Colin Snow
Newborns sleep a lot — around 14 to 17 hours a day — but they don't understand the difference between night and day. Their sleep is unpredictable, and they wake up frequently, which can be hard for caregivers to cope with. However, after a few months, newborns gradually start to organise their sleep according to daily cycles of light and darkness. This is a good time to begin teaching your baby about the day-night cycle and establishing a sleep routine. A simple routine of feed, play, sleep can be a good way to start, but it's important to be flexible and respond to your baby's needs.
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What You'll Learn
In the first few months, respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds
In the first few months, it's important to respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds. Newborns sleep a lot—around 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period—but they don't understand the difference between night and day. They don't have a circadian rhythm, so they need to gradually learn to organise their sleep according to daily cycles of light and darkness.
During the day, keep your everyday noises normal—vacuum, shower, and talk as you usually would. Keep the curtains slightly open when they're sleeping, and don't worry about keeping the house silent while they sleep. You can even play soft music during the day to help them get used to sleeping with some noise. At night, keep the lights low and your voice soft. They'll soon learn that nighttime is calm and quiet, so they might as well sleep when it's dark outside.
Newborns sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours, both night and day, and they need to feed every 2-4 hours. So, when they're awake, they're usually feeding, and after feeding, they'll probably want to go back to sleep. This cycle will start to change after three to four weeks when your baby becomes more interactive.
You can try a simple routine of feed, play, sleep. Offer your baby a feed when they wake up, then change their nappy, talk, play, and cuddle with them. Put your baby down for sleep when you notice signs of tiredness, even if you haven't had much time to play. If your baby is crying, check if they're sick, hurt, or uncomfortable. If not, and if they've fed in the last 2 hours, try holding them close to your chest or rocking them gently. Cuddling and comfort are important, and you can't spoil your baby by giving them attention.
Remember, the most important things in these early months are responding to your baby and being flexible. If your baby is unsettled, it's fine to cuddle or rock them to sleep. It's also okay if your baby sometimes falls asleep while feeding, especially in the early weeks. Do what works best for you and your baby.
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Establish a sleep schedule
Establishing a sleep schedule for your newborn is a challenging task, as their sleep patterns can vary a lot. Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere between 14 to 17 hours in every 24 hours—but they don't understand the difference between night and day.
During the first few months, it's best to respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds and follow their lead when it comes to a routine. You can try a simple routine of feed, play, sleep, but remember to always watch your baby's cues and respond. For example, your baby might show signs of tiredness soon after feeding, so it's time for them to sleep even if you haven't had much time to play.
When your baby is about two months old, their internal clock will become more predictable, and you can try implementing a basic sleep schedule. You can start by teaching them that nighttime is for sleep and daytime is for fun. During the day, keep things active and try to keep them awake after they feed. At night, keep the lights low and your voice soft, and avoid overstimulating your baby.
As your baby grows, you'll become more familiar with their hunger and sleep cues, allowing you to develop a feeding and sleep schedule that works for your family. Remember that every baby is different, and their sleep patterns can vary, so be prepared to adjust your routine as your baby grows and enters different stages.
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Make your newborn sleep when they're tired
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. They wake up every couple of hours to feed, whether it's day or night, as their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them full for long.
In the early months, it's best to respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds. Follow their lead when it comes to a routine for feeds, sleep and play. You can try a simple routine of feed, play, sleep, but it's important to watch your baby's cues and respond. For example, your baby might show signs of tiredness soon after a feed, so it's time for them to sleep, even if you haven't had much time to play.
Keeping newborns awake during the day won't make them sleep more at night. Let them sleep when they're tired. Overtired babies often wake more frequently. If your baby is fussy, it's okay to rock, cuddle and sing to them as they settle down. You can also try swaddling them (wrapping them in a light blanket) to soothe them.
You can start getting your baby used to the day-night cycle from birth. During the day, keep your everyday noises normal—vacuum, shower, play games, and open the curtains. At night, keep the lights low and try not to overstimulate your baby.
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Create a calming bedroom routine
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they don't understand the difference between night and day and don't have a circadian rhythm. Therefore, it's important to get them used to the day-night cycle early on. During the day, keep your everyday noises normal—vacuum, shower, etc.—even if they're sleeping. At night, keep the lights low and try not to overstimulate your baby.
- Play soft music, dim the lights, or gently rock them to sleep.
- Make sure their bedroom is dark, cool (but not cold), and quiet.
- If you have older kids, set regular go-to-bed and wake-up times for them to follow, even on weekends.
- During the first few weeks, your baby is likely to doze off for short periods during a feed. Carry on feeding until you think they've finished or are fully asleep. This is a good opportunity for you to rest as well.
- If you're not sleeping at the same time as your baby, don't worry about keeping the house silent while they sleep. It's good to get your baby used to sleeping through a certain amount of noise.
- After the first month, try not to let your baby fall asleep while you're feeding or rocking them. You want them to figure out how to put themselves to sleep without your help.
- If your baby is crying a lot, it's important to look after yourself. Even just 5 minutes of reading a book, walking around the block, or meditating can give you a break if you're feeling stressed, anxious, or angry.
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Be flexible and follow your baby's lead
When it comes to setting a sleep routine for your newborn, flexibility is key. In the early months, it's best to respond to your newborn's needs for sleep and feeds. Your baby's cues and body language will help you understand whether they want to sleep, feed or interact with you. It's important to watch your baby's cues and respond accordingly. For example, your baby might show signs of tiredness soon after a feed, indicating that it's time for them to sleep, even if you haven't had much time to play.
Newborns don't have an internal "clock" that tells them to sleep at night and stay awake during the day. They sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours, both night and day, and need your attention during these periods. As a result, you may find that a very simple, flexible routine helps your baby and also helps you feel more in control. For instance, you could try a routine of feed, play, sleep. However, it's important to remember that newborns often need help settling to sleep, and you should never prop a baby bottle in your baby's mouth when putting them to bed as it can lead to choking, ear infections and cavities.
In the first few months, it's a good idea to get your baby used to the day-night cycle. During the day, keep your everyday noises normal - use the vacuum cleaner, shower, etc., even if your baby is sleeping. At night, keep the lights low and try not to overstimulate your baby. You can also try a regular routine before bed, such as giving them a feed, changing their nappy, and then talking, playing, cuddling and interacting with them before putting them back down to sleep. However, remember that the most important thing during these early months is responding to your baby and being flexible. If your baby is unsettled, it's fine to cuddle or rock them to sleep.
As your baby grows, you'll become more familiar with their hunger and sleep cues, and you can start to develop a feeding and sleep schedule that works for your family. From birth, some babies need more or less sleep than others, and growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how your baby sleeps. So, it's important to be prepared to change routines as your baby grows and enters different stages.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep a lot, typically between 14 and 17 hours a day, but this can vary. They sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours at a time, both night and day.
Your newborn will let you know when they need sleep. Common signs they feel tired include: yawning, rubbing their eyes, grizzling, fussing, pulling at their ears, and losing interest in people and toys.
Newborns often need help to settle to sleep. You can use responsive settling to help your baby fall asleep. For example, you could try a simple routine of feed, play, sleep. But remember, the most important thing in these early months is responding to your baby and being flexible. If your baby is unsettled, it’s fine to cuddle or rock them to sleep.
