Newborn
Newborn sleep: a survival guide for the first 12 weeks
Newborns don't have a circadian rhythm yet. Their sleep is driven by hunger, comfort, and a body that hasn't learned the difference between night and day. Here's how to ride the first 12 weeks.
What's normal
- 14–18 hours of sleep across 24 hours.
- Sleep stretches of 1.5–4 hours, day or night.
- Frequent feeds — every 2–3 hours is typical.
- Lots of noises, grunts, and "active sleep" — not always waking.
Easing day/night confusion
- Bright daylight (or curtains open) during day feeds.
- Keep nighttime feeds quiet, dim, and boring — no eye contact games.
- Start a short wind-down at the same time-ish each evening.
- Differentiate naps (light, gentle noise) from night sleep (dark, quiet).
Wake windows for newborns
In the first 6 weeks, most newborns can only stay awake for 35–60 minutes before needing to sleep again. That often means feeding, a diaper change, and they're already yawning.
Protecting your own sleep
- Trade shifts where possible — one parent does the "first stretch."
- Sleep when baby sleeps is annoying advice, but it's still the right one.
- Lower the bar on everything else for a few weeks.