Newborn babies and sleep
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Here’s all you need to know about your newborn's sleep patterns, including how to get him into good sleep habits ...
How long should newborn babies sleep for? It’s a question many new parents ask, especially if it feels like you’ve been up all night with your baby.
But although your newborn’s fluctuating sleep patterns can be a huge shock to your system, understanding how much sleep your baby needs - and why they wake up so often - can help you cope with the sleep-deprivation that all new parents face.
Newborn baby sleep: what to expect
Sleep plays a huge part in your baby's physical and mental development. So it's no surprise new babies tend to sleep A LOT. According to the NHS, anything between eight hours and 18 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period is totally normal. However, most parents find that their babies spend more time asleep than awake.
FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES
Yet baby sleep cycles are much shorter than adult sleep cycles, meaning your little one will typically only sleep for a couple of hours at a time.
Your baby will also wake regularly, both day and night, because their tiny stomach means they will need to feed every couple of hours.
In the very early days, you may need to wake your baby up to feed if they sleep for a longer stretch. Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. Until they regain this weight, it’s important to feed them regularly - around 8-12 times a day.
It’s also normal for your newborn's sleep pattern to change from day to day. They might have far less sleep one day and then sleep more than usual the following day to ‘catch up’.
Your best bet in the early days is to let your baby sleep whenever they want to.
This sleep pattern will change over the first few months as your baby gradually spends more time awake and increasingly alert. So make the most of this phase when they're frequently asleep during the day by grabbing 40 winks yourself, whenever you can.
How to get your baby into good sleep habits
The excitement of having a new baby can initially override concerns about (lack of) sleep. In the early days you're likely to be inundated with visitors, all wanting to cuddle your little one ... even if they are fast asleep.
Yet babies need undisturbed rest - during the day and at night - otherwise they become over tired and cranky (just like us!).
There are things you can do from the very early days to help your baby develop good sleep habits for life ...
Teach your baby the difference between night and day
It’s hard for your baby to understand the difference between night and day as their body clock - also known as the circadian rhythm - hasn't yet kicked in. You can help them differentiate between the two through a few simple techniques:
At night...
Keep things calm and quiet at night. This includes night feeds and nappy changes - keep the lights dimmed and try not to talk to your baby.
Introduce a bedtime ritual. When your baby is very little, don't worry about a routine. But you can help your baby start to understand night and day by changing them into their sleepsuit for night, reading them a story or singing them a bedtime lullaby.
In the day...
Get them dressed for the day. When your baby wakes up in the morning, change their nappy and get them dressed in a new outfit for the day.
Don't worry about being quiet for naps during the day. Your baby needs to get used to the clattering of the dishwasher being unloaded, or you moving around. This will help them learn to sleep through different sounds.
Be upbeat. By changing your behaviour and chatting to your baby as you feed them or change them, they'll start to understand the difference between day and night.
Learn the signs your baby is tired
In the early days, you and your baby will be getting to know each other. Which means you'll increasingly notice your baby's signals that they're tired.
These could include rubbing their eyes, staring into space or yawning.
When your baby is around three to four months – and you want to introduce a routine – these sleep cues will help you fit a nap schedule to their own sleep pattern.
Need advice?
Our health visitors and nursery nurses are online Monday to Friday evenings to answer your queries on feeding, sleep and child health.
Safe sleeping for your newborn
It's important to keep your baby safe while they're asleep. You can do this by:
- Always putting your baby on their back to sleep.
- Putting your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months.
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition.
- Don't put any pillows, loose bedding or soft toys in your baby's cot, and avoid cot bumpers.
Learn more about what to expect from your newborn baby here.
How to cope with sleep deprivation
Our Netmums survey of over 7,000 parents found over half were woken at least one in the night by their child, and a third said they regularly felt sleep-deprived and exhausted.
If you are struggling, why not ask your family and friends to help care for your baby in the day while you catch up on some rest.
We've got more top tips here for coping with a lack of sleep.
