How much does a newborn sleep?
Babies and toddlers have different sleep patterns and needs than adults. As a parent, you are probably already aware of this, but we would like to take this opportunity to delve a little deeper into the subject.
It is very important that your child gets enough sleep for their development and well-being. However, how little or how much sleep each baby needs can vary greatly.
So how much should a newborn sleep? And can a newborn baby sleep too much or too little? We'll dive into that here.
The newborn baby needs about 18 hours of sleep per day.
As a general rule, the average newborn baby needs about 18 hours of sleep a day. However, some babies will sleep more, while others will sleep less, and this is completely normal. There is also a big difference in how many hours newborns sleep at a time. Some wake up many times during the night, while others manage the night with fewer awakenings. Similarly, some babies sleep long daytime naps while some power nap. Both are completely normal.
During the first month, the newborn will typically have a number of waking periods, and the child will often need to be fed during the night.
As your baby gets older, their sleep needs will change. Already after 1-6 months, 14-15 hours of sleep will be sufficient.
The child has no fixed circadian rhythm in the first months
Being a parent of a newborn child can be hard and exhausting, not least because the newborn child has no fixed circadian rhythm in the first months.
Newborns are not able to distinguish between day and night, and therefore you may find that your child sleeps a lot during the day and less at night. As parents, you can quietly teach your child that there is a difference between day and night. You can do this, for example, by not leaving too many lights on at night.
After 4-12 months of age, the circadian rhythm usually begins to become more stable. At this point, the child will often start to sleep longer stretches at night – to the great joy of both the child and its parents.
Small children generally cannot sleep too much.
A very common concern among parents of young children is whether their newborn baby can sleep too much. Fortunately, we can dispel the myth that small children can sleep too much. They can't, as long as they are otherwise thriving.
In cases where the newborn does not get enough food as a result of too few waking hours, the baby may be sleeping too much.
Always contact your healthcare provider, doctor or other related professional if you are in doubt.
Can my child sleep too little?
If your child – and you – are doing well, your child can’t generally sleep too little. Remember that all children are different. However, if the lack of sleep affects your child’s mood and development, it may be necessary to look at how you can help your child sleep for more hours, and it may be advisable to seek help from professionals.
There may also be shorter periods of disturbed sleep where the cause is obvious. This may be in connection with illness, teething, overstimulation, major changes such as starting an institution, stomach cramps, and so on.
The bottom line is that as long as your baby and you are doing well, it doesn't matter how much your newborn sleeps, and you should never compare your baby to others.
Fortunately, all babies are different, and so will their sleep needs.
