How Much Should a Newborn Sleep During the Day?

Sleeping babies are not affected by day and night cycles.

Baby Sleep Cycles

Newborns may sleep 15 to 16 hours a day, with the longest sleep periods occurring during their first week. According to WebMD, newborns do not have an internal clock that assists with sleep scheduling. This means they are not affected by day or nighttime cycles.

Feeding Needs

Although newborns spend the majority of their day sleeping, they only sleep in three to four hour increments, according to the Nemours Foundation. A primary reason for this is that they need to be fed often. Newborns' stomachs are so small that they can hold only a small amount of milk or formula at a time.

Bottom Line

It is normal for newborns to sleep the majority of the day, and they may sleep up to 16 hours. However, parents should not expect their babies to sleep only at night or for extended consecutive hours. According to the Nemours Foundation, these irregular patterns will continue until babies adapt to their new surroundings and routine.

References

• WebMD: Child Sleep
• Nemours Foundation: Sleep and Newborns