Sleep, besides nutrition of course, is one of the most important facets of your baby’s development. It is therefore important that your baby gets sufficient sleep. But how much should a newborn baby actually sleep? And what does a sleep schedule look like? Read on for a more detailed explanation.
Day or night?
A newborn baby is not yet able to distinguish between day and night. So it is quite normal for your baby to wake up at night. After a few weeks, this day/night rhythm will become more established, and your baby will sleep through the night more frequently. Of course, your baby will still wake up at night from time to time, just like you do from time to time.
A baby’s sleep cycle: active and quiet sleep
To arrive at a sleep schedule, we must first better understand the sleep cycle of a newborn baby. In a newborn baby (up to the age of 6 months), its sleep cycle consists of two stages: active sleep and quiet sleep. Active sleep is much like our REM sleep; your baby wakes up more easily, makes noises and moves above quite a bit. During quiet sleep (and the name says it all), your baby sleeps more deeply and calmly and wakes less easily. A sleep cycle lasts for about 45 to 60 minutes.
How much sleep does a newborn baby need?
Some babies sleep for hours, others only take short naps. Each baby follows its own sleep rhythm, so it is important to discover it. On average, a baby needs a certain number of hours of sleep, but there is no need to worry if your baby deviates slightly from this routine. So be sure to consider this a guideline and not a rule:
- Newborn babies sleep an average of 14 to 18 hours per 24 hours. Yet there are babies who sleep only 10 hours, for example, while other babies sleep for as much as 20 hours; every baby is different!
- Babies develop a day/night rhythm around the age of 10 to 12 weeks.
- At the age of 6 months, your baby will sleep 2 or 3 times a day, often for one or two hours at a time. At night, babies can increasingly go without feeding, and some babies may even sleep through the night.
Sleep schedule of a newborn baby: 0- 2 months
You naturally base a newborn baby’s sleep schedule on the feeding schedule. So, when your baby is 0 to 2 months out, he or she sleeps on average for 14 to 18 hours per day and they need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. Between feeding sessions, your newborn baby may stay awake for about an hour. During that time you can feed your baby, play for a while and change its nappies. Then it’s already time to sleep again!
Help, my newborn baby deviates from its sleep schedule!
As mentioned before, it is important to discover your baby’s sleep schedule. And yes, this schedule may differ from the agendas you will find on the internet or those that are provided by a childcare clinic. If your baby sleeps poorly, there may be several reasons. Perhaps your baby feels uncomfortable due to a dirty diaper, has not eaten enough or is suffering from some or other ailment? Pay attention to sleep signals and don’t put your baby to bed too early or too late. And in the beginning, newborn babies often need their parents to help them fall asleep. If you have concerns about your newborn baby’s sleep schedule, do not hesitate to contact your family doctor or a childcare clinic. They will be happy to assist you.
Tip: In our app you will find a useful forum where you can share your tips and experiences with other new parents!
