Newborn Sleep: What to Expect

Having a sweet, squishy newborn can be such a special time for your family. There's nothing like the snuggles and that fresh baby smell. Having a newborn can also be a significant transition for your family. Newborns seem to sleep all the time, but not always when we wish they would. You also have to get to know your newborn - their temperament and preferences - and that process isn’t always seamless.

One of the most powerful tools when approaching newborn sleep is knowing what is normal and realistic for a newborn. With some knowledge about what is happening with your newborn and their sleep, you can feel empowered to change what you can and let go of the things that are out of your control.

Developmental Variables

Newborns have yet to develop their circadian rhythm, which is essentially a biological clock that helps us wake up and feel alert in the morning and get sleepy at night. Because newborns don’t have an established circadian rhythm, it's common for them to want to be awake in the middle of the night when you would prefer them to be asleep. As they get older and their circadian rhythm becomes more established, night sleep tends to consolidate. 

Both infants and adults go through sleep cycles consisting of REM and non-REM sleep. REM sleep, also known as active sleep, is a period when our brains process information and make neural connections. Newborns (and infants in general) spend much more time in REM sleep than adults and their sleep cycles are much shorter (45-60 minutes compared to adults' 90 minutes) (See Ball, 2018).

Newborns don’t yet know how to connect sleep cycles smoothly, causing more wake-ups and difficulty getting long stretches of sleep. This is normal and improves with the development of their circadian rhythm, age, and learning to initiate sleep independently (around 4 months).

Sleep Personality

It's easy to get caught up in comparing baby sleep habits. Many parents may say their baby is “sleeping through the night,” but the definition of sleeping through the night varies widely among families. For some, it might mean a 6-hour stretch or only waking for feeds. For others, it's 10+ hours without waking.

Some babies are like "unicorn" newborns, sleeping long stretches easily with minimal help. Others require a lot of support (like bouncing, rocking, white noise) and wake up every 3 hours for feeds. Some babies are adaptable to any environment, while others need a specific sleep environment. There isn’t always a rhyme or reason; it's about individual differences and “sleep personality.” Letting go of comparison and meeting your baby where they are can be liberating. All babies are capable of sleeping well; some just need more support.

Sleep Associations

Babies at this age cannot self-soothe and depend on caregivers to help them sleep, which is normal. As you get to know your baby, you'll learn their preferences for sleep. Around the 2-month mark, you can start experimenting with reducing the level of support needed for sleep. If your baby can fall asleep in the crib with shushing and gentle touch, that’s great. If they still need to be bounced or rocked, that's fine too. Every baby is different.

Sensitive to Overtiredness and Overstimulation

Newborns are particularly susceptible to overtiredness and overstimulation, which hinder good sleep. Overtiredness occurs when a baby is awake longer than their brain prefers, leading to fussiness and difficulty sleeping. Overstimulation happens when a baby's brain is overwhelmed by all the new stimuli that they experience. Newborns need short awake periods (think 60-90 minutes between naps and 1-2 hours before bed) and rely on caregivers to recognize sleepy cues to help them get to sleep before they are overtired or overstimulated. 

Daytime Sleep

Newborns sleep a lot—upwards of 16-18 hours in a 24-hour period. During the day, they may sleep anywhere from 5-8 hours, split between 4-7 naps. There won’t be a consistent pattern in nap length or timing initially. Instead of worrying about a schedule, focus on predictable patterns and learning your baby’s sleepy cues.

Nighttime Sleep and Overnight Feedings

At night, newborns typically sleep 9-10 hours, waking for feeds. Many newborns do best with a later bedtime, between 9 and 11 PM. The first stretch of the night is usually the longest, so it's helpful to go to bed when the baby does. As the night progresses, sleep stretches may shorten as baby has less sleep pressure (less tired).

Many babies need feeding every 2-4 hours overnight, moving closer to every 3-4 hours by 4-6 weeks. The number of feeds depends on the baby; consult your pediatrician and use your intuition.

The First Sleep Regression: 6 to 8 Weeks Old

Around 6-8 weeks old, many newborns experience a sleep regression as they become more alert and aware. They may resist falling asleep and become overtired. This phase is temporary; stay patient, be aware of overtiredness and overstimulation, and sleep will improve. 

Consultation

The newborn stage can feel like survival mode but is crucial for setting a good sleep foundation. Understanding normal newborn sleep empowers patience and helps identify issues needing improvement. 

If you have questions about newborn sleep or need support in setting a good sleep foundation, schedule a consultation here.

Sweet dreams await!

References: Ball, H. (2018). Infant sleep: Sleep development. La Leche League International. Retrieved from https://llli.org/news/infant-sleep/