Miya Pearson
Newborns spend a lot of time sleeping, typically racking up 16 to 18 hours a day. However, their sleep behaviour is usually disorganized and does not follow a pattern. This is because newborns have small stomachs and need to wake up every few hours to eat. They also move through sleep cycles, from light sleep to deep sleep, and may awaken as they pass from one stage to another. This can make it difficult for newborns to fall back asleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Newborns' normal sleep behaviour | Typically disorganized and does not follow a pattern |
| Average sleep time per day | 16 to 18 hours |
| Average sleep time during the day | 8 to 9 hours |
| Average sleep time at night | 8 hours |
| REM sleep | 50% of their sleep time |
| Non-REM sleep | 4 stages |
| Non-REM sleep stage 1 | Drowsiness, eyes droop, may open and close, dozing |
| Non-REM sleep stage 2 | Light sleep, the baby moves and may startle or jump with sounds |
| Non-REM sleep stage 3 | Deep sleep, the baby is quiet and does not move |
| Non-REM sleep stage 4 | Very deep sleep, the baby is quiet and does not move |
| Baby's sleep position | On their back is the safest position |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep for 16-18 hours a day
Newborns typically sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day. This sleep is accumulated through a series of naps, with each nap lasting between one and four hours. Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, and it takes a few weeks for their brains to develop an internal 24-hour rhythm. During this time, it is important to keep things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes, and to avoid playing with or talking to your baby. This helps reinforce the idea that nighttime is for sleeping.
Newborns wake up frequently to feed, as their tiny stomachs cannot hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long. They need to be fed every two to four hours, depending on whether they are breastfed or bottle-fed. It is recommended that newborns be awakened to feed every three to four hours until they show good weight gain. After that, it is okay to let them sleep for longer periods at night.
The first few months of a baby's life can be challenging for parents, who may need to get up multiple times during the night to tend to their newborn. It is important to remember that each baby has a different sleep pattern, and there is a wide range of what is considered normal. Some babies may start sleeping through the night by two to three months, while others may take longer.
Newborn sleep is typically disorganized and does not follow a set pattern. It is common for newborns to nap during the day, and research has shown that these naps are beneficial for memory consolidation and brain development. While there are no strict rules for newborn sleep, it is important to prioritize safety and create a calm and soothing environment to help your baby settle and establish a healthy sleep routine.
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REM sleep makes up 50% of newborn sleep
Newborns spend about 50% of their daily sleep time in REM sleep. This is significantly higher than the 20% of sleep that adults spend in the REM stage. Newborns can sleep up to 18 hours per day, meaning they can experience up to 9 hours of REM sleep daily.
REM sleep is an active sleep stage in which a baby's eyes can move underneath their eyelids. Their arms and legs may also twitch or jerk. It is easy to wake a baby during this stage. The other sleep stage experienced by newborns is non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, also known as quiet sleep.
The stimulation of REM sleep is believed to be vital for the growth of the central nervous system. Studies have also shown that REM sleep helps to support both long and short-term memory, as well as overall learning.
As babies grow, their sleep cycles progress and they begin to experience the three stages of NREM sleep, instead of one. They also begin to spend less time in REM sleep, with their sleep cycle becoming more similar to that of adults.
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Newborns may be able to learn while asleep
Newborns spend about 16 to 18 hours a day asleep, and scientists have long wondered if learning occurs during this time. Recent studies have shown that newborns can process some external information while they sleep.
In one study, researchers played a brief musical tone followed by a faint puff of air to the eyelids of sleeping infants. After several repetitions, the researchers played the tone without the puff of air. After some time, most infants scrunched their faces in anticipation of the puff of air, even when it was not administered. This suggests that newborns can learn about relationships between events while asleep.
The researchers also noted that this type of learning is controlled by the cerebellum, a part of the brain implicated in many developmental disorders. This finding could lead to the development of a test to identify infants at risk for developmental disorders that may not be apparent until later in childhood.
Furthermore, the immature nature of sleep patterns in infants, with more active sleep and higher neural plasticity, may make them more amenable to learning during sleep. Newborns' brains have greater neural plasticity, allowing for neural connections to be easily changed and adapted by experiences.
While this study demonstrates the ability of newborns to learn during sleep, it is still unknown whether this quality is unique to infants or if it could also occur in older children and adults.
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Newborns sleep better on their backs
Newborns typically sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day. While they may prefer to sleep on their sides or stomachs, it is recommended that newborns sleep on their backs. This is because sleeping on the back is the safest position for newborns. Sleeping on the back helps to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by reducing the risk of choking and "rebreathing".
The "Back to Sleep" campaign, which began in 1994, has helped to significantly reduce SIDS deaths in the United States. The campaign urges parents to place sleeping infants on their backs, as this position is believed to reduce the risk of choking and improve breathing. While it is important to follow this recommendation, it is not necessary to reposition your baby if they turn over during sleep. Newborns tend to sleep more deeply on their stomachs, which may prevent them from waking up during normal episodes of sleep apnea.
To help your baby get used to sleeping on their back, you can rock them until they are drowsy and then transfer them to their crib on their back. Consistency is key when it comes to sleep routines, so it may take some time and persistence for your newborn to adjust to this position. It is also important to avoid using wedges, blankets, or pillows to keep your baby on their back, as these can pose a risk of entrapment or suffocation.
By following these recommendations, you can help ensure that your newborn sleeps safely and comfortably on their back.
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Newborns sleep in cycles, moving from light to deep sleep
Newborns sleep in short bursts, which are known as sleep cycles. These sleep cycles are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. Sleep plays a major role in a baby's cognitive development, so it is important for parents to understand and promote good sleep. Newborns require up to 18 hours of sleep, broken into multiple short periods.
Newborn sleep cycles fall into two categories: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). Newborns spend roughly equal amounts of time in REM and NREM sleep. REM sleep is often referred to as "active sleep", as newborns can be observed making small movements, such as twitching, smiling, or sucking. They may also move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly during this stage. On the other hand, NREM sleep is called "quiet sleep" because newborns lie relatively still and their breathing becomes more even.
As newborns progress through their sleep cycles, they move from light to deep sleep. The sleep cycle begins with stage 1, which is the lightest stage of sleep, followed by stage 2, then stages 3 and 4 of deep sleep, before returning to stage 3, then stage 2, and finally REM sleep. These cycles may occur several times during sleep. Newborns may awaken as they transition from deep sleep to light sleep and may find it challenging to fall back asleep during the first few months.
When a newborn awakens at the end of a sleep cycle, they typically experience a quiet alert phase. During this phase, the baby is awake and attentive to their surroundings, staring at objects and responding to sounds and motion. This is followed by an active alert phase, where the baby becomes more erratic in their movements and may cry loudly.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, newborns sleep about 16 hours a day.
No, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night.
Yes, it is believed that newborns can learn while asleep.
While rocking or breastfeeding a baby can help them fall asleep, it may become a pattern and the baby may begin to expect the same treatment every time they sleep.
No, experts recommend that newborns are put to sleep on their back as sleeping on their stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
