👶Sleep and Your Newborn
Understanding your newborn's sleep patterns and needs
Understanding Newborn Sleep
Newborns don't yet have a sense of day and night. They sleep around the clock, and because their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long, they wake often to eat — no matter what time of day or night it is.
This is completely normal and expected behavior for newborns, who are adjusting to life outside the womb and establishing their feeding and sleep patterns.
⏰How Long Will My Newborn Sleep?
Sleep Requirements:
Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day.
Sleep Breakdown:
- • Total daily sleep: 14-17 hours
- • Some newborns: up to 18-19 hours
- • Sleep around the clock
- • No day/night distinction yet
Feeding Patterns:
Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Their tiny stomachs don't hold enough milk to keep them satisfied for long periods.
- •Breastfed babies: every 2-3 hours
- •Bottle-fed babies: every 3-4 hours
- •Wake every couple of hours to eat
- •No matter what time of day or night
Important Feeding Guidelines:
When to Wake for Feeding:
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
After Weight Gain:
After that, it's OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night. Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Some start to sleep "through the night" (for 5–6 hours at a time) by 2–3 months of age, but some don't.
🛏️How Should Babies Sleep?
During the first weeks of a baby's life, some parents choose to room-share. Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. This keeps baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing.
Room-Sharing (Safe):
Room-sharing keeps your baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring at night. This is the recommended approach by the AAP.
Benefits:
- • Easier nighttime feeding and comfort
- • Better monitoring of baby
- • Reduces SIDS risk
- • Convenient for parents
Bed-Sharing (Not Safe):
While room-sharing is safe, putting your infant to sleep in bed with you is not. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.
Important Warning:
Bed-sharing significantly increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. Always use a separate sleep surface for your baby.
⚠️Safe Sleep Environment Guidelines
Follow these recommendations for a safe sleep environment for your little one:
Sleep Position & Surface:
- •Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- •Not on the stomach or side
- •Use a firm, flat sleep surface
- •Cover the mattress with a sheet that fits snugly
Items to Keep Out:
- •Plush toys, pillows, blankets
- •Unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters
- •Sheepskins and bumper pads
- •Items with cords, ties, or ribbons
Additional Safety Tips:
Temperature & Environment:
- • Dress baby for room temperature, don't overbundle
- • Don't cover baby's head while sleeping
- • Watch for signs of overheating (sweating, hot to touch)
- • Keep baby away from smokers
Pacifiers & Hazards:
- • Offer pacifier at sleep time, but don't force it
- • Don't replace pacifier if it falls out during sleep
- • Wait until breastfeeding is established
- • Check for hanging mobiles, wall hangings, blind cords
💤Helping Your Newborn Sleep
Establishing Routine:
Newborns follow their own schedule. Over the next couple of weeks to months, you and your baby will begin to settle into a routine.
- •It may take a few weeks for baby's brain to know day from night
- •No tricks to speed this up
- •Keep things quiet and calm during night feedings
- •Let baby fall asleep in crib at night
Nighttime Strategies:
Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play with or talk to your baby. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
- •Keep lights low during night feedings
- •Resist urge to play or talk to baby
- •Send message that nighttime is for sleeping
- •Let baby learn crib is place for sleep
Important Tips:
Daytime Sleep:
Don't try to keep your baby up during the day in the hopes that your little one will sleep better at night. Overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping at night than those who've had enough sleep during the day.
Comforting Your Baby:
If your newborn is fussy it's OK to rock, cuddle, and sing as your baby settles down. Swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can also help to soothe a crying baby.
Swaddling Guidelines:
If you swaddle your baby and they start trying to roll over, that is a sign that you can stop swaddling. For the first months of your baby's life, "spoiling" is definitely not a problem. In fact, newborns who are held or carried during the day tend to have less colic and fussiness.
🏥When Should I Call the Doctor?
While most parents can expect their newborn to sleep or catnap a lot during the day, the range of what is normal is quite wide. If you have questions about your baby's sleep, talk with your doctor. They can provide guidance on what's normal for your baby's age and development.
❓Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Sleep
How much sleep should my newborn get?
Newborns should get 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day. Newborns don't yet have a sense of day and night, so they sleep around the clock and wake often to eat.
How often should I wake my newborn to feed?
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3-4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night.
Why does my newborn wake up so often at night?
Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat because their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long. Breastfed babies feed about every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed every 3-4 hours. This is completely normal and expected behavior.
When will my newborn sleep through the night?
Each baby has a different sleep pattern. Some start to sleep "through the night" (for 5-6 hours at a time) by 2-3 months of age, but some don't. The first months of a baby's life can be the hardest for parents, who might get up many times at night to tend to the baby. This is completely normal.
Is it safe to let my newborn sleep on their stomach or side?
No, always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on the stomach or side. The rate of SIDS has gone way down since the AAP began recommending this in 1992. Back sleeping is the safest position for newborns and significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
What's the difference between room-sharing and bed-sharing?
Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom - this is safe and recommended by the AAP. Bed-sharing is when you put your baby to sleep in the same bed with you - this is not safe and increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.
Can I put a blanket or stuffed animal in my newborn's crib?
No, do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet. Keep plush toys, pillows, blankets, unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of your baby's sleep area. These items can pose suffocation and strangulation risks. Use only a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet.
How can I help my newborn learn the difference between day and night?
It may take a few weeks for your baby's brain to know the difference between night and day. Keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes. Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play with or talk to your baby. This will send the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
Is it okay to swaddle my newborn for sleep?
Yes, swaddling (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can help to soothe a crying baby. However, if you swaddle your baby and they start trying to roll over, that is a sign that you can stop swaddling. Swaddling should only be used for newborns who cannot roll over yet.
Can I spoil my newborn by holding them too much?
No, for the first months of your baby's life, "spoiling" is definitely not a problem. In fact, newborns who are held or carried during the day tend to have less colic and fussiness. If your newborn is fussy, it's OK to rock, cuddle, and sing as your baby settles down. This helps them feel secure and loved.