Sleep is a big part of your baby’s first few months, but newborn sleep can look very different from what you might expect. Rather than sleeping for one long stretch overnight, newborns tend to sleep in shorter periods throughout the day and night.
During the first month, babies may sleep around 15–18 hours in a 24-hour period. As they grow, their overall sleep needs gradually decrease, with babies around 4–5 months typically getting approximately 12–14 hours of sleep per day.
These are helpful guidelines, but every baby is different. Some may sleep a little more or less, and sleep patterns can change frequently as your baby grows.
How sleep changes in the first 5 months
In the early weeks, your baby’s sleep is spread across several naps during the day, with short periods of awake time in between. A newborn may only be awake for around 30–90 minutes at a time before they’re ready for another sleep.
As your baby gets older, those awake periods gradually become longer and the number of daytime naps typically begins to decrease. By 4–5 months, many babies can comfortably stay awake for longer stretches and may begin developing a more predictable sleep routine.
It’s important not to worry if your baby doesn’t follow an exact schedule. Sleep needs vary, and looking for your baby’s individual sleepy cues can be just as helpful as watching the clock.
What to expect overnight
Frequent nighttime waking is completely normal for newborns. Young babies need to wake regularly to feed, and their day-night sleep rhythm is still developing.
During the first month, your baby’s longest stretch of nighttime sleep may only be around 2–4 hours. Over the following months, you may start to notice longer stretches of sleep developing, although waking during the night is still normal throughout infancy.
Rather than expecting your newborn to sleep through the night, focus on establishing safe, consistent sleep habits and responding to their needs as they grow.
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