Gina Johnson
Sleep is crucial for a baby's growth and development. Newborns sleep in short bursts, usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, and their sleep patterns are mostly affected by their need to be fed. They will wake up when they are hungry, and this can be as often as every one to three hours. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep. Newborns also have different sleep stages to older babies and adults, and they spend more time in REM sleep, which is when dreams occur and the eyes move rapidly. Understanding newborn sleep patterns is relevant because it helps parents and caregivers establish a routine, identify any potential health issues, and ensure the baby is getting enough rest to support their growth and development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hours of sleep | 11-19 hours in a 24-hour day |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes long |
| Sleep stages | REM and non-REM |
| Sleep patterns | Change over the first year of a baby's life |
| Sleep onset | Through active sleep, close to 50% of total sleep time |
| Sleep interventions | Pacifiers, feeding routines, establishing a routine, safe sleeping environment |
| Sleep and development | Studies show correlations with temperament, hyperactivity, attention span, and cognitive and behavioural deficits |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep patterns can help predict a newborn's temperament and behaviour
Newborns sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. In the first 3 months of life, newborns cry a lot – it is their main way of communicating. They also have their longest periods of crying during this time. Newborns and young infants have small stomachs and must wake every few hours to eat. In most cases, a baby will awaken and be ready to feed about every 3 hours.
Sleep characteristics during the immediate newborn period have been used as predictors for later temperament. For example, Novosad et al. reported that various measures of sleep on days 1 and 2 of life had significant correlations with temperament at 8 months of age.
Sleep-wake behaviours and temperament were examined longitudinally for trait stability and their relationship to behavioural state regulation from infancy to early childhood. From early infancy to toddlerhood, sleep-wake behaviours and irritable temperament were notably stable but independent in this cohort.
Individual differences in temperamental style and sleep-wake inclination are evident from infancy. However, the interaction of these constructs was not found in any of the models that were tested, and therefore, a temperament-sleep association could not be confirmed in this sample for these ages.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques may be hard to keep doing long-term, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep. These can create a negative sleep association for your newborn, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep.
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Sleep is important for a baby's growth and development
Sleep is of paramount importance to a baby's growth and development. In the first year of life, sleep plays a crucial role in the dynamic process of cognitive and physical growth. This is because adequate sleep helps in memory consolidation, language development, and the strengthening of brain functions.
During sleep, an essential layer of fat called myelin forms around nerve fibers, and connections between the left and right brain hemispheres are enhanced. These developments aid in the maturation of brain functions, influencing critical abilities such as attention, impulse control, and executive functions. Sleep also has a direct impact on a child's ability to learn and may influence developmental and mood disorders.
Additionally, sleep is vital for the release of human growth hormones (HGH) in babies. When babies sleep, especially during slow-wave or deep sleep, their bodies secrete HGH, which promotes growth. This is particularly important given the rapid growth that occurs in the first year of life, with babies growing about 1 inch per month in the first 6 months and about half an inch per month until their first birthday.
The importance of sleep for a baby's growth and development is further emphasized by the link between sleep deprivation and adverse health outcomes. Studies have shown that insufficient sleep can negatively impact glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and appetite-regulating hormones, increasing the risk of overweight, obesity, and measures of adiposity in infants and young children.
Furthermore, sleep plays a role in a baby's immune system. When a baby is unwell, their body produces cytokines, some of which promote sleep. This, in turn, helps generate more infection-fighting cytokines, aiding in recovery. Therefore, adequate sleep supports the immune system in fighting off illnesses and maintaining overall health.
In summary, sleep is essential for a baby's growth and development, impacting brain function, physical growth, immune system strength, and overall health. Understanding the significance of sleep for babies helps caregivers prioritize sleep routines and create positive sleep associations to support their little one's well-being.
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Sleep patterns can help identify health issues
During active sleep, the 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. It is normal for newborns to wake up multiple times throughout the night, as they have not fully developed a strong circadian rhythm that makes them tired at night instead of during the day. However, if a baby has been sleeping consistently and suddenly starts waking up, there may be a health issue, such as an ear infection.
Sleep characteristics during the immediate newborn period have been used as predictors for later temperament. For example, various measures of sleep on days 1 and 2 of life have shown significant correlations with temperament at 8 months of age. Additionally, studies in older children have linked sleep patterns to hyperactivity, shortened attention span, and cognitive and behavioural deficits. Therefore, assessing newborn sleep patterns can help identify potential health and developmental issues early on and allow for early intervention.
It is important to establish a consistent bedtime routine and a healthy circadian rhythm for newborns. This can be done by making sure they get plenty of daylight and stimulation during the day and by feeding them before they reach the crying phase. Recognising signs of sleep readiness and providing a comfortable and safe sleep environment are also crucial. While it is normal for newborns to wake up multiple times during the night, parents should not hesitate to talk to their paediatrician if they have concerns about their baby's sleep patterns.
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Sleep patterns are linked to feeding needs
Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they do not have established sleep-wake rhythms and sleep in short bursts, known as sleep cycles, which are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long. Newborns and young infants have small stomachs and must wake every few hours to be fed. In most cases, a baby will wake up and be ready to eat about every three hours. Breastfed babies may need to be fed every two hours, while formula-fed babies may go for three hours between feedings.
It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques may be challenging to maintain in the long term, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep. These can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. Using a sleep routine that prioritises your newborn’s feeding needs, rather than trying to establish a strict sleeping routine is important.
It is usually best to feed babies before they reach the crying phase. During the crying phase, they can be so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle. In newborns, crying is a late sign of hunger. Babies may not be able to establish their own sleeping and waking patterns, especially when going to sleep. You can help your baby sleep by recognising signs of sleep readiness, teaching them to fall asleep on their own, and providing a safe and comfortable sleep environment.
Sleep cycles consist of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, the 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. It is normal for newborns to wake between sleep cycles. As they get older, they will learn to settle themselves and fall back to sleep. A newborn’s ability to settle themselves between sleep cycles is called self-settling.
Babies, like adults, have various stages and depths of sleep. There are two types of sleep: REM (rapid eye movement sleep) and non-REM sleep. REM sleep is a light sleep when dreams occur and the eyes move rapidly back and forth. Although babies spend about 16 hours a day sleeping, about half of this is in REM sleep. Non-REM sleep has four stages: drowsiness, light sleep, deep sleep, and very deep sleep.
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Sleep patterns can be affected by the environment
Newborns are usually the most unsettled during their first three months, with the longest periods of crying during this time. A lot of this crying and fussing tend to happen in the late afternoon and evening. It is important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques may be challenging to maintain in the long term, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep. These can create a negative sleep association for your newborn, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep.
To help your baby sleep, you can recognize signs of sleep readiness, teach them to fall asleep on their own, and provide a safe and comfortable sleep environment. However, not all babies know how to put themselves to sleep. Many parents want to rock or breastfeed their baby to sleep. While establishing a bedtime routine is a good idea, it is important to ensure that the baby does not fall asleep while eating or in your arms, as this may become a pattern that the baby expects.
The environment can play a crucial role in helping newborns establish a healthy sleep-wake cycle. Newborns typically experience day-night reversal due to immature circadian sleep-wake systems, causing them to sleep long stretches during the day and then be awake between sleep cycles at night. To address this, caregivers can keep the environment bright and active during the day and calm and dark at night. Capping individual naps at 2 hours can also help ensure the newborn gets adequate nutrition during the day, reducing night wakes due to hunger.
Additionally, the use of sleep aids like white noise at night can help newborns establish more desirable sleep patterns. It is also recommended that parents room-share but not bed-share with their infants. Creating a safe sleep environment is crucial, and substances such as drugs or alcohol that may impair parents' ability to awaken can increase the risk of SIDS and suffocation with bed-sharing.
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Frequently asked questions
Understanding newborn sleep patterns helps parents and caregivers create a sleep routine that prioritises the newborn's feeding needs and helps them sleep better.
Newborns require up to 18 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. This sleep is broken into multiple short periods, typically ranging from 11 to 19 hours a day.
Researchers have identified two primary stages of newborn sleep: REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep, or \"active sleep," and non-REM sleep, or "quiet sleep." Newborns spend roughly equal amounts of time in these two stages.
Newborn sleep cycles are usually around 20 to 50 minutes long, with babies waking between cycles.
Newborn sleep patterns evolve during the first year. From 3 to 12 months, babies gradually sleep for longer periods at night and shorter periods during the day, approximating an "adult" sleep schedule.
