Miya Pearson
Newborns sleep a lot, but they wake up every few hours to eat. They don't know the difference between night and day, so they sleep around the clock. They should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Newborns should sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface without any pillows, stuffed animals, or loose blankets, which could be a suffocation hazard. Swaddling is a good option for newborns, but it's important to stop swaddling once they start trying to roll over. The ideal room temperature for a sleeping baby is between 68° and 72°F (20-22°C).
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What You'll Learn
Safe sleep environments
A safe sleep environment is crucial to reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleep accidents. Here are some guidelines to create a safe sleep environment for your newborn:
Sleep Surface:
The sleep surface, or what your baby sleeps on or in, should be firm, flat, and level. This can be a mattress in a cot, portacot, bassinet, baby box, or a co-sleeper that meets the relevant safety standards. The surface should quickly return to its original shape if pressed on and should not be inclined or at an angle to prevent positional asphyxia. A fitted sheet over a waterproof mattress protector is recommended. The mattress protector should not be padded or soft, and only the fitted sheet should cover the mattress.
Sleep Space:
Ensure there is a clear space of about 30 cm around the cot or portacot, with no items within your baby's reach, such as plastic, blind cords, mosquito nets, or electrical cords. If co-sleeping, consider whether the space is large enough for everyone, with a clear area around the baby. Keep the environment smoke and vapour-free, as the link between SUDI and exposure to smoke or vaping is strong.
Sleep Position:
The recommended sleep position for your baby is on their back. This position ensures that the reflexes that keep your baby's airways open work effectively. Avoid sleeping your baby on their stomach or side, as this increases the risk of SIDS.
Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is recommended as it reduces the risk of SUDI, including SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents. Newborns should be fed frequently, about every 2-3 hours for breastfed babies and 3-4 hours for bottle-fed babies. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed every 3-4 hours until they show good weight gain, which usually occurs within the first few weeks.
Dressing for Sleep:
It is important to maintain a comfortable temperature for your baby while they sleep. Overheating is unsafe, and cold babies tend to sleep poorly. Recommended room temperatures for sleeping are between 68°F and 72°F (20°C - 22°C). Assess your baby's core temperature by feeling their chest, neck, back, and tummy. Their core should feel warm but not sweaty. Signs that your baby may be too hot include a sweaty neck or hair, flushed cheeks, and a clammy or sweaty core.
Other Considerations:
- Avoid loose items or clothing in the crib, such as hats, mittens, hair bows, or pacifier clips.
- Keep soft items like pillows, stuffed toys, and blankets away from the sleep area.
- Do not use products that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors that detect heart rate and breathing.
- Swaddling can help soothe a crying baby, but stop swaddling if they start trying to roll over.
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Swaddling
How to Swaddle:
- Start with a thin, lightweight, square blanket on a flat surface, shaped like a diamond.
- Fold the top corner down towards the centre to form a straight line.
- Place the baby face-up on the blanket with their neck along the top edge, ensuring the blanket doesn't touch their cheeks to avoid confusion with feeding.
- Gently hold the baby's left arm down along their side and use the blanket to securely but gently wrap their body, leaving enough room for leg movement.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- It is important to ensure the swaddle is secure but not overly tight. The baby should be able to move their legs and bend their hips to avoid issues with hip formation.
- Avoid swaddling if the baby starts trying to roll over, as this can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Have several swaddles on hand to rotate through, as newborns may soil them frequently.
- Assess the baby's core temperature to ensure they are not too hot or cold. Signs of overheating include a sweaty neck or hair, flushed cheeks, and a clammy core.
- Do not use hats, mittens, or other loose items with a swaddled baby, as these can be unsafe.
- If the baby tends to break free from the swaddle, consider using a sleep sack instead.
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Sleepwear
The sleepwear of a newborn depends on the temperature of the room. The ideal room temperature for a newborn baby to sleep in is between 68° and 72°F or 20°C and 22°C. If the room is too warm, the baby risks overheating, which has been linked to a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If the room is too cold, the baby may not sleep well.
The general rule of thumb for dressing a baby for sleep is to put them in one additional layer than an adult would wear at night. This is because a baby should not sleep with a loose sheet or blanket, which could pose a danger of suffocation or strangulation. Instead of a blanket, you can use a sleep sack or swaddle. If the baby is dressed too warmly, you can reduce the layers under their sleep sack/swaddle or opt for a sleep sack/swaddle with a lower TOG rating.
It is important to know that any loose items or clothing (like hats, mittens, hair bows, pacifier clips, etc.) are not considered safe for sleep. Hats, in particular, can slip off the baby's head and cover their face, inhibiting free breathing. A baby self-regulates its body temperature by releasing heat through its head, so a hat can also lead to overheating.
Swaddling is an option for newborns. It involves wrapping a baby in a thin, light blanket. Swaddling can help to soothe a crying baby, but it can be risky once a baby starts rolling over on its own, as it is very difficult for a swaddled baby to turn again. If you swaddle your baby and they start trying to roll over, that is a sign that you can stop swaddling.
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Sleep schedules
Newborns should get around 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18 to 19 hours a day. Newborns wake up every couple of hours to eat and breastfed babies tend to feed more often, about every 2 to 3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3 to 4 hours.
Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, so they sleep around the clock. They wake often to eat, no matter the time of day or night. During the first month, newborns may only last 30 to 90 minutes of awake time before needing their next nap. By 2 months old, they can stretch this from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. By 3 to 4 months old, bedtime should shift to an earlier time.
Newborns can benefit from routines, but strict sleep schedules are not recommended until they are older. Sleep becomes more predictable between 3 and 6 months of age, and many babies start sleeping through the night between 4 and 6 months. Before this, it's best to base sleep times on your baby's sleepy cues and wake windows.
- Observe your baby's sleep patterns and identify signs of sleepiness before they become too tired. These cues can include yawning, irritability, and a glazed or faraway look.
- Keep the environment comfortable, peaceful, and slightly darker when your baby becomes irritable and before sleep times.
- Newborns can comfortably stay awake for short periods, so expect lots of daytime sleep. Most babies can stay awake for only 30 to 90 minutes.
- Feed your baby when they are hungry. Hungry babies have a hard time sleeping.
- Try to nudge your baby's sleep time towards the nighttime hours so that you can also get some much-needed rest.
- Aim for at least one nap per day in your desired sleep space, such as a crib or bassinet. Other naps can be elsewhere, as long as it's safe.
- Newborns should not wear hats to sleep or even indoors after the first few hours of life. By the time your baby comes home from the hospital, hats are no longer helpful in temperature regulation indoors.
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Co-sleeping
However, co-sleeping has also been associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleep accidents. To reduce these risks, it is recommended to place the baby on their back, on a firm, flat, and level surface, away from the edge of the bed and next to only one parent. The sleep environment should be clear of any items that could obstruct the baby's airways, such as pillows, sheets, blankets, toys, and jewellery. It should also be smoke-free, as exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke increases the risk of SUDI.
If you are considering co-sleeping, it is important to take precautions to ensure your baby's safety. Avoid co-sleeping if you or your partner smoke, use alcohol or drugs, or take any medication that causes heavy sleep. Additionally, if your baby was born pre-term or small for their gestational age, it is recommended to provide them with their own separate sleep space.
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Frequently asked questions
The ideal room temperature for a newborn baby is between 68° and 72°Fahrenheit. This is to prevent the baby from overheating, which is linked to a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
It is recommended that newborn babies wear one additional layer than an adult would wear at night. This could be a base layer like a one-piece sleeper, without any accessories such as socks or hats. Instead of a loose sheet or blanket, use a sleep sack or swaddle.
Swaddling involves wrapping a baby in a thin blanket or a swaddle. It is an effective way to calm a newborn baby and may help them sleep. However, it is important to stop swaddling when the baby starts trying to roll over, as this can be dangerous.
Your newborn baby should always sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib or bassinet. It is important to avoid co-sleeping, as this can be dangerous.
