Gina Johnson
Sleep is a common concern for new parents. It's natural and common for babies to wake up throughout the night, and there are many reasons why your 5-week-old might not be sleeping. Newborns typically sleep for 16-17 hours per day, but this sleep is often spread out over multiple naps. At 5 weeks, your baby's sleep schedule will likely still be unpredictable, with sleep times and durations varying. Newborns wake up frequently because their stomachs are tiny, and they get hungry soon after feeding. Hunger is a common reason for night wakings, but thirst, illness, and an inability to self-soothe can also be factors. To help your baby sleep, you can try placing them in a small crib on their back, swaddling them, and paying attention to their sleep cues.
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What You'll Learn
Hunger and thirst
Breastfed babies, in particular, may need to fill their tummies at least once or twice during the night when they are 2 to 3 months old. However, waking up every two hours for night feeds is usually unnecessary and may indicate that the baby is not eating enough during the day. If you are concerned about your baby's feeding habits, it is important to talk to your paediatrician about how often your baby should eat overnight.
It is recommended that you feed your baby according to their hunger cues rather than following a rigid clock schedule. Full feedings are important to ensure your baby is getting enough calories during the day, which will help them sleep more at night. If your baby is breastfeeding, they will normally stop on their own when they are full. If they are bottle-feeding, it is easier to overfeed, so be mindful of your baby's cues.
Growth spurts typically happen when babies are about 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old. During these times, your baby may want to feed more frequently and for longer periods, which can impact their sleep patterns.
It is important to distinguish between genuine hunger and the appearance of hunger. Infant behavioural cues can be difficult to interpret, and tiredness or thirst may be mistaken for hunger. For example, a baby may want to breastfeed or bottle-feed when they are not hungry because they want to sleep or be held, as sucking helps them relax. A feeding-sleep association can develop, where a baby learns to link feeding with falling asleep, leading to a higher risk of overfeeding.
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Illness or discomfort
It is common for newborns to wake up multiple times overnight for feeding and comfort. At five weeks, a baby's stomach is still tiny, and they get hungry not long after feeding. These short bursts of sleep and wakefulness are a normal and important part of their growth.
However, if your baby is displaying signs of illness or discomfort, this could be why they are not sleeping. Illness or allergies could be the reason for both you and your baby missing out on much-needed rest. If you suspect this to be the case, it is important to push your doctor to take your concerns seriously.
Infants younger than three months rely on their parents to soothe them back to sleep, as they cannot regulate their emotions. If your baby is displaying signs of discomfort, such as extended periods of crying (colic), it is important to check in with them and ensure their basic needs are met.
If your baby is displaying signs of overtiredness, it is important to take preventative action by paying close attention to their sleep cues and putting them down to sleep as soon as you notice them. If your baby is already overtired, try to calm them down and reduce their stress with an infant sleep aid, such as a gently weighted swaddle.
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Overtiredness
It is normal for a 5-week-old baby to have unpredictable sleep patterns. At this age, they may wake up multiple times for feeds and comfort. They may also have a very late bedtime and their daytime sleep may be chaotic, with sleep spread out over many naps.
If your 5-week-old baby is not sleeping, they may be overtired. Overtiredness can make it hard for babies to fall asleep and stay asleep. Signs of an overtired baby include:
- More yawning and crying
- Fussiness and crankiness
- Difficulty soothing
- Lower frustration or pain threshold
- Catnapping instead of full-blown naps
- Sleeping at random times during the day
- Overactivity
To prevent overtiredness, it is important to notice when your baby is tired and ready to rest. You can do this by observing their natural sleep patterns and keeping track of when they fall asleep each day. You can then start to ease them into a sleep schedule that aligns with their natural patterns. Before 6 months, a baby's sleep schedule won't be strict, but after this age, sticking to a sleep schedule becomes easier.
- Swaddle your baby: This can help them feel snug and secure, and may prevent them from startling themselves awake.
- Hold your baby close: Let them hear your heartbeat.
- Use a pacifier: This can help soothe your baby to sleep.
- Rock your baby: Try rocking them in your arms or in a stroller, but don't overdo it.
- Create a calm environment: Darken the room and play white noise, soft music, or sing to them.
- Avoid overstimulation: Keep your baby away from loud noises and bright lights before sleep.
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Sleep habits and patterns
At five weeks old, a baby's sleep schedule is likely to still be unpredictable. Sleep times and durations will vary, and this is normal. Newborns wake up a lot because their stomachs are tiny, and they get hungry soon after feeding. These short bursts of sleep and wakefulness are a normal part of a baby's growth.
A newborn may be in their sleep space for 9-12 hours overnight, but they won't sleep continuously for that entire time. At five weeks, they'll need to wake multiple times for feeds and comfort. It's not uncommon for a baby to have a very late bedtime at this age. A typical wake window for a five-week-old is around 30-90 minutes. It's normal for awake periods to be shorter in the morning and get slightly longer as the day progresses, but this might not be the case for your child.
Day/night reversal is common, where a baby sleeps well during the day but is awake and busy at night. This is just temporary. You can help them learn that day is for play and night is for rest by keeping them awake a little longer during each waking period during the day. Getting them outside in the natural light can also help reset their internal clock.
Hunger is a common reason for babies to wake during the night. Thirst is another reason. It's not healthy to try to change this need or train your baby to act differently. You can try putting them to sleep in a small crib, which may help them feel snug and secure.
Swaddling your baby at night can help keep their arms and legs still so they don't move and wake themselves up.
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Sleep environment
Sleep Position and Surface
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) safe sleep guidelines, a 5-week-old baby should always be placed on their back on a firm, flat surface to sleep. This position is crucial for safety and should be maintained until the baby can comfortably roll both ways. A small crib can also help your newborn feel snug and secure.
Light and Sound
It is recommended to expose your baby to natural light during the day, especially after feeding, as it helps reset their internal clock. Placing their crib near a window that receives steady, bright light is beneficial. However, at night, it is advisable to keep the lights low or turned off near the sleeping area to promote uninterrupted sleep.
Room Sharing and Soothing
The AAP recommends room-sharing with your baby for at least the first six months. This means sleeping in the same room but not in the same bed. It is essential to create a soothing sleep environment by limiting sound and movement when your baby is asleep. If your baby wakes up, you can reassure them that everything is okay, but it is important to have a plan for such instances.
Overtiredness and Sleep Cues
Preventing overtiredness is crucial for healthy sleep. Pay close attention to your baby's sleep cues and put them down for sleep as soon as you notice them. If your baby is already overtired, try calming them down and reducing their stress with infant sleep aids or techniques like swaddling.
Daytime Sleep and Feeding
Daytime sleep for 5-week-olds can be unpredictable, with sleep spread out over multiple short naps. Instead of focusing on the number of naps or their length, it is recommended to consider the total sleep in a 24-hour period. Frequent feeds, both day and night, are also typical at this age due to their tiny stomachs. As your baby grows, their stomach capacity will increase, leading to longer stretches of sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
It's normal for newborns to have unpredictable sleep patterns. At 5 weeks, your baby will likely need to wake up multiple times for feeds and comfort.
Newborns usually sleep for about 16-17 hours per day. However, this can vary, and some babies may need more or less sleep.
As your baby grows, their stomach capacity increases, and they may start to sleep longer stretches at night. You can also try feeding them more during the day so that they don't need to feed as often at night.
Newborns wake up frequently because their tummies are tiny, and they get hungry soon after feeding. They may also be confused about the time of day or experiencing discomfort such as reflux or colic.
You can try putting your baby to sleep in a small crib, which may help them feel snug and secure. You can also swaddle them to keep their arms and legs still so they don't move and wake themselves up. Getting them outside in natural light during the day can also help reset their internal clock.
