Newborn Sleep Schedule For Parents

Being a parent is often an exciting yet highly stressful journey. If you thought that all your worries would disappear upon giving birth, you are wrong. Is my baby sleeping enough? Is my baby eating enough?

These are common questions that many parents tend to stress over. Hopefully, with this newborn sleep schedule guide, you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and understand your baby’s needs better.

Understanding Your Newborn’s Routine and Needs

A newborn baby usually sleeps for most of the day and night, getting up only when it is time for feeding, diaper change, or cuddles. They do not follow the same sleep-wake cycle as adults do and hence, do not have a set sleep schedule [1].

As a first-time parent, it is difficult to anticipate how long your newborn should sleep or how often they will wake up. You can expect this routine to be a challenge to adapt to, at least until they reach 3 months of age.

How Much Sleep Should Newborn Babies Get?

Generally, a newborn baby gets between 14 to 17 hours of sleep in 24 hours. They sleep in short bursts, waking up every 2 to 3 hours for feeds [2].

However, this sleep duration and sleep frequency will change based on the baby’s sleep cycles and development.

Here is a general overview of how much sleep newborns need based on age:

Newborn Sleep Schedule Example by Age

It is a given that any parent would want their baby to sleep well. Here are some baby sleep schedule examples that you can refer to when your baby is from 1 month old to 1 year old.

Don’t be alarmed if your baby does not seem to follow the schedule. The amount of time spent in light sleep, deep sleep, and naps is different for every baby. Babies sleep more if they are going through a growth spurt [3].

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Newborn sleep schedule for 1 to 3 months of age

Most babies between the ages of 1 to 3 months will sleep between 14 to 17 hours a day. They also nap frequently, needing about 4 to 5 naps— each lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours.

It is normal for your baby to wake up often when they are at this age because of short sleep patterns (each sleep cycle lasting about 40 minutes), hunger, and the need for diaper changes.

Wake windows for 1 to 3-month-old infants: Your baby may wake around 6 AM to 7 AM as the morning sun starts to rise.

Feeding time for 1 to 3-month-old infants: Feeding time should be every 2 to 3 hours.

Nap durations for 1 to 3-month-old infants: Naps can be taken after feeding. Your baby may nap between 30 minutes to 2 hours, after which you can proceed to wake them for feeding.

Bedtime for 1 to 3-month-old infants: Babies this age may start to fall asleep between 8 PM to 9 PM.

Sleep tips for a 1 to 3-month-old baby:

• Avoid bed-sharing: Having your baby share the same bed as you for sleep is not recommended. Bed-sharing can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) [4]. You may opt to room-share instead.
• Establish a bedtime routine: Establishing a bedtime routine can help to calm your baby down before sleep. This may include using soothing sleep sounds such as white noise or rocking your baby to sleep.
• Offer a pacifier: You may also want to offer a pacifier to help a crying baby self-soothe but don’t force it. It’s also encouraged to avoid introducing it too early to prevent “nipple confusion” [2].
• Swaddling with proper measures: Swaddling can help babies sleep better, provided it is done safely. Avoid swaddling too tightly, ensure your baby’s head is not covered, and always sleep on his or her back. Stop swaddling if your baby starts to turn or flip around [2].
• Rock your baby to sleep: Rocking your baby can help him or her to sleep through the night as they form the association between rocking and falling asleep.

See also: 5 Best Newborn Sleep Sack For Your Litte One

Newborn sleep schedule: 4-6 months

At this stage, a baby will slowly start to transition into a more ‘adult’ sleep cycle. You will find that your child may start to wake less and fall into a deep sleep stage more often through the months.

Babies of this age sleep for an average of 12 to 15 hours a day. As a baby reaches 6 months of age, most of them will tend to sleep longer than 9 hours, waking up occasionally [5].

Wake windows for 4 to 6-month-old infants: Your baby will continue to wake around 6 AM to 7 AM just as when they were slightly younger than this.

Feeding time for 4 to 6-month-old infants: Feeding time is stretched slightly with feeds taking place every 4 to 5 hours.

Nap durations for 4 to 6-month-old infants: Naps may last 1 to 2 hours for 2 to 3 times a day.

Bedtime for 4 to 6-month-old infants: A baby of this age will fall asleep between 7 PM to 8 PM.

Note: This chart is only meant to serve as a guideline. Each baby’s sleep pattern is unique and their needs would vary.

4 to 6 month old baby sleep tips:

• Creating a soothing sleep environment: A relaxing sleep environment can help babies get used to the light and dark cycle. Keep the room dark, cool, and quiet for sleep. Using a white noise machine can also help to drown out background noises.
• Watch for sleep cues: Know when your baby is ready for a nap or sleep and respond promptly to prevent overtiredness. Rubbing eyes, yawning or fussiness are all signs that they are ready for night’s sleep.
• Encourage self-soothing: Encourage your baby to self-soothe by putting them in bed when they are drowsy but still awake. This teaches them to go back to sleep themselves if they wake up at night [6].
• Take note of sleep regressions: Babies may experience sleep regressions when they are 4 months old. They may wake up more frequently or have trouble sleeping. Stick to a consistent schedule to help them adjust.
• Limit stimulating activities before bed: Try to avoid stimulating activities such as bright light or loud noises leading up to bedtime to help your baby wind down and prepare for sleep.

Keep track of your baby’s sleep quality with the ShutEye App today!

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Newborn sleep schedule: 7-12 months

Babies that are 7 to 12 months old also need between 12 to 15 hours of sleep in a day. It is also in this period when your baby’s sleep patterns will be like an adult’s.

Your baby will also experience physical, emotional, and social development which can affect their sleep. Separation anxiety is common as they gain more awareness of their surroundings.

Wake windows for 7 to 12-month-old infants: A baby at this age will often wake up between 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM.

Feeding time for 7 to 12-month-old infants: Feeding time is still the same, every 4 to 5 hours.

Nap durations for 7 to 12-month-old infants: Naps may last 1 to 2 hours for 2 to 3 times a day.

Bedtime for 7 to 12-month-old infants: A baby of this age will fall asleep between 7:30 PM to 8 PM.

Note: This chart is only meant to serve as a guideline. Every baby’s sleep schedules are unique and their needs vary.

*Follow the same tips as when your baby was 4 to 6 months old for better sleep at night.

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How To Know If My Baby Is Ready To Sleep?

When your baby is ready to fall asleep, there will be recognizable sleep cues to let you know. Some signs that indicate your baby is tired are:

• Ear pulling
• Yawning
• Closing of fists
• Rubbing of eyes or fluttering eyelids
• Frowning
• Sucking on thumbs

A fussy and crying baby that is difficult to soothe is the most obvious sign that your baby is overtired. It is important to recognize the signs before your baby reaches that point.

See also: 10 Best Sleep Tips for Newborns

Conclusion

Every newborn is different. They all have their own sleeping pattern and needs so you may find that the schedules above may or may not be suitable for your baby. Understanding your baby’s needs and being responsive to those cues can help you to adjust accordingly and ensure that your baby develops healthy sleep habits.

For more newborn sleep tips like this, check out the ShutEye® app. ShutEye® not only helps you to track your sleep cycle but it also offers personalized insights and custom sleep sounds to ensure a peaceful night’s rest.

Keep track of your baby’s sleep quality with the ShutEye App today!

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