Most newborns are asleep more than they’re awake. Every child is different, so their total sleep will vary but usually sits between 8 to 16 hours.
On average, newborns will be awake for between one to two hours at a time. However, every child’s sleep pattern is different, so it’s important to remember to listen to your baby’s cues.
Newborns sleep in short bursts for a wide range of reasons.
A newborn’s stomach is small, so they will wake every two to four hours to feed. You don’t need to wake up your child to feed unless advised to do so by a medical professional.
Overstimulation occurs when newborns are swamped with sensation, noise, and activity. For example, if a newborn baby has been cuddled by lots of new people.
Signs of overstimulation include:
When your newborn is overstimulated, they might struggle to sleep. Comforting them in a familiar and quiet space will help to calm them down.
Sometimes, babies will wake up as they need to be changed. Ensuring they have been changed before sleep can prevent this.
Newborn babies haven’t yet developed mature sleep cycles and will wake up when feeling discomfort. This might be from feeling too warm or too cold.
Our Clothing guide is a great way to check you have chosen the right product for the temperature and season.
At Love To Dream™, we’re committed to helping families on their sleep journey. From creating a safe sleeping environment to swaddling your baby, learn how to establish a newborn sleep routine below.
It’s important to create a relaxing environment to signal naptime. For instance, you can dim down the lights, close the curtains, or use white noise to settle your little one.
You don’t need to worry too much about being quiet during your baby’s naptime in the day, as getting them used to a little noise is a good way to help them to learn to sleep under different conditions.
At Love To Dream™, we’re famous for our award-winning Swaddle UP™. With unique wing tips that enable your child to sleep in a more natural ARMS UP™ position, it’s designed to help babies learn how to self-soothe and in turn, develop a healthy sleep routine.
You can find the right style and fabrication according to the season with our handy Clothing guide. Layer over our newborn babywear crafted from soft, stretchy fabric for easy diaper changes and comfortable sleep all year round.
For the first six weeks, newborns can only stay awake for approximately one to three hours at a time. In the early stages, try to establish an eat, play, sleep routine that works for your family:
Your newborn might settle to sleep easier in your arms or you can gently comfort them whilst in their crib, find what your baby responds to best.
Every child is different so it’s important to follow your baby’s cues. Below, find the most common signs that your baby is tired:
The below settling methods can be used on babies of all ages. See what works for your family and try to stick to one, consistency is key:
The pick-up put-down settling method
From allergies or a cold to regularly sucking their thumb, there are several reasons why your newborn might sleep with their mouth open. If there is cause for concern, please contact your GP.
Always put your baby to sleep on their back with the face uncovered. According to First Candle, place baby on his/her back for every sleep by every caregiver until child reaches one year of age. Side sleeping is not safe and not advised.
Newborns tend to breathe at a faster rate than children and adults as they are still learning how to develop a regular breathing pattern. Keeping a close eye on what’s normal for your child will enable you to note any changes that might be cause for concern.
It’s normal for your baby to grunt and squirm while sleeping. This can be caused by digestion, acid reflux, and bowel movements. Over time, these noises should begin to reduce.
You should contact your GP immediately if your newborn’s noises grow unsettling and are accompanied by any of the below symptoms:
It’s normal for your baby to struggle to fall asleep unless held. But if you’re ready for your child to learn to sleep more independently, try the below steps:
