Newborn Sleep: What's Normal And What's Not?

Newborns typically sleep between 12 and 19 hours a day, waking up every few hours to feed. They don't have a sense of day and night yet, so they sleep and wake up at irregular intervals. While newborns need plenty of sleep, there are some instances where sleeping too much could be a cause for concern.

Newborns sleep a lot during the day because they don't have a sense of day and 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 wake up every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed more frequently, about every 2-4 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3-4 hours.

Newborns don't have established sleep-wake rhythms like adults. They don't know the difference between day and night, so they might be awake at night and sleep during the day. This is what is commonly referred to as "day/night confusion" or having "days and nights reversed". Circadian rhythms gradually develop within the first few months of life, with sleep starting to accumulate at night.

There are some things you can do to help your baby learn the difference between day and night and jump-start their circadian rhythm:

• Follow an eat-play-sleep schedule.
• Keep awake time bright and entertaining.
• Expose your baby to sunlight in the morning when they first wake up.
• Make naps in a bright and loud environment so that your baby is exposed to more light during the day and doesn't sleep for too long.
• If their naps are approaching 2 hours, wake them up. Too much daytime sleep can lead to more awake time at night.
• Feed regularly during the day to ensure they're getting enough calories and not looking to feed all night.
• Keep nighttime dark and quiet - use a dim light during night feedings and keep the sound machine going.
• Do a bedtime routine, as the steps in a nightly routine can act as a trigger for sleep and encourage babies to understand that the sleep that comes after the routine is different from naps.

It's important to remember that helping your baby learn the difference between day and night is not sleep training. In fact, sleep training is not recommended for babies younger than four months.

Newborns need to be woken up to feed every few hours

Newborns have tiny stomachs, so they need to be fed frequently to get the nourishment they need. They wake up often to eat—no matter the time of day or night—and usually feed every 2-4 hours. Breastfed babies tend to feed more often, about every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies feed less often, about every 3-4 hours.

For the first two to three weeks, keep a close eye on the clock and wake your baby when it's time to feed. After this period, once a newborn's weight gain pattern is established, your paediatrician should advise you to wait for overnight feedings until your baby wakes up on their own.

If your baby is younger than one month old, or around three weeks old, they may not wake up when they feel hungry, so you will need to rouse them. Babies younger than four weeks old should not go longer than four to five hours without food.

To wake a baby up to feed, try brushing the side of their cheek to trigger the rooting reflex. Most babies dislike having their feet stroked, so if this doesn't work, try gently wiggling their toes or the bottoms of their feet.

It's important to consult a paediatrician or nursing expert for individual advice based on your baby's needs and development.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles

Newborns do not have a sense of day and night and are not accustomed to schedules or the rhythms of a typical day and night. They sleep around the clock, waking every couple of hours to eat. They may sleep for only about 1-2 hours at a time, though some may sleep a little more or less than this.

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. It is important to note that newborns need to be woken up to feed every 2-4 hours, depending on their age and whether they are breastfed or formula-fed.

As newborns grow into infants, they begin to develop a schedule and start sleeping longer at night. By the age of 6 months, 90% of babies sleep through the night, though there is variation from baby to baby.

Newborns should sleep in a safe environment to prevent SIDS

Newborns have different sleep patterns than older babies, and they need a lot of sleep. They may sleep up to 19 hours a day, and their sleep may happen in small chunks or on an irregular schedule. Newborns sleep for around 8-9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night, but this varies. They usually sleep for only 1-2 hours at a time.

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. It is important to ensure that newborns are sleeping in a safe environment to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. Here are some recommendations for creating a safe sleep environment for newborns:

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side.
• Use a firm, flat sleep surface. Cover the mattress with a sheet that fits snugly.
• Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet. Keep plush toys, pillows, blankets, unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of your baby's sleep area.
• To avoid overheating, dress your baby for the room temperature and don't overbundle. Don't cover your baby's head while they're sleeping. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch.
• Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
• Offer a pacifier to your baby at sleep time, but don't force it. If you're breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is firmly established.
• Watch out for other hazards, such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that can wrap around a baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or corner.
• Don't let your baby fall asleep on a product that isn't specifically designed for sleeping babies, such as a sitting device (like a car seat), a feeding pillow, or an infant lounger.
• Don't use products or devices that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors that can detect a baby's heart rate and breathing pattern. No known products can actually do this.
• Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products you use to help your baby sleep have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards.

By following these recommendations, you can help create a safe sleep environment for your newborn and reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.

Newborns may sleep more than usual when they are sick

If your newborn is sleeping for longer stretches than usual, it's important to ensure that they are still getting enough food and gaining weight at a healthy rate. Newborns have tiny stomachs and need to eat frequently, so even if your baby is sleeping for longer stretches, you may still need to wake them up to feed every 2-4 hours.

If your newborn is sleeping for longer stretches and won't wake up to feed, it could be a sign that they are sick. It's important to consult your paediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's sleeping habits or if they are showing any other symptoms.

• Expose them to light and gentle play during the day.
• Provide a dim and quiet environment at night.
• Follow an eat-play-sleep schedule.
• Keep wake windows bright and entertaining.
• Expose your baby to sunlight in the morning when they first wake up.
• Make naps in a bright and loud environment so that your baby is exposed to more light during the day and doesn't sleep for too long.
• If their naps are approaching 2 hours, wake them up. Too much daytime sleep can lead to more awake time at night.
• Feed your baby regularly during the day (every 2-3 hours) to ensure they are getting enough calories.
• Keep nighttime dark and quiet, using a dim light and a sound machine during night feedings.
• Establish a bedtime routine, as this can help your baby understand that the sleep that comes after the routine is different from naps.

Frequently asked questions