Newborn Sleep Schedule: How to Manage Sleep For Your Infant

Let’s face it: newborns can’t tell us their wants and needs, and adjusting to a newborn sleep schedule can be daunting. There is no such thing as a normal sleep pattern, and as their parent, you may have many sleepless nights trying to help them rest, relax, and sleep.

New parents may not know how difficult it can be to get their baby to sleep. Parents are exhausted from many new life changes and altered routines at the newborn stage. Frequent feedings and diaper changes add new elements to the daily agenda. Learning the ins and outs of parenting can be overwhelming for new moms and dads.

Introducing a new baby into an established family with other children has its own ups and downs. Lack of sleep can cause parents to not be at their best while coping with these changes.

Let’s explore ways to help your baby sleep and rest so you can do the same!

How Much Should a Newborn Sleep?

There is no way to pinpoint how much your baby will sleep. There are so many factors to consider:

• Feedings
• Diaper changes
• Noise
• Positions
• Temperature of the room
• And MANY more!

According to the Cleveland Clinic, most babies sleep 11 to 17 hours daily in the first year after birth, but this time will vary with every baby. Sleep times for your children may not be the same as their siblings.

The length of each sleep cycle for your baby will also be different. They may sleep in short chunks or for more extended periods. The short bursts of sleep that babies may have in a 24-hour period may last for 20 to 50 minutes.

Newborn babies need to sleep. Growth and newborn development require a lot of energy, and your baby must sleep to support its mental and physical health. Different babies require different amounts of sleep.

Babies cannot tell night from day. As they age, they will start to establish more regular sleep patterns. The newborn circadian rhythm may not develop until after the first few months of life. This is when babies settle into a more consistent routine, and their bodies start telling them to be awake more during daylight hours and sleep more at night.

What Are the Sleep Stages of a Newborn?

The stages of sleep for a newborn are very different from those of an adult. Their sleep cycle begins to mirror an adult’s when they are around three to four months old.

The Sleep Foundation states that newborn babies have two sleep stages, and babies over three months old have four.

The sleep stages of brand-new babies are rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM). Most newborn babies sleep in REM and one stage of NREM for equal amounts of time.

• REM - Active Sleep
  • During this stage of sleep, your baby can be seen making small movements of its arms, legs, fingers, and toes. In REM sleep, its breathing may be faster, twitch, or jerk, and its eyes move around behind closed lids.

• NREM - Quiet Sleep
  • You will not witness any of the REM movements in the NREM sleep.

As your baby matures to three months of age, their sleep development exhibits more of the adult sleep stages.

There are four stages:

• Stage 1 (NREM) - light sleep, easily awakened.

• Stage 2 (NREM)- light sleep, but not easily awakened.

• Stage 3 (NREM)- deep sleep, difficult to awaken.

• Stage 4 (REM)- In this stage, adults experience dreams. In babies, a short REM period starts the stages of NREM instead of ending them. They tend to fall asleep almost immediately.

Therefore, a newborn’s sleep patterns are like stages 4 and 1, with the same durations.

After three months, your baby will spend less time in REM sleep, and the NREM stages will all begin to become visible. As your baby grows, they begin to have a ber circadian rhythm, and their sleep looks more like an adult's.

Can You Put a Newborn On a Sleep Schedule?

Trying to start a baby on a sleep schedule during the first few months is not recommended. Their sleep cycles are unpredictable, and it’s hard to establish a sleep schedule that fits their feeding and diapering needs. It will only leave you frustrated and may make you feel as if you are not being a good parent. You are. Give yourself grace and enjoy your newborn.

You’ll want them to eat about every two hours during the day. Whether breastfed or formula-fed, babies need this nutrition for growth and development. Feeding doesn’t have to be rigidly scheduled; just try to feed them according to hunger cues at least every two to three hours. You cannot achieve a rigid schedule at this point, and perfection is unnecessary.

Instead, your primary focus should be nurturing and nutrition during the first few months. Learn your baby’s hunger cues and concentrate on ensuring they have full bellies and the recommended calories for their little bodies.

This is the time to get to know your infant better. Encourage them to respond to your voice and your face. Interact with them during their awake hours to help them see the difference between day and night. Their tummy time is a good time to encourage them to look at you and follow your movements with their eyes. The more active they are with you, the better they will sleep.

Most pediatricians agree that you may let your baby sleep at longer intervals during the night. They will let you know when they are hungry or their diaper is soiled!

Newborn Sleep Pattern Examples By Weeks and Months

As mentioned, you cannot predict or schedule your baby’s sleep patterns. They dictate how much sleep they need, so long as there aren’t any other child health issues. Don’t expect them to sleep through the night when they are in the first weeks. They’ve been in your womb with no light for nine months, so they have no perception of day and night until they are a few weeks old.

However, these schedule examples help you understand what to expect during the first few months of their life and prepare for some of the things you may encounter. Remember, your newborn is only interested in three things during the first few weeks: Eating, filling their diaper, and sleeping.

One to Two Weeks Old Sleep Schedule Example

Chart of Sleep Schedule Examples Up to One Year

How Can You Help Your Baby Fall Asleep?

First of all, be flexible. Allow your baby to set their own rhythm at the beginning. Get to know their hunger cues, diapering needs, and sleep cues. Once you know the typical times they usually do things, helping them establish a routine will be easier.

Tips for helping your baby fall asleep, stay asleep, and go back to sleep:

• Keep them in your room to sleep:The Mayo Clinic experts recommend that newborns sleep in your room for the first six months to one year—in your room, not in your bed. The safest place for your infant is in a bassinet or crib with no bedding, toys, or other things that can obstruct their breathing. This time frame is believed to help lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Start following a calm bedtime routine: It’s never too early to get yourself into a bedtime routine; just don’t expect your baby to respond to it or change their sleep patterns for the first few weeks to months. It will be a while before they sleep through the night.
• Strive for a dim and quiet environment in your bedroom: Light exposure may signal the newborn to think it’s time to stay awake. If you can see with a night light or sound machine, this will help. You can feed them with this light, and they may be able to get right back to their sleep when they are full. Soft music can also induce sleepiness.

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• Falling asleep in your arms is not recommended: This pattern may be hard to break as they age, as they will expect to be in your arms to fall asleep. They may not be able to sleep on their own if they awaken during a nap or the night if they are not in your arms. Allow them to become sleepy in your arms, but then put them in their own crib or bassinet to fall asleep.

• Watch for cues your baby is sleepy:
  • Rubbing their eyes
  • Fussiness or crying
  • Yawning
  • Looking away from you or staring off into space
  • Eyes blinking more slowly

• Add tummy time to your daily routine: There is evidence that tummy time for your child during the daylight hours helps them sleep at longer intervals at night. The study concluded that starting tummy time early helps gross motor skills and the development of longer sleep even as your child grows beyond their first birthday.

• A warm bath: Bathing right before bed can be soothing and induce sleep. Just like an adult taking a shower before climbing into bed, the bath for a newborn with a fresh diaper and night clothes (pajamas) can cue the baby that sleep is coming.
  

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• Momcozy Baby Pajamas are just the right fit and comfort for newborns to 24-month-olds. They have a unique BB-TEMP label that helps you see the surface temperature of your baby's clothing and whether you need to adjust them for the room's temperature. They are ultra-soft and made of bamboo fabric that allows airflow and absorbs any extra moisture.

• Overheating has also been noted as a significant factor in SIDS. It’s essential to keep your baby warm, but not too warm, as they sleep.

What Sleeping Positions Are Best For a Newborn?

In 1994, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) introduced the “Back to Sleep” campaign, urging parents to only place their babies on their backs for sleep. This was to help prevent SIDS. This practice has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS since then. In 2022, they updated their policy; you can find some of their recommendations for positioning below.

The AAP recommends:

• Always place infants on their backs to sleep in their own space. When they get older and can turn themselves, you may find them in other positions during their sleep, but always start them out on their backs.

• A crib, bassinet, or portable play crib should have a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet.

• Avoid sleeping on a couch, chair, swing, car seat (unless the child is riding in a car), or reclined infant seat.

• Nothing should be placed in the space with the baby.

• Breastfed babies seem to sleep better.

• Avoid smoking.

FAQs About a Newborn Sleep Schedule

Q: Can I let my 1-week old sleep for 5 hours?

A: At one week old, babies must be fed every two to three hours, so you should wake them for their feedings.

Q: How many hours do newborns sleep without feeding?

A: Babies in their first month must eat every two to three hours. Nutrition is key during this period of their life. Awaken them for their feedings.

Q: What time should newborns go to bed at night?

A: Most babies should be down for their night sleep times by 10:00 p.m.

Q: Should I be concerned that my newborn sleeps too much?

A: A newborn will sleep 14-17 out of 24 hours. You should call your pediatrician for recommendations if your baby sleeps more than that. Again, remember that a baby needs to be fed, even nighttime feedings, every 2-3 hours for their nutrition health.

Q: What are the signs of a lethargic baby?

A: Lethargy is a lack of alertness and energy. If your baby is always listless or drowsy, does not respond to stimulation, or is not interested in feeding or alertness, notify your pediatrician immediately. They will most likely want to see your baby immediately or recommend that you take it to an emergency facility or call 911.

Q: Is it normal for a newborn to want to sleep all day?

A: Yes. Babies may sleep for up to 17 hours a day. While they are awake for feedings and diapering, interact with your baby and encourage them to stay alert. They will give you cues when they want to sleep again but monitor their total sleep times. Notify your pediatrician if you have concerns about their sleep/wake patterns.

Conclusion

Both you and your baby will need sleep in the first few weeks of their life. They may get a lot, and you may not. Sleep time will not seem equal between you and your infant. Short periods of being awake and asleep leave parents with never enough sleep or only a few short hours of sleep.

Keep your baby active. Sleep when they sleep. Until they are a few months of age, they may not be able to have a sleep routine, and you should not be too hard on yourself about it. In their growth spurts, even an older baby may not sleep well after they have been doing so. Teething may become a factor. Do not try to judge your child’s routine by other babies.

You will be ready for sleep; hopefully, they will be too!