Baby Sleep in the First Year: Key Facts
Information sourced from Cleveland Clinic.
Sleep Duration and Patterns
- Babies sleep 11 to 17 hours a day in their first year.
- Sleep is spread into smaller chunks throughout day and night, especially in first few months.
- Babies 4 to 12 months old should sleep 12 to 16 hours a day, including naps.
- No official recommendations for babies younger than 4 months old.
- Newborns (first two months) sleep in short bursts of 30 minutes to three hours.
- Newborns wake up for about two hours before going back to sleep.
- Most babies start sleeping through the night (5-6 hours without feeding) by 6 months.
- Some babies start sleeping longer stretches around 4 months.
- Babies may wake up 1-6 times per night, patterns can change throughout first year (sleep regression).
Why Babies Sleep So Much
- Normal and necessary for quick growth and development.
- Supports all aspects of physical and mental health.
- Newborns can't tell difference between day and night.
- Need time to develop circadian rhythm (internal 24-hour clock).
Feeding and Sleep
- Breastfed babies should feed every 2-3 hours.
- Bottle-fed babies can go 3-4 hours between feedings.
- Some experts recommend waking babies to feed within first two weeks if weight gain is needed.
- Others suggest waking to feed during first 5-6 weeks if baby sleeps longer than 5 hours.
- Usually babies under 6 months wake every 3-4 hours due to hunger.
Self-Soothing
- Infants under 3 months rely on parents to soothe them back to sleep.
- Around 3 months, parents can begin teaching babies to self-soothe.
- Self-soothing means calming down with little or no help.
- Process takes time but helps both baby and parents long-term.
- Self-soothing won't work for babies who are hungry, sick, or have dirty diapers.
Tips for Better Baby Sleep
Create a 20-30 minute bedtime routine
- Feed at start of routine so baby doesn't rely on feeding to fall asleep.
- Bath time, lullabies, reading books can help signal sleep time.
Maintain naps as part of daytime routine
- Don't keep baby up longer thinking it will help nighttime sleep.
- Overtired babies have harder time falling and staying asleep.
Help develop circadian rhythm
- Keep baby in bright/sunny spaces during day.
- Remove bright lights at night.
- Keep nighttime feedings calm, quiet, minimal interaction.
Monitor room temperature
- Keep sleeping space at 68-72°F (20-22°C).
Try different sleep training methods
- What works for one baby may not work for another.
- Methods that worked previously may stop working.
- Experiment, change approaches, combine methods as needed.
Give plenty of attention while awake
- Holding baby often in first few months helps them feel calm and safe.
- Good opportunity for family and friends to help.
Safe Sleep Practices
- Baby should sleep in bassinet or crib in parents' room or separate room.
- Never let baby sleep in adult bed.
- Bed-sharing increases risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS.
- Always put baby to sleep on their back.
- SIDS is sudden and unexplained death of a healthy baby.
When to Seek Medical Help
Signs to talk to pediatrician about:
- Baby seems extremely fussy and soothing isn't working (may have reflux or colic).
- Baby has difficulty waking up.
- Baby seems uninterested in feeding.
- Concerns about what's normal vs. what's concerning, especially for first-time parents.