Sleeping Baby: Patterns and Behaviors of Newborn Sleep

Newborns lack an advanced sense of day and night, leading them to sleep around the entire 24-hour cycle.

Due to their limited stomachs and small capacity for breast milk or formula, they generally wake to feed, regardless of the time.

Sleeping Pattern of Babies

According to the National Sleep Foundation, newborns mostly need 14-17 hours of sleep per day, with some infants sleeping up to 18-19 hours daily.

Newborns, whether breastfed or bottle-fed, aim to wake every 2-4 hours for feeding. It is advisable to wake infants sleeping for longer stretches to ensure regular feeding every 3-4 hours until they exhibit consistent weight gain, usually within the initial weeks.

Following this period, allowing longer sleep durations at night is acceptable.

The initial months pose difficulties for parents, who may find themselves waking numerous times at night to attend to their baby's necessities.

Each baby's sleep pattern is different, with some achieving lengthy periods of nonstop sleep (5-6 hours) by 2-3 months, while others may take longer to form such patterns.

Patterns and Behaviors of Newborn Sleep

In the early months of life, newborns primarily communicate their needs through frequent crying, relying on caregivers for assistance with feeding, changing, and settling back to sleep.

Despite spending 12 to 16 hours asleep within a 24-hour cycle, newborns lack established sleep-wake rhythms during this crucial period for mutual understanding.

Initially lacking awareness of day and night, newborns exhibit erratic waking patterns driven by nighttime needs.

Around three months, they may gradually discern the day-night rhythm, and encouraging nighttime sleep involves creating a conducive environment.

Newborn sleep cycles, lasting 20 to 50 minutes, consist of active and quiet phases.

As they mature, newborns learn to self-settle between cycles. Guiding this process involves placing them in the crib awake, recognizing tiredness signs, and maintaining positive routines.

Feeding is integral to newborn sleep, contributing to shorter sleep periods during the initial three months.

Regardless of feeding method, the age at which a baby sleeps through the night remains unaffected, emphasizing routine based on feeding needs over strict sleep schedules.

Crying, a primary form of communication, averages nearly three hours daily until 3 to 6 months, peaking in the late afternoon.

Responding calmly is crucial, understanding occasional unclear causes or increased crying phases.

As long as newborns exhibit growth, weight gain, and overall happiness, persistent crying phases are generally normal, emphasizing the importance of self-care during these moments.

Read Also: When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? Simple Tips on How To Help Them Sleep Longer

Various Alert Phases Observed in Newborns

Newborns exhibit individual differences in their levels of alertness while awake.

Quiet Alert Phase

Upon waking at the conclusion of a sleep cycle, newborns typically enter a quiet alert phase.

During this period, the baby remains still but is awake, absorbing the surroundings. Babies in the quiet alert phase may gaze at objects and respond to sounds and motion.

This phase often transitions into the active alert phase, marked by heightened attentiveness to sights and sounds, accompanied by active movement.

Crying Phase

Following the quiet alert phase comes the crying phase, during which the baby's body moves unpredictably, and loud crying may occur.

Babies can easily become overstimulated during this phase, making it crucial to find ways to calm both the baby and the surrounding.

Holding the baby near or swaddling them snugly in a blanket can be efficient in soothing a crying baby.

It is recommended to feed babies before they reach the crying phase, as crying can be an edge sign of hunger in newborns.

Caution Regarding Swaddling

Swaddling involves wrapping newborns securely in a blanket to avoid flailing of arms and legs, giving a sense of security and helping in sleep.

Special swaddling blankets are available for this purpose.

However, caution should be applied, as swaddling is not advisable for babies aged 2 months or older, or those who can roll over on their own.

Swaddling at this phase may heighten the danger of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if the baby rolls towards the stomach.

When swaddling, it is essential to allow ample room for the baby to move their hips and legs, preventing constriction that could impede proper hip joint development and possibly lead to hip dysplasia and dislocation.

Additionally, swaddling should be prevented in warm weather to avoid overheating, with a lighter blanket or sheet suggested rather.

Assisting the Baby in Establishing Sleep Patterns

Newborns may struggle to establish their own sleep-wake patterns, especially when going to sleep.

Parents can help their baby's sleep by sensible elements of sleep readiness, teaching the baby to self-soothe, and creating a convenient and safe sleep environment.

Signs of sleep readiness consist of rubbing eyes, yawning, looking away, and fussing.

To assist the baby to fall asleep, it's crucial to be mindful of not forming a pattern where the baby relies on being held or rocked to sleep.

Building a bedtime routine, such as playing soft music while the baby gets sleepy, can add to a positive sleep environment and routine.

Related Article: How To Effectively Use a Sleep Sack for Newborns