Newborns' Sleep Patterns: Why They Snooze All Day

Newborns sleep a lot—anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a day—and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, they don't have a sense of day and night yet, so they sleep and wake at irregular intervals. Secondly, they have tiny stomachs that can't hold enough food to keep them full for long, so they need to wake up frequently to eat. Thirdly, they're growing and developing rapidly, and sleep plays a critical role in this process. Their sleep also helps them process new information and prepare to explore their environment in new ways.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles

Newborns don't yet have a sense of day and night and don't produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. They sleep around the clock, waking every couple of hours to feed. Breastfed babies feed more often, about every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3-4 hours.

Newborns sleep for around 8-9 hours during the day and 8 hours at night, though this varies. Some newborns may only sleep for 11 hours a day, while others may sleep for up to 19 hours. They usually sleep for only about 1-2 hours at a time, though this can be longer.

Sleep cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, a newborn may move, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.

As newborns grow into infants, they begin to develop a sleep schedule and start sleeping longer at night, though they may still wake several times to feed. By the age of 6 months, 90% of babies sleep through the night.

Newborns don't have a sense of day and night

Newborns should get 14 to 17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18 or even 19 hours a day.

Newborns typically sleep for only about 1–2 hours at a time, though some may sleep a little more or less than this. In the first couple of weeks, it is normal for a newborn to wake up to feed and then go right back to sleep.

You can help your newborn learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. You can also provide a dim and quiet environment at night.

At around 3 months of age, newborns may start to learn the difference between day and night.

If you are worried that your newborn is sleeping too much or too little, you can try keeping a sleep log to get a better sense of their sleep patterns. If you are still concerned, don't hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician.

Newborns need to be woken to feed

Newborns need to be fed every two to four hours, even if this means waking them from their slumber. This is because their tiny tummies can't hold enough milk to satiate them for long periods, and they need to feed frequently to get the nourishment they need to grow and develop.

Newborn Sleep Patterns

Newborns sleep a lot—around 14 to 18 hours a day in the first weeks, and 12 to 16 hours by the time they're a month old. However, they usually don't stay asleep for more than two to four hours at a time, day or night, during the first few months. Their sleep patterns are erratic, and it's uncommon for them to rest for more than a few hours at a time.

Why Newborns Need to Be Woken to Feed

Newborns have tiny stomachs, and they wake often to feed as their tummies empty quickly. Breast milk is digested easily and quickly, so a breastfed baby will need to feed more frequently than a formula-fed baby. A newborn's nursing schedule can be a grind, but it's essential for their health and growth.

How to Wake a Newborn to Feed

If your baby is sleepy, try these techniques to rouse them at mealtime:

• Feed your baby during active sleep or REM sleep. You'll recognize this when they move their arms and legs, change facial expressions, and flutter their eyelids.
• Undress them or slowly unswaddle them.
• Change their diaper while singing a song or stroking their hands and feet.
• Hold your baby upright, which usually causes newborns to open their eyes.
• Dim the lights.
• Talk, sing, and make eye contact with your baby.
• Massage your baby's hands, feet, arms, back, and shoulders.
• Place a cool washcloth on their forehead.

How Long to Feed at Night

Once your baby wakes up and latches on, ensure their nursing sessions last long enough to empty at least one breast. This helps ensure they get the fat-rich hind milk essential for growth. Some babies take 20 minutes or longer to empty one breast, while others can do it in 10.

Keeping Newborns Awake During Feedings

Suckling can make your baby sleepy, so make sure they don't nod off mid-feeding. Look for the rhythmic suck-swallow-breath pattern to check if they're still feeding. If they doze off, try rousing them by burping and repositioning them, or dribbling some milk on their lips.

Once your newborn's weight gain pattern is established, your paediatrician will likely advise you to wait for overnight feedings until they wake up. This usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After this, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night.

Newborns sleep a lot due to growth and development

Newborns sleep a lot—generally between 14 and 18 hours a day—because they are growing and developing at a rapid pace. In their first year, babies will typically triple their birth weight and reach several developmental milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing, eating solid food, learning social skills, and perhaps even walking and talking. Sleep plays a critical role in fuelling this growth and development.

Newborns also sleep a lot because they are still learning to differentiate between day and night. They do not yet produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep, and they have not yet developed a circadian rhythm. As a result, newborns might sleep for longer stretches during the day and stay awake for longer periods at night.

In addition, newborns have tiny stomachs, so they need to wake up frequently to feed. They might sleep for only one to four hours at a time, day or night, during the first few months of life. As they grow older, they will start to sleep for longer stretches at night.

Newborns sleep for longer during the day

Newborns sleep a lot—up to 14 to 18 hours a day in their first weeks—and it's normal for them to sleep almost constantly, waking only to eat and then falling back asleep. Newborns don't yet have a sense of day and night, so they sleep whenever they feel sleepy, which is often during the day. They also have days and nights reversed, so they sleep for longer stretches during the daytime, saving their more alert periods for nighttime.

Newborns sleep in short bursts, with sleep cycles of around 20 to 50 minutes. They wake frequently during the night, often because they need to be fed or changed. They also need to eat every 2 to 4 hours, so they wake up frequently to eat, even during the night.

Newborns' sleep is critical to their rapid growth and development. Their brains are working hard while they sleep, and all that rest fuels the big changes they're going through. Sleep helps promote learning and plays a role in memory consolidation, sensory processing, and preparing babies to explore their environments in new ways.

Newborns also need a lot of sleep because they're going through growth spurts and developmental leaps. Their bodies need rest to fuel the physical and mental changes they're experiencing.

It's important to note that while it's normal for newborns to sleep a lot during the day, they should also be waking up to feed regularly. If a newborn is sleeping through feedings or sleeping for longer than 19 hours per day, it could be a sign that something is wrong, especially if they're ill or having feeding difficulties. In such cases, it's important to consult a pediatrician.

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