Newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day. Newborns wake every couple of hours to eat. Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours.
Newborns usually sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours each. Some newborns sleep for up to four hours at a time. Newborns wake frequently to feed because they have tiny tummies. Your newborn might go straight back to sleep after feeding or they might stay awake long enough for a short play.
An occasional long nap isn't something to worry about as long as your baby rouses easily and seems like her normal self when you wake her. Just wake your sleeping beauty after the three- or four-hour mark. That'll ensure that your newborn gets all her feedings in, and that your older baby's night sleep isn't disrupted.
The amount of sleep an infant gets at any one stretch of time is mostly ruled by hunger. Newborns will wake up and want to be fed about every three to four hours at first. Do not let your newborn sleep longer than five hours at a time in the first five to six weeks.
It's normal for newborns to sleep almost constantly in the early weeks, waking only long enough to eat and then fall back asleep. All that rest plays a critical role in their rapid growth and development. But if you're worried your baby may be sleeping too much, talk to your pediatrician.
Having too many daytime sleep hours - this can lead to difficulties settling at bedtime, more overnight waking and early morning waking. Sleeping for too long at the morning nap - this can mean their lunch nap is consequently shorter, leading to over tiredness and difficulties settling at bedtime.
Consider waking your little one if it has been longer than 2.5-3 hours for any given nap or it's about an hour later than their normal wake time in the morning. This helps maintain adequate hydration and nutrition and sets your baby up for that important restorative night sleep.
It takes a while for newborns to develop a sleep schedule because they need to develop their circadian rhythms. During the first month, babies will spend around 16 hours a day sleeping. This will usually happen in the form of three- or four-hour naps evenly spaced between feedings.
As a guide, many babies sleep 14-20 hours a day in the first weeks. By 3 months many are settled into a pattern of longer sleep times – perhaps 4 to 5 hours at night. When a baby sleeps about 5 hours straight, this is considered 'sleeping through the night'.
For newborn naps, you can expect anywhere between 4-7 a day, and ideally we want them to be 45-60 minutes. Now, don't stress too much about this, because it's likely going to be all over the place. You can't spoil a newborn, so do whatever you need to do to get those naps in and prevent overtiredness.
Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
Expect your baby's nap lengths to be unpredictable at this age. Since babies aren't born with predictable or organized sleep cycles, your baby may nap for 10 minutes or 2 hours. The important thing to remember is that your baby will usually need to drift off after a wake period of 30 - 90 minutes.
The better your baby naps during the day, the more smoothly your nights will go. The length of your baby's naps will vary from 20 to 30 minutes to an hour or more, but I recommend capping naps at no more than 2 hours long.
A newborn baby will probably be tired if they have been awake for 1 to 1.5 hours. There are signs that will tell you when they're ready to sleep. Avoid stimulating your baby, such as talking loudly or playing with them.
As a rule of thumb, a truly hungry baby will rarely choose sleeping over eating. So, if your baby falls asleep in your arms without taking a full feeding, it's likely he was tired — not hungry.
Newborn babies generally sleep around 16 hours a day in total, but it could be 18 to 20 hours or more. Still, if that snoozing occurs for long stretches of time, it's natural to wonder if he's sleeping too much. “Sometimes in the first month, babies can be too sleepy,” says S.
During daylight hours, keep things stimulating and active for your baby. Play with them a lot. Try to keep them awake after they feed, although don't worry if they conk out for a nap. When it's dark, become a more low-key parent for your baby.
Listlessness or Lethargy
Lethargy may be a sign of infection or other conditions such as low blood sugar. Talk with your baby's doctor if your infant becomes lethargic or isn't as active.
A baby occasionally sleeping for longer than usual is not a cause for concern unless there are other symptoms. In general, it is uncommon for a newborn to consistently sleep through feedings or to sleep for longer than 19 hours per day unless they are ill or are having feeding difficulties.
No, you definitely should not. Babies will have strong sleep needs and strong drive to sleep in those early days. Sometimes they'll try and nap for 4 to 5 hours even. During the middle of the day!
Sleeping or napping more can be strong indicators of a perfectly healthy baby. They may be growing at a typical rate experiencing due growth spurts, recovering from illness, or merely teething. Infants grow at a rapid pace, and rest is an imperative component to getting what children need to fuel their changes.