What are typical newborn baby sleep schedules?

Newborns sleep an average of 16 or 17 hours a day, with some babies needing a few hours more or less (even this young, babies are individuals). However, they may sleep for only one or two hours at a time.

During the first three months, your baby will begin to sleep for longer periods at a time, but most infants don't sleep for more than a four-hour stretch, day or night.

Why are my newborn baby's sleep patterns so unpredictable?

It's normal for babies to have irregular sleep patterns from birth to 3 months. Newborns haven't yet developed their circadian rhythm. Also known as a sleep/wake cycle, a circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour clock that cycles at regular times between sleepiness and alertness.

Unpredictable sleep patterns are also due to nutritional needs. Your baby may need to eat every two to three hours in the first month and every three to four hours in the second month. As she gets older, she won't need to be fed at night as often.

Fortunately, these unpredictable patterns don't last long – though it may seem like an eternity when you're sleep deprived. Some babies consistently sleep for longer stretches by 3 or 4 months. Others don't until they're older.

Does my newborn baby know the difference between night and day?

Not at first. Until your baby is about 1 month old, the amount of sleep he gets during the night will roughly equal the amount he gets during the day. At anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months, his core body temperature and melatonin (a hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle) will help him start to develop a sleep/wake cycle that differentiates night from day.

Are newborn baby sleep cycles different than those of adults?

Yes. Babies' sleep cycles are far shorter than those of adults. Sleeping newborns spend about half of the time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In contrast, older children and adults spend much less time in REM sleep than non-REM sleep. It's thought that newborns have more REM sleep because it's necessary for the extraordinary development that's happening in their brain.

REM sleep is sometimes called "active sleep" because your baby's eyes will usually move beneath her eyelids, and her arms and legs may twitch or jerk. She'll then transition to non-REM sleep, also known as quiet sleep, in which her twitching will stop, her breathing will become deeper, and it might be more difficult to wake her. Your baby may transition between REM and non-REM sleep several times during just one sleep cycle.

Should I put my newborn baby on a sleep schedule?

No, especially not in the first weeks. It's normal for your newborn baby to have an irregular sleep pattern. Part of that comes from the need to eat frequently and sleep a lot.

Still, you can start to follow a schedule of sorts over those first months by establishing consistent bedtime and nap time routines. As your baby starts to sort out his sleep rhythms, having these routines in place and introducing good sleep habits (see below) can help him more easily settle into a schedule as he gets older.

Should I wake up my newborn to feed him?

Generally, no. Healthy newborns usually wake themselves up when they're hungry. However, check with your baby's doctor about nighttime feedings in the first month if your newborn isn't:

Steadily growing and gaining weight

Waking up to be fed after sleeping for more than four or five hours

Nursing or bottle feeding eight to 12 times a day (breastfed babies usually feed more frequently)

Having at least four wet diapers and having at least three bowel movements a day (most breastfed babies have more frequent bowel movements)

Is it possible to teach my newborn baby good sleep habits?

Here are healthy sleep habits you can start to introduce.

Give your baby a chance to nap frequently. For the first six to eight weeks, most babies aren't able to stay up much longer than two hours at a time. If you wait longer than that to put your baby down, he may be overtired and have trouble falling asleep.

Teach your baby the difference between day and night. Some infants are night owls and will be wide awake just when you want to hit the hay, and others may be early birds. For the first weeks, you won't be able to do much about this. But once your baby is about 2 weeks old, you can start teaching her to distinguish night from day.

During the day, when she's alert and awake, you can:

Interact and play with her as much as you can.

Keep the house and her room light and bright.

Not worry about minimizing regular daytime noises like the dishwasher.

At night, you can try the following to help your baby begin to figure out that nighttime is for sleeping:

Keep your interactions quiet.

Keep the lights and noise level low.

Learn your baby's tired signals . You'll soon develop a sixth sense about your baby's daily rhythms and patterns, and you'll know instinctively when he's ready for a nap or an early bedtime. But if you spot these or any other signs of sleepiness, try putting him down as soon as possible. If he becomes overtired, it can be harder for him to settle down and sleep.

Rubbing his eyes

Pulling on his ear

Being fussier than normal

Start a bedtime routine for your baby. It's never too early to start trying to follow a bedtime routine. It can include a few things as simple as:

Get your baby changed for bed.

Breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby.

Sing a lullaby or play music.

Give her a kiss goodnight.

Put your baby to bed when he's sleepy but awake. By the time he's 6 to 8 weeks old, you can try giving him a chance to fall asleep on his own by putting him in his crib or bassinet when he's sleepy but still awake. This doesn't work with all young babies, though. You can always try again when he's a little older.

Expect some trial and error while you figure out what's the best approach with your little one. For example, you might put your baby down, read a book, and pat her for a few minutes before leaving her on her own.

Some sleep experts advise against rocking or nursing your baby to sleep, even at this young age. Not everyone agrees with this strategy, however, so do what works for your family.

When will my baby start to sleep through the night?

It depends on your baby. Usually by 6 months, most – but not all – babies are capable of sleeping for 8 to 12 hours, with brief awakenings but no feedings, during the night. But that doesn't mean your baby will. Some infants sleep for stretches of up to eight hours at night as early as 3 months, but many won't sleep this long until they're older.

Learn more

Baby sleep basics: 3 to 6 months

Swaddling your baby

Why does my baby wake up at night?

How can I get my baby to nap longer?