As parents we come with expectations about what a ‘normal’ newborn sleep schedule look likes. Having unrealistic expectations or incorrect assumptions, may lead us to feel inadequate as parents and to feel as if we are failing (1) .
That is why in this article, we are going to give you the latest advice and research about newborn sleep. With this information, you will be better able to support your baby and better equipped to go through this stage of your parenting journey.
How Much Do Newborns Sleep?
The recommended hours of sleep for a baby between 0-3 months is between 14-17 hours. But a newborn baby may sleep anywhere between 11 and 19 hours a day.
Newborns typically do not sleep more than 4 hours at a time. Some sleep for longer stretches, whereas other sleep in short bursts. Between naps infants wake up to feed. Their stomachs are tiny, so they need frequent feeds. Many babies start sleeping through the night when they are around 3 months old. However, remember that every child is different. A recent study examining 5,700 babies in Finland (2) found that three -month-olds woke an average of 2.2 times a night. However, some babies did not wake up at all, whereas others woke as much as 15 times per night.
Newborns Do Not Know the Difference Between Day and Night
Newborns sleep or stay awake irrespective of whether it is day or night. This happens because their circadian rhythm (daily sleep cycle) is not yet established (3). This means that newborns sleep when they are tired. This is often exhausting for parents, but it is simply the way newborns ‘work’. In the same way that newborns are not yet developed to walk, sit upright or eat solids, they are not yet developed to sleep through the night.
Moreover, babies may be waking for their own protection (4). When babies are in deep sleep or ‘slow wake sleep’, they can stop breathing. Some researchers suggest that babies who die because of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), may do so because they have problems rousing out of deep sleep.
When Can I Get my Baby on a Sleep Routine?
Evidence of the circadian rhythm starts to emerge at around 2-3 months of age. Preterm babies tend to have even more irregular sleep cycles. Once your baby starts to fall into a more or less predictable sleep pattern, you can try to schedule a few naps a day and a longer sleep period at night.
Eventually, babies settle into a more structed rhythm. This rhythm can be ‘helped’ by adopting good sleep hygiene techniques.
- During the day, the baby should not sleep in the dark and the level of noise should be the ‘normal’ at your household.
- During the night, keep stimulation to a minimum. Try to limit household noise at bedtime. If you live in a noisy environment keep the windows closed and consider using noise-blocking curtains.
- Have a nighttime routine to mark the difference between day and night. This routine should be the same every day. An effective routine could look like: Having a bath, perhaps with some soothing scents like lavender or chamomile, followed by a massage. The bath warms up the body so that the blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate to help the body cool down, and this cooling helps your baby to feel sleepy. After the bath, change your baby into a clean nappy and pyjamas, feed him, and sing a lullaby or read them a story. Try to put them in their cot when they are drowsy but still awake, kiss them and say goodnight, allowing them to fall asleep on their own. Make sure the bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius is ideal, and too cool is better than too hot. Everyone has a slightly different temperature preference so you may need to make adjustments to find your baby’s ideal temperature. Feeling your baby’s chest or back when they are asleep should give you a good indication. They should feel warm but not clammy.
It is important that all parents and carers who look after your baby at bedtime are consistent in implementing this bedtime routine.
I know that you may try this routine and it may not work at all. Your baby may not fall asleep on their own, they may cry a lot, or may not sleep for longer than twenty minutes. The truth is that the newborn period can be tough. Try to keep in mind that this is normal, do not compare your baby with other newborns around you (it always seems that the only baby not sleeping is yours!), and remember that this period will pass. Sooner or later, your baby will sleep through the night.
I Am Exhausted and Need Help!
If you are feeling this way, you are not alone. You may choose to ask your family members or a friend to help you with the baby so you can get some sleep. This does not mean that you are weak or that you do not love your baby. It means that you are human. We need sleep to function.
You may choose to hire a sleep consultant to support you and your baby. This is also absolutely fine. One important thing to consider is that in many countries (such as the UK), sleep experts or consultants are not regulated. Basically, anyone can call themselves a sleep expert and provide advice to families.
Even accredited professionals in the health and parenting field may not have sleep expertise. For example, a survey (5) showed that 96% of American paediatricians say that one of their most important duties is to provide information about infant sleep to parents. However, only 18% have formal education in this area.
Before you hire anyone, check their credentials, ask about their ethical guidelines, ask to see previous clients’ opinions, and make sure their working style match with your needs and beliefs. For example, do not hire anyone who will let your baby cry if you do not want any crying. Remember that sleep training is not recommended until the baby is at least 6 months old.
Newborn Sleep Is Very Much Influenced by Culture
The Western world seems to be obsessed for babies to sleep on their own and through the night as soon as it safe for them to do so. However, this idea is not universal and is, historically, quite recent (6).
Different cultures have different ideas and traditions about baby sleep. For example, in the UK, parents are told that the nighttime schedule known as ‘seven to seven’ (the baby sleeps from 7 pm to 7 am) is what they should aim for. But there is no evidence that this is the best sleep schedule and in many other countries this is not the goal. This sleep schedule is quite arbitrary. If this schedule works for your family, go for it. But if it does not, you can ignore it. You are not failing as a parent, and nothing will happen if it works best for you to put your baby to bed at 8 pm rather than at 7 pm.
What is the bottom line when thinking about newborn sleep? There is not one single correct approach to how babies should sleep. As long, as your baby’s safety is your main priority, do what works best for your family.
If you want to learn more about baby sleep, we have four REC Parenting masterclasses you may find useful:
- What is Normal Sleep for a Baby? with Professor Helen Ball
- Sleep Safety for Babies with Professor Helen Ball
- Sleep Hygiene for Children and Adolescents with Dr Anna Joyce
- Baby Sleep: What to Do When Things Don’t Go as Planned with Dr Ayten Bilgin
- Baby Massage with Lucy Johns
Join REC Parenting today to get access to these masterclasses!
If you are considering hiring a sleep consultant, get in touch so we can recommend the one that will suit best your family’s needs.
If you have any specific questions on baby sleep, drop them here and I will answer it in the REC Parenting weekly Q&A email.
I hope you have found this information useful.
Ana
References
(1) Douglas, P. S., & Hill, P. S. (2013). Behavioral sleep interventions in the first six months of life do not improve outcomes for mothers or infants: a systematic review. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 34(7), 497-507. DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31829cafa6
(2) Paavonen, E. J., Saarenpää-Heikkilä, O., Morales-Munoz, I., Virta, M., Häkälä, N., Pölkki, P., … & Karlsson, L. (2020). Normal sleep development in infants: findings from two large birth cohorts. Sleep Medicine, 69, 145-154.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.01.009
(3) Kaur, S., Teoh, A. N., Shukri, N. H. M., Shafie, S. R., Bustami, N. A., Takahashi, M., … & Shibata, S. (2020). Circadian rhythm and its association with birth and infant outcomes: research protocol of a prospective cohort study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20, 1-11.
(4) Vincent, A., Chu, N. T., Shah, A., Avanthika, C., Jhaveri, S., Singh, K., … & Boddu, H. (2023). Sudden infant death syndrome: risk factors and newer risk reduction strategies. Cureus, 15(6).Faruqui F, Khubchandani J, Price JH et al.: Sleep disorders in children: a national assessment of primary care pediatrician practices and perceptions. Pediatrics 2011; 128: 539–546.
(5) Barry, E. S. (2021). What is “normal” infant sleep? Why we still do not know. Psychological reports, 124(2), 651-692.
