Herbie Murray
Newborns sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, and wake up every few hours to feed. They need 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. However, every baby is different, and there is a lot of variation in how much babies sleep. Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, so they sleep around the clock. They will gradually settle into a routine over the next few weeks or months. To help your baby develop an internal clock, keep them in bright or sunny spaces during the day and remove bright lights at night. It's also important to create a safe sleep environment for your baby, free from hazards and with a firm, flat sleep surface.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration | 11-17 hours a day in the first year, including naps |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes long |
| Sleep patterns | No set pattern in the first few months; newborns sleep in short bursts or for long periods |
| Sleep environment | Firm, flat surface with a snugly fitting sheet; no toys, pillows, blankets, or bumpers in the crib or bassinet; room temperature maintained at 68-72°F (20-22°C); avoid secondhand smoke |
| Bedtime routine | Bathing, reading, singing, soft music |
| Self-soothing | Newborns may not know how to put themselves to sleep; swaddling, rocking, or holding may help |
| Room-sharing | Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for at least the first 6 months to 1 year; separate sleep surfaces are safer |
| Feeding | Breastfed babies: every 2-3 hours; Bottle-fed babies: every 3-4 hours |
| Overtiredness | Keeping a baby up longer doesn't help them sleep better; they become overtired and struggle to fall asleep |
| Circadian rhythm | Develop a sense of day and night by keeping the environment bright during the day and removing bright lights at night |
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What You'll Learn
Newborn sleep cycles and patterns
Newborns sleep in bursts, ranging from 30 minutes to three hours, with awake periods of two hours in between. They require up to 18 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, sleeping in multiple short periods. Newborns don't have a sense of day and night and will sleep and wake up to eat throughout the day and night.
Newborns follow their own sleep schedule and patterns, and it may take a few weeks for their brains to distinguish between night and day. During this time, it's important to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, keeping the lights low and avoiding the urge to play or talk with your baby. This helps reinforce that nighttime is for sleeping.
Newborns and young infants often fall asleep while breastfeeding, and it's common for parents to rock their babies to sleep. However, this can become a pattern, and your baby may start to expect to be in your arms to fall asleep. Experts recommend that after the newborn period, you allow your baby to become sleepy in your arms and then place them in their bed while they're still awake. This helps them learn to fall asleep independently.
In terms of sleep cycles, newborns' sleep is split nearly evenly between REM and NREM sleep stages. As they grow, they progress through sleep cycles, spending less time in REM sleep and more time in the three stages of NREM sleep. By five years old, their sleep architecture begins to mirror that of adults.
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Safe sleep practices
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking up every couple of hours to feed. They sleep for about 30 minutes to three hours at a time, with awake periods of two hours in between. Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, with some sleeping up to 18–19 hours a day.
- Room-sharing is safe, but bed-sharing is not. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.
- 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, 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. Keep your baby's face uncovered at all times.
- 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.
- Be cautious when swaddling your baby. Make sure they are on their back and the swaddle is not too tight. Stop swaddling when they look like they’re trying to roll over.
- Use a safe sleep surface that meets the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
- Keep your baby in bright or sunny spaces during the day and remove bright lights at night to help them develop an internal clock (circadian rhythm).
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How to establish a sleep routine
Newborns sleep for around 14 to 17 hours a day in their first year, but this is usually spread out into smaller chunks throughout the day and night. During the first few months, newborns wake up frequently to feed, as they have tiny stomachs that don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them full for long. They sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long.
- Keep things calm and quiet during nighttime feedings and diaper changes: Keep the lights low and avoid playing or talking with your baby. This will help your baby understand that nighttime is for sleeping.
- Create a bedtime routine: Develop a familiar and relaxing bedtime routine for your baby. This could include bathing, reading, and singing, which can soothe your baby and signal the end of the day.
- Avoid rocking your baby to sleep: While it may be tempting to rock your baby to sleep, this may become a pattern that your baby expects. Instead, try putting your baby in a crib or bassinet while they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them learn to fall asleep on their own.
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface: Ensure the mattress is covered with a snug-fitting sheet, and remove any plush toys, pillows, blankets, or other items from the crib or bassinet.
- Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature: Avoid overdressing or overbundling your baby, as this can lead to overheating. Do not cover your baby's head while they are sleeping.
- Keep your baby away from secondhand smoke: Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Offer a pacifier at sleep time: However, if your baby is breastfeeding, wait until it is firmly established before introducing a pacifier.
- Be consistent: Consistency is key in establishing a sleep routine. Your baby will soon associate the bedtime routine steps with sleeping.
- Help your baby develop an internal clock: Expose your baby to bright or sunny spaces during the day and reduce bright lights at night.
- Room-sharing is recommended over bed-sharing: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, especially during the first six months when the risk of SIDS is highest.
- Swaddling: Wrapping your newborn snugly in a blanket can make them feel safe and help them fall asleep. However, do not swaddle if your baby is two months or older or if they can roll over on their own, as this may increase the risk of SIDS.
- Prioritize feeding needs: In the early weeks, focus on establishing a feeding routine and creating positive sleep associations.
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Sleep environment
Newborns sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. They need to wake up every few hours to feed, as their tiny stomachs do not hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them full for long. In the first few months, newborn babies invariably wake up multiple times during the night.
It is important to create a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your newborn. Here are some tips to consider:
- Room-sharing: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, especially for the first six months or until the baby's first birthday. Room-sharing involves placing the baby's crib or bassinet in your bedroom instead of a separate room. This arrangement facilitates feeding, comforting, and monitoring during the night. While room-sharing is considered safe, bed-sharing is not recommended as it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related hazards.
- Sleep surface and products: Ensure that all sleep surfaces and products, such as cribs, bassinets, or mattresses, meet federal safety standards and are approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Use a firm, flat sleep surface with a snug-fitting sheet. Avoid placing any soft objects, such as plush toys, pillows, blankets, or quilts, in the crib or bassinet to prevent the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
- Temperature regulation: Dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature to avoid overheating. Do not overbundle or cover the baby's head while sleeping. Keep the room temperature comfortable, typically between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius).
- Smoking hazards: Keep your baby away from smokers and environments with secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke is a significant risk factor for SIDS.
- Pacifiers: Offer a pacifier to your baby at sleep time, but do not force it if they are not receptive. If the pacifier falls out during sleep, there is no need to replace it.
- Hazardous objects: Keep hazardous objects with cords, ties, ribbons, sharp edges, or corners away from the baby's sleep area. These objects pose a risk of entanglement or injury.
- Swaddling: Swaddling, or wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket, can help them feel safe and facilitate sleep. However, it is important to discontinue swaddling once your baby is two months old or can roll over independently. Swaddling beyond this stage may increase the risk of SIDS if the baby rolls onto their stomach while restricted.
- Establishing a routine: Creating a bedtime routine can help soothe and relax your baby. Activities like bathing, reading, and singing can signal the end of the day and prepare your baby for sleep. Consistency is key, as your baby will soon associate these steps with sleeping.
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How to help your newborn sleep
Newborns sleep for around 11 to 17 hours a day in their first year, but this is usually spread out into smaller chunks throughout the day and night. During the first few months, newborns invariably wake up repeatedly in the night. This is because their tiny stomachs cannot hold enough milk to keep them full for long. They also have no sense of day and night, so they sleep and eat whenever they need to.
Create a soothing environment
Swaddle your baby to keep their limbs feeling cosy and offer them things to suck on, like a pacifier. You can also use white noise when putting your baby to sleep, such as radio static or a white noise app on your phone. Rocking your baby can also help them fall asleep.
Bond with your baby
The first week of life is a big bonding moment for you and your baby. Hold your baby and get some skin-to-skin time. This will help your baby adjust to being out in the world.
Develop an internal clock
Help your baby develop an internal clock (a circadian rhythm) by keeping them in bright or sunny spaces during the day and removing bright lights at night. Keep the mood calm and quiet during nighttime feedings so your baby learns that nighttime is for sleep, not activities.
Establish a routine
Although your baby's sleep schedule will change as they grow, you can start to establish a mini routine from the beginning. For example, you could pick one daily activity, like a diaper change, and follow the same steps each time.
Be prepared for growth spurts
Remember that your baby's sleep may be disrupted by growth spurts, teething, and illnesses. If you're struggling, ask your partner or a friend or relative to help with feedings or other tasks so you can get some sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep for a total of 14 to 17 hours over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. This is made up of short bursts of sleep, ranging from 20 to 50 minutes to three hours, with awake periods in between.
Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, so it's important to teach your baby that night-time is different from daytime. 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.
Most babies start sleeping through the night by 6 months of age, but this can vary. After the newborn period, experts recommend allowing your baby to become sleepy in your arms, then placing them in their bed while they're still awake, so they learn how to fall asleep on their own.
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat surface, and make sure all sleep products meet federal safety standards. Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib or bassinet to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
