
Newborns spend most of their time asleep, but in short bursts of 2-4 hours each, accumulating to 12-18 hours in a 24-hour period. They do not know the difference between day and night and are often awake at night due to hunger. Newborns are typically awake for 1-3 hours at a time and may start sleeping for longer stretches of 6-8 hours at around 3-4 months old.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Total sleep time | 12-20 hours a day |
Sleep cycle length | 20-50 minutes |
Time between feeds | 2-4 hours |
Time between sleeps | 1-3 hours |
Time to learn day/night rhythm | Around 3 months |
What You'll Learn
Newborns sleep 12-16 hours in 24 hours
Newborns sleep a lot—generally anywhere from 12 to 16 hours in a 24-hour period. However, these hours are not consecutive and may not occur at night. Newborns don't know the difference between day and night, and their sleep patterns can be unpredictable. They sleep in short bursts, usually around 2 to 4-hour intervals, and wake up to feed every couple of hours. This is because they have tiny stomachs that can't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long.
Newborns typically sleep in two different kinds of sleep cycles: active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, newborns move around a lot, make noises, and can be woken easily. During quiet sleep, they are still, and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake during this type of sleep. Each sleep cycle is around 40 minutes long, and newborns usually wake up for a little while at the end of each cycle.
In the first few months, newborns usually wake up several times a night to feed. They may start sleeping for longer stretches of 4 to 5 hours at around 3 months old, but this can vary, and some babies don't sleep through the night until closer to 1 year. It's important to feed your newborn on a regular schedule, even through the night, as the newborn stage is crucial for growth and development.
To help your newborn sleep more at night, expose them to light and play with them gently during the day. Provide a dim and quiet environment at night to signal that it's time for sleep. It may take a few weeks for your baby's brain to learn the difference between night and day, but you can help them settle into a routine by keeping things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes.
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They wake up every few hours to feed
Newborns have small stomachs, so they wake up every few hours to be fed. They sleep for 14 to 17 hours in every 24 hours, but this is usually in short bursts of 2 to 3 hours each. Some newborns sleep for up to 4 hours at a time, while others sleep for 30 minutes to an hour, and up to 3 to 4-hour stretches. They stay awake only 1 to 3 hours at a time.
Newborns don't know the difference between day and night, and their sleep is more likely to be influenced by hunger. They also don't have established sleep-wake rhythms, so they wake up frequently during the night to be fed or changed.
In the first month, newborns will be awake for 1 to 2 hours, then sleep for 2 or 4 hours. From 1 to 3 months, they might start waking less often and having longer periods of sleep at night. By the time a baby is around 3 months old, they might regularly be having longer sleep at night, for example, around 4 to 5 hours. However, you can expect that they will still wake at least once each night. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) until at least 3 months of age, but this can vary.
It's important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep, can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. It's recommended to put your baby down to sleep when they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them fall asleep independently.
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They don't know the difference between day and night
Newborns don't know the difference between day and night because they have just been born into the world and are still adjusting to life outside the womb. The parts of their brains that control day-night sleep cycles haven't matured yet, so they don't know that people sleep at night.
Newborns are used to the dark, noisy, and cushiony environment of the womb, where they were rocked to sleep during the day by their mother's movements, and were more active at night when their mother was still and quiet. As a result, newborns often continue this cycle in the early weeks and months of their life, sleeping during the day and staying awake at night.
Newborns also have tiny stomachs that can only hold small amounts of breast milk or formula, so they need to wake up frequently to feed, both day and night. This can further contribute to their confusion between day and night.
It can take a few weeks to a few months for a newborn's brain to develop and for them to start recognising the difference between night and day. During this time, there are some steps you can take to help your baby develop a healthy sleep schedule:
- Expose your baby to sunlight or natural light during the day when they are awake. This will help them associate light with being awake and active.
- Encourage longer stretches of sleep at night by limiting daytime naps to two hours at a time. This will help your baby understand that longer sleep stretches are associated with nighttime.
- Pay attention to your baby's sleep cues and feed them regularly, especially in the first few weeks until they regain their birth weight.
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine, such as a warm bath, feeding, reading a book, or singing a song before placing them in their crib.
- Keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, and avoid playing with or talking to your baby too much. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
- Place your baby in their crib when they are drowsy but still awake, so they learn to fall asleep on their own and associate the crib with sleep.
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Newborns sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours
Newborns sleep for an average of 16 hours a day, but this can range from 12 to 20 hours. However, this sleep is usually broken up into short bursts of 2-4 hours at a time. This is because newborns have tiny tummies and need to wake up regularly to be fed. They also don't know the difference between day and night and have not yet developed a set sleep pattern.
During the first day of life, most babies are alert for about an hour and then fall into a deep sleep for 12 to 18 hours. After this, they will usually be awake for 1-2 hours and then sleep for 2-4 hours. This pattern will dominate the baby's life for the first month.
Newborns have two different kinds of sleep: active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, newborns move around a lot and make noises. They can be woken easily during this type of sleep. During quiet sleep, newborns are still and their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake during quiet sleep. Each newborn sleep cycle consists of both active and quiet sleep and takes about 40 minutes.
At the end of each cycle, newborns will usually wake up for a little while. They might grizzle or cry, and may need help settling for the next sleep cycle. Newborns also go through a stage of increased crying from about two weeks to three to four months of age, with crying peaking at around six to eight weeks.
It's important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. For example, holding your baby until they fall asleep can create a negative sleep association, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep. Instead, it's recommended to put your baby down to sleep when they are drowsy but still awake, so they can learn to fall asleep on their own. Exposing your newborn to light and noise during the daytime and keeping things quiet and dim at night can also help them to sleep more at night.
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They stay awake for 1-2 hours between sleeps
Newborns generally sleep for 12 to 18 hours in a 24-hour period. However, they do not know the difference between day and night, and their sleep is dictated by their need for regular feeding. As such, they sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours, waking frequently to feed.
Newborns stay awake for 1-2 hours between sleeps. During this time, they may be alert and active, taking in their surroundings and responding to sights and sounds. This is a great time for some quiet play, such as cuddling, watching your face, listening to you talk or sing, or stretching out on a blanket. After 10-20 minutes of play, they may become tired and ready for their next sleep.
It's important to recognise the signs that your newborn is becoming sleepy. They may start fussing or grizzling, become less responsive to distractions, and exhibit jerky arm or leg movements. When you notice these signs, it's best to avoid loud talking or playing, as this may encourage them to stay awake. Instead, you can try calming techniques such as swaddling or creating a quiet and dim environment to help them settle for their next sleep cycle.
While it can be challenging, it's recommended that you try to sleep when your baby sleeps. Keeping your newborn awake during the day will not help them sleep better at night. Instead, an overtired baby will find it more difficult to fall asleep.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep for 12 to 18 hours in a 24-hour period. They sleep in short bursts of 2-4 hours, waking up regularly to be fed.
It can take a few months for a newborn to develop a day-to-night sleep pattern. They don't know the difference between day and night, so their sleep is more likely to be influenced by hunger.
Most babies start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) at around 3 months old. However, this can vary, and some babies don't sleep through the night until they are closer to 1 year old.
Newborns are usually awake for 1 to 3 hours at a time. They may stay awake long enough for a short play after feeding, or they might go straight back to sleep.
You can help your newborn sleep more at night by exposing them to light and noise during the day, and keeping things quiet and dim at night.