Newborn sleep basics
Newborns sleep 14–17 hours per day, but in short bursts scattered around the clock. They have no circadian rhythm yet — day and night mean nothing to them — and their tiny stomachs require feeding every 2–3 hours, day and night. The single most useful structure for the first 12 weeks is the eat-wake-sleep cycle: feed when they wake, keep them awake for a short window, then put them down to sleep. Repeating this loop all day is the "schedule."
Sample schedules by age
0–1 month: feed on demand
Wake windows: 45–60 minutes. Naps: 5–6 short naps plus long night stretches with feeds every 2–3 hours. Longest night stretch: usually 2–3 hours.
Don't chase a schedule — watch for sleepy cues (glazed stare, jerky movements) and offer sleep early. This is pure survival mode; contact naps count.
1–2 months: rhythm emerges
Wake windows: 60–75 minutes. Naps: 4–5 per day, some stretching to 1–2 hours. Longest night stretch: often 3–4 hours, sometimes one lucky 5-hour run.
A loose pattern usually appears: a longer morning nap, shorter afternoon naps. Start exposing your baby to bright daylight in the mornings to build the circadian rhythm.
2–3 months: the first real pattern
Wake windows: 75–90 minutes. Naps: 4–5 per day, more predictable. Longest night stretch: 4–6 hours for many babies.
Bedtime can move earlier (many babies do well with a 7–8 pm bedtime now). The newborn wake window calculator can time naps precisely, and our short naps guide explains why newborn naps are brief.
The eat-wake-sleep cycle, in practice
- Eat. Feed fully when your baby wakes — a complete feed now buys a longer sleep later.
- Wake. A short awake period: diaper change, tummy time, cuddles. Keep it within the wake window.
- Sleep. At the first sleepy cue, start the wind-down: swaddle, dark room, white noise, down drowsy.
- Repeat. When they wake, start again at "eat."
Putting feeding at the start of the awake period (rather than right before sleep) helps your baby learn to fall asleep without feeding to sleep — a skill that pays off hugely after the 4-month regression.
Night sleep expectations
- Weeks 0–4: 2–3 hour stretches, feeding 2–3 times overnight. Normal and necessary.
- Weeks 6–8: many babies give one 4–5 hour stretch; the "witching hour" of evening fussiness often peaks and fades here.
- Weeks 8–12: 4–6 hour first stretches become common; day-night confusion usually resolves.
Keep nights dark, quiet, and boring — feed, change, back to sleep with minimal stimulation. Save the bright lights and play for daytime; that contrast is what teaches the circadian rhythm. If nights feel impossibly long, the baby sleep calculator can help you plan the day so nights come easier.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Newborns should always sleep on their backs on a firm, flat, bare surface. If your baby is difficult to wake, feeds poorly, has a fever, or you have any health concerns, contact your pediatrician promptly.