How Much Should a 10 Week Old Baby Sleep?

A 10-week-old baby should start sleeping for 4 to 6 hours at a time.

Babies Have Shorter Sleep Cycles

Babies have tiny tummies and shorter sleep cycles. According to Dr. William Sears a pediatrician and father of eight children, if babies didn't wake up often, "some basic needs would go unfulfilled. Tiny babies have tiny tummies, and mother's milk is digested very rapidly. If a baby's stimulus for hunger could not easily arouse her, this would not be good for baby's survival."

Baby is Starting to Settle

By 6 to 10 weeks, you'll start to notice that your baby is settling into more regular sleep patterns. Baby will sleep for 4 to 6 hours at a time during the longest periods (hopefully night) and be less confused about day and night. Babies need about 15 hours of sleep, at least, per day at 10 weeks.

Bottom Line

Babies need to sleep, but they also need to wake up frequently. Waking up is a survival mechanism, according to Dr. Sears, that keeps them fed, warm, and alerts parents to illness.

References

• WebMD: How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?
• Ask Dr. Sears: 8 Infant Sleep Facts Every Parent Should Know