Gina Johnson
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 11 to 19 hours a day—but they wake up a lot, too. Their tiny tummies need to be fed every few hours, day and night. Newborns also can't tell the difference between night and day, so it may take a few weeks for them to settle into a routine. To help your newborn sleep, you can swaddle them (wrap them in a light blanket), rock them, or sing to them. You can also establish a soothing bedtime routine to help them wind down.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day. |
| Sleep pattern | Newborns don't have a sense of day and night. They sleep and wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months. |
| Feeding | Newborns wake up every 2–4 hours to feed. Breastfed babies feed more frequently than bottle-fed babies. |
| Sleep training | Newborns should be taught to self-soothe. Swaddling and rocking can help soothe a crying baby. |
| Sleep environment | The room should be quiet and calm. The baby's crib should be placed near the parents' bed for the first 6 months. |
| SIDS prevention | Room-share without bed-sharing to reduce the risk of SIDS. Avoid products that claim to lower SIDS risk, such as sleep positioners or monitors. |
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What You'll Learn
Safe sleep practices to prevent SIDS
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. They need 14-18 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. During the first few months, newborns invariably wake up multiple times during the night. It is important to keep them safe while they sleep to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Here are some safe sleep practices to prevent SIDS:
Place your baby on their back to sleep: The safest sleep position for babies is on their back. Babies who sleep on their backs are at a lower risk for SIDS than those who sleep on their stomachs or sides. This is recommended for all sleep times, including naps, until they turn one year old. Once they can roll from back to stomach and vice versa, you can leave them in the position they choose after initially placing them on their back.
Use a firm, flat sleep surface: The sleep surface should be firm and flat, and approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). A mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet, is recommended.
Keep your baby's sleep area in the same room as you: For at least the first six months, your baby should sleep in the same room as you, both during the day and at night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS.
Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS: No known products can prevent SIDS. Devices such as wedges, sleep positioners, and monitors that claim to detect a baby's heart rate and breathing pattern are not effective in preventing SIDS and may be linked to injuries and deaths.
Breastfeed your baby: Breastfeeding your baby and offering them a pacifier at nap time and bedtime can help reduce the risk of SIDS.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure: Do not smoke or use nicotine during pregnancy, and avoid smoking or allowing smoking around your baby.
Avoid alcohol and illegal drug use during pregnancy: It is important to refrain from consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs during pregnancy to lower the risk of SIDS.
Keep your baby's vaccinations up to date: Ensure your baby receives recommended vaccines to protect them from serious diseases.
Avoid over-tiredness: It is a myth that keeping your baby awake during the day will help them sleep better at night. Overly tired infants often have more difficulty sleeping at night.
Maintain a calm and quiet environment: Too much excitement and stimulation before bedtime can disrupt your baby's sleep. Engage in calmer activities, such as reading, to help your baby wind down before sleep.
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How much newborns sleep
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 18 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they do not know the difference between day and night and have not yet developed a 24-hour internal rhythm. As a result, they sleep in short bursts, waking up frequently to be fed or changed. Breastfed newborns wake up about every 2 to 3 hours, while formula-fed babies do so roughly every 3 to 4 hours.
During the first few weeks, you may find that your newborn only falls asleep in your arms or when you're standing by the cot. It's important to create positive sleep associations and avoid negative ones, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, which can result in them needing to be held to fall asleep in the long term. You can also try swaddling your baby (wrapping them in a light blanket) to soothe them and help them settle. However, once your baby starts trying to roll over, it's no longer safe to swaddle them.
Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) during the first weeks of a baby's life. This means placing your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your bedroom instead of a separate nursery. This allows you to keep your baby nearby, which helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. Bed-sharing is not recommended as it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. Always place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface, and keep the room well-ventilated to prevent overheating.
In terms of sleep environment, it's important to ensure that all sleep surfaces and products have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards. Avoid using products that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors that detect a baby's heart rate and breathing pattern. Additionally, do not let your baby fall asleep on products that are not specifically designed for sleeping, such as sitting devices, feeding pillows, or infant loungers.
As your baby grows, they will gradually learn the difference between night and day and start sleeping for longer stretches at night. You can encourage this by exposing them to light and gentle play during the day and providing a dim and quiet environment at night. Most babies start sleeping through the night by 6 months of age, with 62% of 6-month-olds sleeping in 6-hour stretches and 43% sleeping for 8-hour stretches. However, every baby is different, and it's important to talk to your pediatrician about what's normal and necessary for your infant.
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How to get newborns to sleep
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 11 to 19 hours a day. However, their sleep is spread out into smaller chunks throughout the day and night, especially during the first few months. Newborns also wake up a lot because their tiny stomachs can only hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for a short time. They wake every couple of hours to eat—breastfed babies feed about every 2–4 hours, while bottle-fed babies feed every 3–4 hours.
Keep your baby safe
Your baby's safety is your first priority. Learn how to safely put your baby down for a nap or bedtime to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Do not use products or devices that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners (like wedges or incliners) or monitors that can detect a baby's heart rate and breathing pattern. No known products can actually do this. Don't use weighted blankets, sleepers, or swaddles on or around your baby. Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products you use to help your baby sleep have been approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
Establish a bedtime routine
Getting your baby into a simple, soothing bedtime routine may help them settle and can be a great opportunity to bond with your baby. Bathing, reading, and singing can soothe babies and signal the end of the day. Be consistent, and your baby will soon associate these steps with sleeping.
Swaddle your baby
Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help to soothe a crying baby. If you swaddle your baby and they start trying to roll over, that is a sign that you can stop swaddling.
Offer a pacifier
Offer your baby a pacifier at sleep times, but don't force it. Some studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.
Room-sharing without bed-sharing
For at least the first 6 months, your baby should be in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS. If you use a baby sling to carry your baby, make sure you use it safely.
Keep things calm
Too much excitement and stimulation just before bedtime can wake your baby up again. Spend some time winding down and doing some calmer activities, like reading. It's good to get your baby used to sleeping through a certain amount of noise, so you don't have to worry about keeping the house silent while they sleep.
Don't keep your baby awake during the day
Overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping at night than those who've had enough sleep during the day. If your newborn is fussy, it's OK to rock, cuddle, and sing as your baby settles down.
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Newborn sleep patterns
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. They get hungry quickly after feeding because their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long. Breastfed babies feed more often, about every 2–4 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation, with some newborns sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day.
Newborns follow their own sleep schedule and patterns, and it may take a few weeks for their brains to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm that tells them when they should be awake and when they should sleep. They also need time to learn the difference between night and day. During this time, it is important to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes.
You can help your baby establish a sleep routine by recognising signs of sleep readiness, teaching them to fall asleep on their own, and providing a safe and comfortable sleep environment. Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help soothe a crying baby until they start trying to roll over, which is when you should stop swaddling. Rocking, cuddling, and singing can also help your baby settle down.
As your baby grows, they will need fewer night feeds and may be able to sleep for longer stretches at night. Most babies start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking by 3 months of age, but this varies and some babies don't sleep through the night until closer to 1 year. Some babies may also experience sleep regression, where their sleep patterns change and they cry every hour of the night.
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Newborn sleep environment
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 11 to 19 hours a day. However, this sleep is spread out into smaller chunks throughout the day and night, especially during the first few months. Newborns wake up frequently to be fed, as their tiny stomachs can't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long. They also don't yet have a sense of day and night and will need time to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm.
To create a safe sleep environment for your newborn, follow these guidelines:
- Room-share without bed-sharing: For at least the first 6 months, your baby should sleep in the same room as you, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Keep your baby's crib or bassinet next to your bed for easy access during nighttime feedings and comforting.
- Avoid bed-sharing: Infants should not bed-share with adults, siblings, or other children. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS and suffocation.
- Avoid smoke exposure: Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS. Keep your baby away from smokers and avoid smoking around them.
- Use approved sleep products: Make sure all sleep surfaces and products, such as cribs, bassinets, or mattresses, are specifically designed for infants and meet safety standards. Avoid using products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors.
- Create a safe sleep space: Remove any hazards from your baby's sleep area, such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that could pose a strangulation risk. Ensure that hanging items, such as mobiles or draperies, are out of your baby's reach.
- Swaddling: Swaddling, or wrapping your baby snugly in a light blanket, can help soothe and calm them. Stop swaddling once your baby starts trying to roll over.
- Pacifiers: Offer a pacifier to your baby at sleep times, but don't force it. Some studies suggest that pacifier use may lower the risk of SIDS. If you're breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is established before offering a pacifier.
- Consistent bedtime routine: Establish a calming and familiar bedtime routine to help your baby settle and associate these steps with sleeping. This could include bathing, reading, or singing lullabies.
- Avoid overstimulation: Keep the environment calm and quiet, especially during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes. Too much excitement or stimulation before bedtime can make it difficult for your baby to fall asleep.
- Temperature regulation: Ensure your baby is dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room. Being too hot or too cold can disturb their sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep around the clock and wake up every few hours to feed. They need 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some newborns sleeping up to 18-19 hours a day.
It is important to establish a soothing bedtime routine that will signal to your baby that it is time for sleep. This could include bathing, reading, and singing. You can also try swaddling your baby (wrapping them in a light blanket) until they start trying to roll over.
No known products can prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Do not use sleep positioners, weighted blankets, or monitors that claim to detect a baby's heart rate and breathing. Always ensure that any products you use are approved by the relevant safety authorities.
