How much does a newborn sleep?
Newborns (0–3 months) sleep an average of 14–17 hours per day, but the variation between individual children is large. Some healthy newborns sleep around 11 hours, others up to 19 hours per day. Sleep is spread across the whole 24-hour period because the circadian rhythm is not yet developed.¹ ² ³
Recommendations and actual sleep
The National Sleep Foundation and WHO both state 14–17 hours per day for ages 0–3 months, while the American Academy of Sleep Medicine gives no recommendation for this age group due to insufficient evidence.¹ ⁴ ³ A systematic review of observational studies also shows that measured sleep duration often differs from parent-reported figures, depending on the measurement method.²
| Age | Total sleep per day | Longest continuous stretch |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | approx. 14–17 hrs | approx. 2–4 hrs |
| 1–2 months | approx. 14–17 hrs | approx. 3–5 hrs |
| 2–3 months | approx. 14–16 hrs | approx. 4–6 hrs |
Why do newborns sleep in short stretches?
The circadian rhythm is regulated by the hormone melatonin and by cues such as light, darkness and feeding. In newborns this system is not yet mature, which is why sleep is distributed evenly across the day rather than concentrated at night. The rhythm gradually becomes established from around 6–12 weeks of age.⁷
Sleep cycles in newborns are also short, about 45–60 minutes, compared with roughly 90 minutes in adults. A large proportion of sleep consists of active sleep (equivalent to REM sleep), which is thought to be particularly important for brain maturation. During active sleep the baby often moves, twitches and makes sounds without being awake.⁸
How often does a newborn wake?
Most newborns wake two to four times per night to feed. The stomach is small and the need for frequent feeds is physiological, both with breastfeeding and formula feeding. Night wakings at this age are therefore not a sleep problem but an expected part of development.² ⁶
Is it normal for a newborn to sleep all the time?
It is common for a newborn to sleep a lot and be awake only briefly between feeds, particularly during the first weeks. Wake windows are often only 45–90 minutes long. Contact a health care provider if the baby is difficult to wake for feeds, has fewer wet nappies than expected, is not gaining weight or seems unusually floppy – this concerns the child's general condition rather than the amount of sleep as such.
Do newborns need routines?
Scientific support for fixed schedules or routines improving sleep in newborns is limited, and studies of sleep interventions generally involve infants from around 6 months of age.² What is supported is exposure to daylight during the day and a dark, calm environment at night, which supports the development of the circadian rhythm.⁷
Read more about a safe sleep environment and how the risks of sudden infant death are reduced. Safe sleep environment →
Key points
- Newborns sleep an average of 14–17 hours per day, but the range among healthy babies is wide.
- Sleep is spread across the day because the circadian rhythm is not yet developed.
- Sleep cycles are short (about 45–60 min) and a large share is active sleep.
- Two to four wakings per night for feeding is expected at this age.
Related
References
- Hirshkowitz, M. et al. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40–43.
- Galland, B. C. et al. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222.
- World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Geneva: WHO.
- Paruthi, S. et al. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786.
- Iglowstein, I., Jenni, O. G., Molinari, L. & Largo, R. H. (2003). Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics, 111(2), 302–307.
- Henderson, J. M. T., France, K. G., Owens, J. L. & Blampied, N. M. (2010). Sleeping through the night: the consolidation of self-regulated sleep across the first year of life. Pediatrics, 126(5), e1081–e1087.
- Rivkees, S. A. (2003). Developing circadian rhythmicity in infants. Pediatrics, 112(2), 373–381.
- Roffwarg, H. P., Muzio, J. N. & Dement, W. C. (1966). Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle. Science, 152(3722), 604–619.