Are you struggling with your newborn’s sleep pattern? Has the ordeal of understanding how much your child should sleep started to worry you?

On average, a newborn sleeps much of the day and night and wakes up only for feedings every few hours. If you are a new parent, it might be hard for you to know how long and how often your newborn should sleep. Unfortunately, there is no set schedule at first.

Generally, a newborn may sleep about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and about 8 hours at night. Most babies do not begin sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking up, until at least 3 months of age or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. 

Read on to know more about your newborn’s sleep schedule and what you should expect.

Sleep Cycles of Newborns

When newborns sleep, they go through sleep cycles. Each newborn sleep cycle has both active sleep and quiet sleep and takes about 40 minutes. There are two kinds of sleep cycles in newborns, They are: 

  • Active sleep: During active sleep, newborns move around a lot and make noises. They can be woken easily during active sleep.

  • Quiet Sleep: During quiet sleep, newborns are still. Their breathing is deep and regular. They are less likely to wake up during quiet sleep.

At the end of each cycle, newborns wake up for a little while. When they wake up, they might grizzle or cry. You may need to help your baby settle for the next sleep cycle if he/she wakes up at the end of a sleep cycle.

How Much Sleep Do Newborns Need And When?

Babies need sleep to grow and develop well. The sleep patterns can vary a lot, but most newborns usually sleep for 14 to 17 hours every 24 hours.

They sleep in short bursts of 2 to 3 hours each. Some newborns may sleep for up to 4 hours at a stretch. Newborns only wake up for feeding because they have tiny tummies. Your newborn might go straight back to sleep after feeding or they might stay awake long enough for a short play.

Some newborns get tired after being awake for 1 to 1. 5 hours. While others may stay awake and alert for a longer period of time. Newborns sleep during the day and night as the parts of their brains that control day-night sleep cycles have not matured yet.

Newborn play might just be a quiet cuddle or some time stretching out and kicking on a blanket. You might find that 10 to 20 minutes of play is enough for your newborn. You can increase playtime as your baby gets older and stays awake for longer.

What to Expect at Night?

In the first few months, newborns usually wake up several times a night to feed.

Between 1 and 3 months, your baby might start waking up less often and have a longer period of sleep at night. Your baby may have 4 to 5 hours of sleep when he/she is around 3 months old. But your baby will wake up at least once at night.

If your baby is premature or low birth weight, the paediatrician (child specialist) might recommend that you let your baby sleep for only a certain amount of time at night before you wake them up for a feed.

When Should You Seek Your Paediatrician’s Help?

Contact your paediatrician when you notice that your baby is:

  • Extremely fussy or irritated or cannot be soothed. This may indicate that he/she may have a medical problem such as colic or reflux (backward flow of content from the stomach into the food pipe).

  • Experiencing problems in breathing.

  • Having a difficult time after being awakened from sleep.

  • Uninterested in feeding or is persistently shying away from activity.

Be patient and things will fall into place soon in your newborn’s routine. 


Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.