Newborn Sleep Patterns
Newborns sleep 16-17 hours daily in short periods.
What's normal:
- No set schedule at first
- Often have day/night confusion
- Wake every 2-3 hours to feed
- Sleep cycles are 40-60 minutes
Don't expect sleeping through the night (6+ hours) until at least 3 months — often longer. This is completely normal and healthy.
What to Do
- Follow baby's lead - newborns need to wake frequently to eat
- Expect 2-4 hour sleep stretches at first, gradually lengthening
- Help with day/night confusion: Keep lights bright and active during day, dark and quiet at night
- Feed when baby shows hunger cues, even if just slept
- Use white noise machine to help baby sleep through household sounds
- Create bedtime routine even for newborns (bath, feeding, cuddles)
- Don't stress about schedule yet - focus on meeting baby's needs
- Take shifts with partner so each parent gets longer sleep blocks
- Sleep when baby sleeps during day to manage exhaustion