Miya Pearson
Newborns tend to sleep a lot—anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a day in the first few weeks of their lives. This is because they grow and develop incredibly fast in their first year, and sleep helps promote learning and memory consolidation. However, some newborns sleep more than others. While this is usually not a cause for concern, it can sometimes be due to underlying health issues. For instance, newborns with jaundice tend to sleep more than usual. Additionally, newborns who sleep too much may not be getting enough to eat, which can interfere with their weight gain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average sleep hours for newborns | 12-18 hours a day |
| Sleep hours for newborns in the first few weeks | 14-18 hours a day |
| Sleep hours for newborns by the time they're a month old | 12-16 hours a day |
| Maximum sleep hours for newborns | 18-19 hours a day |
| Minimum feeding frequency for newborns | Every 2-4 hours |
| Breastfed newborns feeding frequency | Every 2 hours |
| Bottle-fed newborns feeding frequency | Every 3-4 hours |
| Reasons for newborns sleeping more than usual | Growth spurt, minor illness, recent vaccination, jaundice, serious infection, underlying medical condition |
| Newborns' sleep and weight gain | Newborns might sleep more than usual at the expense of getting up to eat, which can interfere with weight gain |
| Newborns' sleep and development | Sleep helps newborns' physical and mental development, learning, memory consolidation, and sensory processing |
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What You'll Learn
Newborns don't know the difference between day and night
Newborns are adjusting to life outside the dark, noisy womb, and it can take a while for them to settle into their regular sleep patterns. This can lead to day and night confusion, when a baby sleeps when they’re supposed to be awake and stays up all night instead. Not every baby experiences this, but it can be one of the most challenging parts of having a newborn baby.
There are some strategies to help your newborn learn the difference between day and night. Light and darkness are the perfect visual cues for your newborn that day is for playing and night is for sleeping. Using natural daylight and lights in your home stimulates your baby’s brain. During the day, open the curtains and switch on lamps to help your baby stay awake. At night, dim the lights to signal that it's time to wind down and get ready for sleep.
Establishing a calm and relaxing bedtime routine will also help your newborn learn the difference between day and night. A bedtime routine could include a bath, dimming the lights, reducing noise, a feed, a massage, a diaper change, and a bedtime song. The routine should end with placing your baby into their bassinet for bedtime. This will signal to your baby that it is time to sleep.
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They sleep a lot because they're learning and growing
Newborns tend to sleep a lot, and this is considered normal. In the first few weeks of a newborn's life, they will likely sleep for up to 18–19 hours a day, although the range is usually between 12 and 18 hours. This is because they are learning and growing.
Babies grow incredibly fast in their first year of life, and sleep is an important part of their physical and mental development. During this time, they will learn to roll over, sit up, crawl, stand, eat solid food, learn social skills, and maybe even walk and say words. Sleep helps to promote learning, memory consolidation, and sensory processing, all of which help prepare babies to explore their environments in new ways.
Growth spurts, which are common during a baby's first year, especially in the newborn stage, can also lead to more sleep. These growth spurts require more rest to help fuel the body's changes. Babies tend to go through their first growth spurt between 2 and 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks.
It is important to note that newborns should not go longer than 4–5 hours without food. If a newborn is sleeping through feedings and is not gaining weight, this may be a cause for concern. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician or a health professional.
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Growth spurts and developmental leaps
Newborns tend to sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 18 hours a day in their first few weeks, and 12 to 16 hours by the time they're a month old. This is because they grow and develop at an incredibly fast rate in their first year of life.
Growth spurts are common during a baby's first year of life, especially during the newborn stage. Babies tend to go through their first growth spurt between 2 and 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks. These growth spurts may lead to unexpected additional napping and an increase in total sleep duration. They require more rest to help fuel the body's changes. During these growth spurts, you may notice your baby sleeping more than usual.
Babies triple their birth weight by the time they are a year old. In their first year, they learn to roll over, sit up, crawl, stand, eat solid food, learn social skills, and maybe even walk and say words. Sleep is an important part of this physical and mental development. It helps promote learning, memory consolidation, and sensory processing, preparing babies to explore their environments in new ways.
If you find that your baby is sleeping more than 19 hours a day, isn't waking for feedings, or is unusually drowsy, contact your child's health professional.
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Minor illnesses and vaccinations
Newborns tend to sleep a lot—anywhere from 14 to 18 hours a day, waking up only for short breaks to eat and have a diaper change. In the first few weeks of a baby's life, it's normal for them to do little besides eat and sleep. During this time, newborns sleep for long stretches during the day and stay awake for longer periods at night.
Newborns may sleep more than usual due to minor illnesses like a cold. Babies need rest to recover from illness, just like adults. After vaccinations, newborns may also sleep more as their bodies work on building immunity. This is a normal reaction that may last up to 48 hours. However, if you notice any signs of concern, such as redness at the injection site, contact your child's doctor.
Newborns may experience disrupted sleep due to increased hunger associated with growth spurts. During these periods, it's important to ensure they're getting enough calories and staying awake long enough to eat. If your newborn is sleeping too much and inhibiting their eating and weight gain, consult a healthcare professional.
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Underlying health conditions
Newborns typically sleep between 14 and 18 hours a day during their first few weeks, and 12 to 16 hours by the time they are a month old. However, some newborns may sleep for up to 19 hours per day, while others may sleep for as little as 11 hours.
It is common for newborns to sleep in short bursts of about 1-2 hours at a time, and they usually wake up every 2-4 hours to feed. However, some newborns may sleep for longer stretches and need to be awakened to feed.
If a newborn is sleeping too much, it could be due to an underlying health condition. Here are some possible reasons:
- Minor illnesses, such as a cold, can cause newborns to sleep more than usual as they need the extra rest to recover.
- In rare cases, a newborn may have a more serious infection or medical condition that affects their sleep. For example, breathing and heart disorders can impact sleep patterns.
- Jaundice, a condition that causes a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes, is associated with increased sleepiness in infants.
- Premature babies often have different sleep patterns compared to full-term infants.
- In some cases, a newborn may have inhaled, touched, or ingested something toxic, which could affect their sleep patterns.
If you are concerned about your newborn's sleep habits, it is important to consult a pediatrician or a healthcare professional. They can provide advice and guidance based on your baby's individual needs and development. Keeping a sleep log can also help you understand your newborn's sleep patterns and identify any potential issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns generally sleep anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a day, with some sleeping up to 19 hours. It's normal for newborns to sleep a lot as they grow and develop, and it's usually not a cause for concern. However, if a newborn is sleeping more than 20 hours a day, it may indicate an underlying health condition, and a doctor should be consulted.
There are several reasons why a newborn may sleep more than usual, including:
- Growth spurts or developmental leaps: Babies go through rapid growth and development in their first year, which requires more rest.
- Minor illness: Babies need extra rest to recover from illnesses like a cold.
- Recent vaccination: Vaccinations can cause babies to sleep more as their bodies build immunity.
- Jaundice: Jaundice is common in newborns, especially those born prematurely, and can cause increased sleepiness.
If a newborn is sleeping through feedings or isn't gaining weight appropriately, it may be a sign that they are sleeping too much. It's important to monitor their growth and development and consult a pediatrician if concerned.
If you're concerned that your newborn is sleeping too much, you can try limiting individual naps to no more than 2 hours each during the day. This will help ensure they don't miss feedings and get enough awake time to establish healthy sleep and feeding rhythms. You can also consult a pediatrician or lactation consultant for guidance tailored to your baby's needs.
