Miya Pearson
Sleep is a big challenge for new parents, but following safe sleep recommendations can prevent many sleep-related infant fatalities. Newborns sleep around the clock, and because their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula, they wake often to eat. They need plenty of sleep to help them grow and develop. This article will cover how to help your newborn sleep safely and how to settle them when they wake up.
| 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 patterns | Newborns follow their own schedule. Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts. |
| Sleep environment | A safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk of SIDS. The AAP provides recommendations to prevent infant sleep deaths. Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid sleeping on a couch or armchair or in a seating device. Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items out of the sleep space. |
| Bedtime routine | A bedtime routine helps your baby know it's time to go to sleep. This might include a bath, story, and cuddle. |
| Sleep position | The AAP recommends that babies be placed on their backs to sleep. |
| Feeding | Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. |
| Soothing techniques | Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help soothe a crying baby. Rocking, cuddling, and singing can also help your baby settle down. |
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Safe sleeping
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 sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day. During the first few months, newborns invariably wake up multiple times at night. Each baby has a unique sleep pattern, and it's important to understand that your baby's sleep pattern may not align with your own.
- Ensure your baby sleeps in a safe space. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid sleeping on couches or armchairs, or in seating devices like swings or car seats (except when in the car).
- Keep loose items out of the sleep space. Remove loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation and strangulation.
- Breastfeed if possible, and avoid smoking.
- Room-share without bed-sharing. The AAP recommends that babies sleep in the same room as an adult for the first 6 months, but on a separate sleep surface.
- Place your baby on their back to sleep.
- Avoid using products that claim to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), such as sleep positioners or monitors that detect heart rate and breathing. Instead, focus on creating a safe sleep environment, as this is the best way to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Swaddling your baby (wrapping them in a light blanket) can be soothing, but stop swaddling if they start trying to roll over.
- Establish a bedtime routine to help your baby understand it's time to sleep. This might include a bath, story, and cuddles.
- During the day, hold and carry your newborn to help reduce fussiness and encourage better sleep.
- If your baby becomes distressed when you leave the room, try "camping out." Sit or lie down next to the cot where your baby can see you, and pretend to be asleep. Make comforting noises if they wake up or cry.
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Sleep patterns
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. They do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and will wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed. 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.
In the first three months, newborns cry a lot—it is their main way of communicating. They also have their longest periods of crying during this time, which tends to happen in the late afternoon and evening. Crying is often a late sign of hunger in newborns. It is important to feed newborns before they reach the crying phase, as they can become so upset that they may refuse to feed.
Newborns follow their own schedule, and it may take a few weeks for their brains to distinguish between night and day. Over the next few weeks to months, you and your baby will begin to settle into a routine. You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. Providing a dim and quiet environment at night will also help them sleep.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques may be hard to keep up with in the long term, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep. This can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. Newborns and younger infants will often fall asleep while breastfeeding. While it is good to establish a bedtime routine, it is important to avoid letting your baby fall asleep while eating or in your arms, as this may become a pattern.
Babies may not be able to form their own sleeping and waking patterns, especially when it comes to going to sleep. You can help your baby sleep by knowing the signs of sleep readiness, teaching them to fall asleep on their own, and providing a safe and comfortable sleeping environment. After the newborn period, most experts recommend allowing your baby to become sleepy in your arms and then placing them in their bed while they are still awake. This way, your baby learns how to go to sleep on their own. Playing soft music while your baby is getting sleepy is also a good way to help create a bedtime routine.
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Sleep training
Newborns have different sleep patterns compared to older infants and adults. They sleep around the clock, waking every couple of hours to eat—no matter the time of day. The National Sleep Foundation says newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some newborns sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day.
However, this doesn't mean you can't start to build the right sleep foundations. You can help create a safe and comfortable sleep environment to optimise sleep. As your baby gets older and their sleep patterns mature, you can begin to implement strategies to encourage longer stretches of sleep. This is typically from 3 to 6 months of age.
- Don't try to keep your baby awake during the day so that they'll sleep better at night. Overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping at night.
- If your newborn is fussy, it's okay to rock, cuddle, and sing to soothe them.
- Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can also help to soothe a crying baby. Make sure the swaddle is not too loose or too tight.
- Prevent over-tiredness. Tiny babies don't like to be awake for more than an hour or so at a time.
- If your baby is having problems sleeping or you need advice about getting into a routine, speak to your health visitor.
Once your baby is closer to the 3-month mark, you may be able to start implementing the "pick-up/put-down method". This involves placing your baby in the crib while drowsy but still awake. If they start to fuss, wait a moment, then pick them up to console them. After a few minutes, place them back in the crib. Repeat this process until they are asleep. Over time, gradually increase the pause time and reduce the pick-up console time.
Remember, always consult with your pediatrician before implementing any sleep-related strategies with your newborn.
Creating a Safe Sleep Environment for Newborns
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Sleep environment
Creating a safe sleep environment is important to help reduce your baby's risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Here are some tips to create a safe sleep environment for your newborn:
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet.
- Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items away from the sleep space.
- Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products you use are approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
- Avoid using products or devices that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors that detect a baby's heart rate and breathing pattern.
- Do not use weighted blankets, sleepers, or swaddles on or around your newborn.
- Swaddling with a light blanket can help soothe a crying baby. However, once your baby starts trying to roll over, you should stop swaddling.
- Breastfeed if possible, and avoid smoking.
- It is recommended that babies sleep in the same room as an adult for the first 6 months.
In addition to the sleep environment, it is important to establish a bedtime routine to help your baby know that it is time to go to sleep. This might include a bath, story, and cuddle.
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Sleep products
Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 19 hours a day—but they wake up every couple of hours to eat. They don't yet know the difference between night and day, so you'll be getting up at all hours to tend to your baby.
There are a few things you can do to help your newborn sleep. First, make sure they're comfortable: check that they've been fed, changed, and are neither too hot nor too cold. Rocking, cuddling, and singing can help your baby settle down, and swaddling (wrapping your baby in a light blanket) can also be soothing. Just be sure to stop swaddling once they start trying to roll over.
It's important to establish a bedtime routine to help your baby understand when it's time to sleep. This might include a bath, a story, and a cuddle. You can also try 'camping out': sit or lie down next to your baby's cot and pretend to be asleep. Make comforting noises if they wake up or cry, and only leave the room once they're sleeping for long stretches.
It's recommended that babies sleep in a cot or bassinet in the same room as an adult for the first 6 months. The sleep space should have a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, and it should be free of loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, and other soft items. Swaddles and weighted blankets should also be avoided. Make sure that all sleep products have been approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep around the clock and wake up every couple of hours to eat. They need 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18-19 hours a day.
A safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, and other soft items out of the sleep space.
Newborns follow their own schedule, so it's important to establish a routine. A bedtime routine might include a bath, story, and cuddle. You can also try "camping out" by sitting or lying next to the cot until your baby is calm and then slowly moving away.
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, it is recommended to follow safe sleep practices. Avoid using products that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors. Instead, focus on creating a safe sleep environment and always place your baby on their back to sleep.
Tired signs in newborns include frowning, yawning, or jerky movements. It's important to put your baby down to sleep as soon as you notice these signs to help them get the sleep they need.
