What does a newborn sleep schedule look like?
Congratulations, new parents as you embark on this incredible journey with your newborn, it's natural to feel a mix of excitement and exhaustion. One of the key challenges you may encounter is establishing a sleep schedule for your newborn.
Keep in mind that newborns SLEEP! Maybe not in long spurts (as much as we’d like that to be true), but they do get overtired pretty easily so offering sleep often is the best way to combat that.
In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of what a newborn schedule looks like and how it will help your little one thrive! Keep in mind that “schedule” is simply a google buzz word and we do NOT put newborns on a by the clock schedule; that is stressful for both parents AND baby. A routine is much much much better to follow as you gives you a series of events that happen but not based on the time on the clock.
Why do newborns sleep so much?
First let’s understand your newborn’s sleep needs. From birth - 3 months old, your baby needs approximately 14-16+ hours of sleep between 4-7 naps and night time sleep!
The first few weeks can be that “honeymoon” time where they feed and sleep around the clock with very small windows of wakefulness. This period may be longer if the baby was born early or shorter if the baby was born late.
Do newborns have a sleep schedule? What does a newborn sleep schedule look like?
Before you get started on their schedule, observe how your newborn is adjusting to the world outside the womb, do they have their nights and days confused? Are they awake and happy during the night and sleeping all day? If so, here are two helpful tips to help them:
Expose your newborn to natural light and engage them in stimulating activities during the day. This helps establish circadian rhythm, making it easier for them to differentiate between day and night. In the middle of the night, keep light off or dim and do not engage while feeding.
Nap the baby in a bright room during the day during the first 4-8 weeks to sort out day/night confusion.
Create a bedtime routine to signal to your newborn that it's time to for bed. Incorporate activities like a bath, massage, and books / lullabies to create a soothing atmosphere before sleep.
Sleep Schedule:
Observe Wake Windows: Pay attention to the duration of time your baby can stay awake between naps. Do not worry about “play” time for the first couple of weeks. Newborns can typically handle around 45 minutes to 1 hour of wake time (which includes feeding time) before needing another nap.
Encourage an EASY Schedule: Eat, Activity (diaper change, floor time), and then sleep!
Consistent: be consistent with sleep routines
Feed on demand the first 6 weeks, but try to somewhat stick to a 2- 3hr schedule to avoid snacking and encourage full feeds. Cluster feeding IS normal in the evening hours.
Survive the witching hour
BT is usually around 9-11pm the first few weeks.
It's essential to remember that your newborn's sleep schedule will evolve over time. Be prepared for many adjustments along the way as you have to increase wake time, drop naps, growth spurts, teething, and developmental leaps may disrupt established patterns. If you have more questions about what a newborn sleep schedule looks like, schedule a 15 minute consult.
