Herbie Murray
Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 19 hours a day, waking up every few hours to feed. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and often confuse day and night, sleeping longer during the day and staying awake at night. Newborns should be dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room and placed on their back to sleep on a separate, flat, and firm surface without any bumpers or loose bedding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average sleep duration | 12-19 hours in a 24-hour period |
| Daytime sleep duration | 8-9 hours |
| Nighttime sleep duration | 8 hours |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes |
| Sleep position | On their back |
| Sleep surface | Firm, flat, separate from parents |
| Sleep environment | Quiet, dim at night; light and interactive during the day |
| Bedding | No loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys |
| Clothing | Appropriate for room temperature |
| Headwear | No hats |
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Safe sleep environment
A newborn baby should get 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some newborns sleeping up to 18 to 19 hours a day. They sleep around the clock and wake up every couple of hours to eat.
- 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, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and other soft items 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.
- 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.
- 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, 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.
- 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 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards.
- The room temperature for baby sleep should be between 68°F and 72°F (20°C - 22°C). You can dress your baby for sleep based on what you are wearing. If you are comfortable, your baby is most likely comfortable too.
- Assess your baby's core temperature (their chest, neck, back, and tummy) to ensure they are not too hot or too cold.
- Transition your baby out of the swaddle when you see signs of rolling.
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Sleep cycles
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. These cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, a newborn may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.
It is normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep. In the 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 do not know the difference between day and night. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms. They wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed. At around 3 months of age, they may start to learn the rhythm of day and night.
You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. You can also provide a dim and quiet environment at night. It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn and to avoid negative sleep associations, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, which can result in them needing to be held to fall asleep.
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Sleep positions
Newborns have different sleep patterns from adults, sleeping for around 12 to 19 hours a day in short bursts, known as sleep cycles. These cycles are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long and consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, newborns may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.
It is recommended that newborns are put to sleep on their back, as sleeping on their stomach or side has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It is also recommended that newborns sleep on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards, without any pillows, quilts, comforters, or other soft products. Newborns should also be dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room and should not be overdressed or overbundled, as this can lead to overheating.
- Back sleeping: This is the safest position for newborns to sleep in. It is recommended by experts such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and has been linked to a more than 50% drop in the SIDS rate since the recommendation was made in 1992.
- Side sleeping: Side sleeping has a higher risk of SIDS than back sleeping. However, babies can be placed on their side under supervision when they are awake to help develop the muscles of the eyes, stomach, and neck.
- Stomach sleeping: Research has found a link between stomach sleeping and SIDS. Sleeping on the stomach can also increase the risk of choking.
- Supervised sleeping: If your baby is being held or snuggled for sleep, an adult should remain awake and closely supervise the baby.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn and to avoid creating negative sleep associations, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, which can result in them needing to be held to fall asleep every time.
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Sleep duration
Newborns (0-3 months) need a lot of sleep because their brains and bodies are growing rapidly. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. In a 24-hour period, newborns ideally get at least 14-17 hours of sleep, though some newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day. These hours are usually fragmented, rather than in long consolidated stretches.
Newborns don't yet have a sense of day and night and can get confused, thinking they are supposed to be awake at night and sleep during the day. Generally, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and about 8 hours at night. They wake every couple of hours to feed, with breastfed babies feeding more often (every 2-3 hours) than bottle-fed babies (every 3-4 hours).
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. It is recommended to 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.
Most babies do not begin sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until at least 3 months of age, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. However, this varies, and some babies do not sleep through the night until closer to 1 year.
It is important to note that the number of hours your newborn sleeps is not something you can control. Instead, focus on these things you can control:
- Don't let any one nap go longer than 2 hours during the day.
- Aim for wake windows of around 60-90 minutes (35-60 minutes for those under 4 weeks).
- Consider starting your day by about 8:00 am (no more than 12-12.5 hours after bedtime).
- Offer daytime feedings every 2-3 hours, according to hunger cues.
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Sleep schedule
Newborns generally sleep between 12 and 19 hours in a 24-hour period, waking every few hours to feed. They do not yet know the difference between day and night, so they sleep around the clock.
In the first few months, newborns ideally get at least 14–17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. These hours are usually fragmented, rather than in long consolidated stretches.
- Don't let any one nap go longer than 2 hours during the day. Aim for wake windows of around 60–90 minutes (35–60 minutes for those under 4 weeks).
- Consider starting your day by 8:00 a.m. (no more than 12–12.5 hours after bedtime).
- Offer daytime feedings every 2–3 hours, according to hunger cues.
- Establish a bedtime routine that will be familiar and relaxing for your baby. Bathing, reading, and singing can soothe babies and signal the end of the day.
- Be consistent with your bedtime routine. Your baby will soon associate these steps with sleeping.
- Put your baby down when they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them learn to fall asleep on their own.
- Keep the lights low and avoid playing or talking with your baby if they wake during the night. Change or feed your baby, then return them to their crib or bassinet.
- If your baby is waking early for a morning feeding, you can try shifting their late-night feeding to a slightly earlier time.
- Expose your baby to light and gentle play during the day to help them learn the difference between day and night. Provide a dim and quiet environment at night.
- Dress your baby appropriately for the temperature of the room. Avoid overdressing them, as overheating can be dangerous.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. During the day, newborns sleep for around 8 to 9 hours on average.
Newborns may only be awake for a total of 6-10 hours in a 24-hour period, so if your baby is awake for longer than this, they may not be getting enough sleep.
You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. You should also ensure that their sleeping environment is safe and comfortable, with no loose items or clothing in the crib.
