How Many Hours Should a Newborn Sleep Per Day?

Newborn infants sleep in short intervals throughout the day.

Getting Enough Sleep

Your newborn may sleep 16 hours a day, on average. Most of those sleep periods will be two to four hours long and punctuated by feeding periods and brief periods of alertness. Your baby will not necessarily know the difference between night and day, so you can expect this cycle to run on a 24-hour schedule.

Feeding Every Two Hours

Some newborns can sleep for longer periods of time, even stretches that last more than four hours. Most newborns need to eat about every two hours, therefore some pediatricians recommend waking your baby every two or three hours if he sleeps for longer stretches. This can be particularly important if you are breastfeeding your child, as regular feedings can help with lactation.

Bottom Line

The sleep recommendations are based on averages and general trends that newborns follow. Your newborn may sleep more or sleep less than 16 hours each day. If she is otherwise healthy, is eating well, and produces enough wet and soiled diapers each day, the exact number of hours she sleeps is not as important. If you have concerns about inadequate or excessive sleep, you should talk with your pediatrician.

References

• "The Complete and Authoritative Guide: Caring for your baby and young child, 4th ed"; American Academy of Pediatrics, Steven P. Shelov, MD, editor; 2005