Colin Snow
Sleep is a common concern for new parents, and it can be a challenge to establish a healthy sleep routine for newborns. Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed and can sleep up to 18 hours a day. As they grow, their sleep patterns change, and they may sleep for longer stretches at night. Establishing a routine, creating a safe sleep environment, and understanding sleep regressions are key steps to helping newborns sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day. |
| Sleep patterns | Newborns follow their own schedule and don't initially have a sense of day and night. They sleep and wake throughout the day and night. |
| Feeding | Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed more frequently (every 2–3 hours) than bottle-fed babies (every 3–4 hours). |
| Safe sleep environment | The sleep surface should be firm, flat, and approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It should be free of toys, pillows, blankets, and other items. |
| Sleep position | Babies should always be placed on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side. |
| Room-sharing | The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months to facilitate feeding, comforting, and monitoring. |
| Temperature | Dress the baby appropriately for the room temperature and avoid overbundling to prevent overheating. |
| Self-soothing | As babies grow older, they may learn to self-soothe and settle back to sleep on their own. |
| Establishing a routine | A good daily pattern is 'feed-play-sleep'. It may take a few weeks for newborns to settle into a routine. |
| Comfort | Rocking, cuddling, and singing can help soothe a fussy baby. Swaddling with a light blanket can also be comforting. |
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What You'll Learn
Safe sleep environment
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every couple of 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.
Room-sharing without bed-sharing
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing. Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib in your bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. This keeps your baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. Bed-sharing, on the other hand, increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.
Sleep surface
Always place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm mattress, not on their stomach or side. The crib should be empty, with no bumper pads, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, or supplies. The crib should have spindles no wider than 2-3/8 inches apart and sides that do not drop down.
Temperature
Keep the sleeping room at a comfortable temperature. Being too hot or too cold can disturb your baby's sleep.
Swaddling
Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help soothe a crying baby. If your baby starts trying to roll over while swaddled, that's a sign to stop swaddling.
Rocking and singing
It's okay to rock, cuddle, and sing to your baby as they settle down.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the risk of SUIDS (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome). You may breastfeed your baby in bed, but remember to put them back in their own separate safe place to sleep when you're finished nursing.
No smoking
Do not let anyone smoke around your baby. SUIDS occurs more often in babies who are exposed to smoke.
Pacifier use
Offering a clean, dry pacifier to your baby at sleep times can help prevent SUIDS. Do not force your baby to use a pacifier, and do not attach it to their clothing or stuffed animals.
Avoid unsafe sleep locations
Babies should not sleep on couches, armchairs, car safety seats (except while riding in the car), or other soft sleep surfaces. These locations can increase the risk of suffocation or SUIDS.
Remember, it's important to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.
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Sleep training techniques
Sleep training is a way to teach your baby to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own without help from their parent or caregiver. It is important to note that newborns cannot establish independent sleep habits and sleep training is not recommended for them. Newborns do not have the ability to self-soothe and will need external help to fall asleep and stay asleep.
However, you can start to build the right sleep foundations by creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment to optimize sleep. You can also practice placing your baby into their sleep space from a slightly awake state every so often. As your baby gets older, you can begin to implement methods to encourage longer stretches of sleep.
Once your baby is older and you are ready to begin sleep training, there are several methods you can use. Here are some general tips and techniques to keep in mind:
- Sleep training is most effective when babies are between 4-6 months old. By this age, they have developed the circadian rhythms that will help them sleep through the night and are able to pick up skills like sleeping independently.
- It is important to discuss sleep training methods with your partner and be sure you are both fully committed to making it work.
- There is no right way to sleep train, but staying consistent and patient are key to success.
- The goal of sleep training is for your baby to be comfortable sleeping for several hours through the night on their own. If they wake up, they will learn to self-soothe and fall back asleep.
- Some sleep training methods include the "pick-up/put-down" method, the gradual method, and the chair approach.
- Remember that every family is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sleep training. It may take a few tries to find a method that works best for you and your baby.
- If you are feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, seek help from your partner, friends, or family. You can also speak to a healthcare professional or sleep consultant for more personalized advice and guidance.
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Sleep patterns
Newborns sleep a lot, and they can form regular sleep patterns after just a few months. On average, newborns sleep for 14 to 17 hours a day, but only in short periods of 2 to 4 hours. Premature babies may sleep longer, while colicky babies may sleep less.
Newborns don't have an internal "clock" that tells them to sleep at night and stay awake during the day. Their sleep patterns are erratic and unpredictable, and they will invariably wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months. They will wake up because they need to be fed, or because they are too hot or too cold.
After the first month, try not to let your baby fall asleep while feeding or rocking them. You want them to figure out how to put themselves to sleep without your help. If your baby is tired, you can try putting them down to sleep before they become overtired, as an exhausted baby will have more trouble falling and staying asleep.
It's good to get your baby used to sleeping through a certain amount of noise. It's a good idea to teach your baby that night-time is different from daytime from the start. When it's dark outside, make everything more low-key. Keep the lights low and your voice soft. They'll soon learn that nighttime isn't exciting, so they might as well sleep.
Babies will develop their own sleep patterns, and it's unlikely to be the same as other babies. It's also unlikely to fit in with your need for sleep. If you're breastfeeding, your baby is likely to doze off for short periods during a feed in the early weeks. Carry on feeding until you think your baby has finished or is fully asleep. This is a good opportunity for you to get some rest.
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Room-sharing
However, room-sharing can also contribute to sleep deprivation for parents, which can have a range of negative consequences for the whole family, including poor bonding with the baby, marital struggles, and anxiety. Research suggests that babies who sleep in their own room from the start may be better sleepers, with more consistent bedtimes and bedtime routines.
There is no exact age for when a baby should move to their own room, and the decision is unique to each baby and family. Some sources suggest that room-sharing for the first several months of a baby's life is beneficial, while others recommend room-sharing for at least six months, and ideally for a year, to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, it's important to weigh the risks and benefits, as room-sharing beyond four months may result in less nighttime sleep and more night wakings for both babies and parents.
If you decide to transition your baby to their own room, it's important to do so gradually and in a way that feels comfortable for you and your baby.
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Soothing techniques
Room-sharing
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months, or ideally until a baby's first birthday. This is when the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is highest. Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of in a separate room. This keeps the baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night.
Swaddling
Swaddling, or wrapping the baby in a light blanket, can help soothe a crying baby. However, if your baby starts trying to roll over, it's a sign that you should stop swaddling.
Rocking and cuddling
If your newborn is fussy, it's okay to rock and cuddle them as they settle down. In fact, newborns who are held or carried during the day tend to have less colic and fussiness.
Singing
Singing can also help soothe a fussy baby as they settle down.
Safe sleep environment
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side. Use a firm, flat sleep surface and 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, 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 their head while they're sleeping.
Feeding
Newborns wake up every couple of hours to feed. If you're breastfeeding, your partner can take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep. Once you're into a good breastfeeding routine, your partner could occasionally give a bottle of expressed breast milk during the night.
Sleep training
Sleep training can help your baby develop good sleep habits. It involves creating positive sleep associations with certain times to help reinforce when it's time to be awake and when it's time to go to bed. If your baby suddenly starts crying in the middle of the night, give them a few minutes to self-soothe before you respond. If they don't stop crying, enter the room to check on them, pat them on the head or tummy, quietly say a reassuring word, and leave.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborn babies sleep around the clock and wake up to feed every few hours. They should get 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, but some newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day.
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side. Use a firm, flat sleep surface and cover the mattress with a sheet that fits snugly. Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet, including plush toys, pillows, blankets, and quilts.
It's important to establish a routine and create positive sleep associations. A good pattern is 'feed-play-sleep'. After a feed and nappy change, your baby will probably be alert and happy, so it's a good time to play with them before putting them down to sleep.
If your baby makes a sound during the night, try to resist the urge to rush in. They might settle back to sleep on their own. If they start crying, go in to comfort them and check that everything is okay.
It may be helpful to room-share without bed-sharing. Keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, and let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night so they learn that it's the place for sleep. Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can also help to soothe a crying baby.
