Newborns do not yet have a sense of day and night. They sleep around the clock, and because their tiny tummies don't have enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for long, they wake up often to eat - no matter what time of day or night.
That's why
babies' sleep needs vary according to their age and stage of development. Newborns sleep many times. But their sleep is in very short segments. As a baby grows, sleep cycles slowly decrease. But the duration of night sleep increases. In general, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours during the day and about 8 hours at night. But they may not sleep more than 1 to 2 hours in each cycle.
Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old or weigh 12 to 13 pounds. About two-thirds of babies are able to sleep through the night on a regular basis by the age of 6 months. Babies also have different sleep cycles than adults. Babies spend much less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is dreamtime sleep.
What are the signs of infant sleep problems?
Many times a baby, who has started to sleep regularly through the night, wakes up again at regular intervals. This often happens around 6 months of age and is a normal part of development called separation anxiety. Babies may also start having trouble sleeping because of separation anxiety or because they are overstimulated.
The most common symptoms seen in babies when they have these night wakings or trouble sleeping may include the following:
- Waking and crying one or more times a night
- Crying when you leave the room
- They refuse to sleep without a parent nearby
Sleep problems can also occur when the baby is sick. Talk to the pediatrician if your baby starts having trouble sleeping, especially if this is a new pattern.
How many hours should my newborn sleep?
Newborns should sleep 14-17 hours in a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18-19 hours a day.
Newborns wake up every two hours to eat. Breastfed babies are fed often, about every 2-3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less frequently, about every 3-4 hours. You wake your baby up every 3-4 hours to feed him until he is gaining good weight, which usually happens in the first two weeks. After that, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night.
The first few months of a baby's life can be the hardest for parents, who may get up several times a night to care for the baby. Every baby sleeps differently. Some start sleeping "through the night" (ie for 5-6 hours at a time) from the first 2-3 months, but some others don't.
How should babies sleep?
During the first few weeks of a baby's life, some parents choose to have them in the room with them. Room sharing is when you place your baby's cot, bassinet or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of a separate bedroom. This keeps the baby close and helps with feeding, soothing and monitoring at night.
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room sharing but not bed sharing. While sharing a room is safe, having your infant sleep with you carries risks. Bed sharing increases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and other sleep-related deaths.
Follow these suggestions for a safe sleep environment for your little one:
- Always place your baby to sleep on their back, not on their face or side. The rate of SIDS has decreased since the AAP introduced this recommendation in 1992.
- Do not put anything else inside the baby's crib. Keep plush toys, pillows, blankets, waterproof sheets and comforters out of your baby's sleeping area.
- Avoid overheating. Dress your baby according to the room temperature so he doesn't overheat. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch.
- Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
- Put your baby to sleep with a pacifier. But if your baby rejects the pacifier, don't force it. If the pacifier falls off during sleep, there is no need to replace it. If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is stable.
- Invest in the right baby mattress that can provide the ideal feel for your baby's sensitive body and special needs.
General advice
ü Newborns follow their own schedule. Over the next two weeks to a few months you and your baby will start to get used to it.
ü It may take a few weeks for your baby's brain to learn the difference between night and day. Unfortunately, there are no tricks to speed this up, but keeping quiet and calm during feedings and diaper changes helps. Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play or talk to your baby. This will send the message that the night is for sleeping. If possible, let your baby fall asleep in their crib at night rather than in your arms so your little one learns that this is the right place to sleep.
ü Do not try to keep your baby awake all day in the hope that he will sleep better at night. Overtired infants often have more trouble falling asleep at night than those who have had enough sleep during the day.
ü If your newborn is particularly fussy, it helps to cuddle and sing as your baby relaxes. "Swaddle" (wrapping the baby in a light blanket) can also soothe a crying baby. For the first few months of your baby's life, "relaxing" is definitely not a problem. In fact, newborns who have a lot of face-to-face contact with their parents during the day tend to have less colic and fussiness.
*The scientific information in the article has been edited by Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD for Kids Health for Nemours , an official information portal on health issues for infants, children and adolescents since 1995.
