Tips for newborn sleep in the first 12 weeks

Wondering why your baby won’t sleep – or if they’re sleeping too much? A paediatrician explains newborn sleep habits.

Sleep is a common topic for parents of newborns. Some parents have babies who just won’t sleep, while others worry their baby is sleeping too much. And of course, there are those well-meaning friends and relatives ready to dish out advice that often contradicts itself.

The fact is that babies are unique little humans and what worked for your cousin and her baby may not work for you and yours. However, there are some guidelines for newborn sleep that you can follow.

How much sleep do newborns need?

Newborn babies sleep for 16 to 17 hours a day, but in very broken spells, says Dr Andrew Ferreirinha, a paediatrician at Mediclinic Kloof. “Some babies sleep in sessions of three to four hours, but many babies sleep for much shorter durations – sometimes 30-60 minutes a stretch only.”

Around three months old, the amount of sleep will usually decrease to 15 hours a day.

If your baby is sleeping for long periods, it’s not necessarily something to worry about. “For a healthy baby, it's normal for them to sleep in stretches of three to four hours. If they are feeding well and gaining weight, there’s no need to interrupt their sleep pattern.”

However, if you’re struggling with feeding and your baby is not gaining weight well, Dr Ferreirinha recommends seeing a paediatrician for a comprehensive assessment.

How your baby feeds can also have an impact on newborn sleep, he adds: “Breastfed babies tend to sleep for shorter stretches than formula-fed babies.”

Should you have a routine for newborn sleep?

Newborn sleep patterns can be unpredictable at first. Don’t expect your baby to follow a day/night pattern right away, says Dr Ferreirinha. However, he suggests helping your baby understand the difference by showing that daytime is for being awake and nighttime is for sleeping.

“At night, have low lighting and a quiet, calm room. Don’t play with or talk to your baby too much during wakeful periods during the night to slowly establish nighttime as a time for sleeping. But you can rock, cuddle and sing to your baby if they are fussing.”

Babies usually start sleeping mostly at night around three months old, and this is when you can begin introducing a regular routine. But, Dr Ferreirinha warns, don’t try to force it. “Do not try to force your baby to stay awake during the day as over-tired babies may have trouble sleeping at night.”

And don’t withhold cuddles and soothing during the day, he adds. “You can’t ‘spoil’ your baby in the first few months by picking them up and soothing them. Babies who are carried often tend to have less colic.”

What to do if your baby won’t sleep

Some babies are just fussier than others, but there are things you can do to help your newborn sleep better, says Dr Ferreirinha:

• Start with the basics. Check your baby is fed, burped, and has a dry nappy. Burping is important to release air from the stomach. Not burping your baby after every feed can contribute to colic, which is a common reason babies have trouble sleeping.
• Dim the lights. Low lighting establishes nighttime as sleep time.
• Shhhhh. A quiet, calm environment will help encourage sleep.

Remember, in the first few months, it’s common for babies to wake frequently as their sleep cycles are still developing and they still need to feed frequently.