or corners.
It is important to remember that every baby is unique, and their sleep patterns can vary. Some newborns sleep for long periods, while others sleep in short bursts. As your baby grows, their sleep patterns will change, and they will gradually develop a sense of day and night.
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How to get a newborn to sleep through the night
Newborns generally sleep 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period but lack an established sleep-wake rhythm, so they sleep and wake at irregular intervals. They also have tiny stomachs, so they need to be fed every few hours, disrupting their sleep. As a result, newborns wake up frequently during the night and need help getting back to sleep.
Create a safe and comfortable sleep environment
Keep the room temperature moderate to avoid overheating or over-cooling your baby. Do not cover your baby's head while they are sleeping, and watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch. Ensure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards. Keep soft toys, pillows, blankets, and other items that could pose a suffocation risk away from your baby's sleep area.
Establish a sleep routine
Although newborns do not have a sense of day and night, you can help them develop an internal 24-hour rhythm by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. At night, provide a dim and quiet environment, keeping lights low and maintaining calm during feedings and diaper changes.
Prioritise feeding needs
Newborns wake up frequently because they need to be fed, so ensure you are responsive to their feeding needs. Breastfed babies typically feed every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies can go 3-4 hours between feedings. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
Encourage self-settling
Newborns will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep as they get older. Avoid creating negative sleep associations, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, as this may result in them needing to be held to fall asleep in the future. Instead, offer a pacifier at sleep time, but don't force it.
Try sleep training methods
Sleep training means teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own. Experiment with different strategies and methods, as what works for one baby may not work for another. It's okay to combine methods and adapt them as your baby grows and changes.
Remember, every baby is unique, and there is no exact science to baby sleep patterns. Be patient with your baby and yourself during this time, and don't be afraid to ask for help from your partner, family, or friends when you need a break.
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How to create a safe sleep environment for a newborn
Newborns sleep for around 12 to 17 hours a day, but they wake up frequently as they need to be fed or changed. They do not have an established sleep-wake rhythm and do not know the difference between day and night.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing. Room-sharing helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side. Sleeping on their back reduces the risk of SIDS.
- Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet. Keep soft toys, pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of the baby's sleep area. Dress your baby for the room temperature and don't overbundle.
- Avoid hazards such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that can wrap around a baby's neck and objects with sharp edges or corners.
- The baby's sleep surface should be firm, flat, and level.
- Do not leave a bottle of milk or juice in the baby's bed.
- Establish a calming and consistent bedtime routine.
- Allow infants to fall asleep on their own so they can learn to comfort themselves.
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How to recognise when a newborn is tired
Newborns sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18 to 19 hours a day. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long.
- Yawning: Just like us, babies yawn more when they're tired.
- Face-touching: A tired newborn may rub their eyes and face or tug at their ears.
- Becoming clingy: Your baby may insist on holding on to you and demand that you take care of them.
- Whimpering: Tired babies may whimper and then move on to full-blown crying.
- Lack of interest: If your baby suddenly loses interest in their surroundings, it could be a sign that they are tired.
- Jerky limb movements: Your baby's arms and legs may jerk involuntarily when they are overtired.
- Grizzling: A tired baby may make a prolonged whining sound that never quite turns into crying.
- Sucking on fingers: This could be a sign that your baby is trying to settle themselves to sleep.
- Sleeping at the wrong times: Your baby may fall asleep while you're preparing their food or doing other activities.
- Overactivity: An overtired baby may show abundant energy due to a rush of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
It's important to look out for these "tired signs" in your newborn. If they get overtired, it can be challenging to settle them down for sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period, waking up to feed every few hours. They do not have an established sleep-wake rhythm and will wake frequently during the night. It is recommended to feed newborns every 2-4 hours, depending on whether they are breastfed or bottle-fed. Therefore, you should check on your newborn at least this often to ensure they are fed. Additionally, monitor your baby for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch, and adjust their clothing or the room temperature if necessary.
The amount of sleep a newborn needs varies, but it can be around 18 hours in a 24-hour period, including naps. Newborns generally sleep in short bursts, with sleep cycles lasting around 20 to 50 minutes. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep. If your newborn is fussy, it is okay to rock, cuddle, and sing to them as they settle down.
It is important to establish a bedtime routine that includes soothing and consistent daily habits, such as cuddling, rocking, walking, and feeding. You can also create a safe and comfortable sleep environment by keeping the room temperature comfortable, avoiding overbundling, and ensuring the baby sleeps on their back. Additionally, you can try different sleep training methods, such as teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own and incorporating tummy time during the day.
