What to Expect With Newborn Sleep
Is it normal for my newborn to wake so frequently?
Yes. Frequent waking is completely normal and expected in the newborn stage. Newborns have small stomachs, immature sleep cycles, and no established circadian rhythm yet. Most will wake every 2–3 hours, sometimes more often, both day and night. This is not a sign of poor sleep or bad habits. It is biology doing exactly what it is meant to do.
Should my newborn be on a routine yet?
No. In the early weeks, newborn sleep is driven almost entirely by biological needs rather than schedules. There is no routine to follow or fix at this stage. Instead of watching the clock, it is more supportive to follow your baby’s cues for feeding, sleep, and comfort. Gentle patterns will naturally begin to emerge over time, but routine comes later.
Am I creating bad habits by feeding or holding my newborn to sleep?
No. Newborns are not capable of forming sleep habits in the way older babies are. Feeding to sleep, contact naps, rocking, and holding are all developmentally appropriate ways to support a newborn’s nervous system and help them transition into sleep. These supports are not something you need to avoid. They are often essential in the early weeks and can be adjusted later as your baby matures.
The early weeks explained
Newborn sleep is often one of the biggest shocks for new parents. If your baby wakes frequently, naps feel unpredictable, or evenings are unsettled, you are not doing anything wrong.
In the early weeks, sleep is driven almost entirely by biology. There is no routine yet, no pattern to “fix”, and no expectation that sleep will look organised. Understanding what is normal at this stage can make a significant difference to how supported and confident you feel.
Quick snapshot, what is normal in the first 12 weeks
If your newborn feels unpredictable, it is. Most families will see:
Sleep in short bursts, often 20 to 90 minutes at a time
4 to 6 naps per day, with no consistent pattern yet
Cluster feeding in the evening, especially 4.00pm to 10.00pm
A fussy period in the late afternoon and evening
Needing lots of support to fall asleep, and to stay asleep
Frequent waking overnight for feeding and comfort
A “good night” for many newborns is still waking every 2 to 3 hours.
What does newborn sleep actually look like?
Newborns sleep a lot across a 24-hour period, but rarely in long stretches. Sleep is scattered day and night, often in short bursts, with frequent waking in between.
Most newborns:
Sleep around 14–17 hours in 24 hours
Wake every 2–3 hours, sometimes more frequently
Have little awareness of day versus night
Need support to fall asleep and stay asleep
This is normal and expected. Newborn sleep is immature and functions very differently to older babies and adults.
Why does my newborn wake so often
Frequent waking is driven by a combination of:
Small stomach capacity
The need for comfort and regulation
At this stage, waking is not a sign of poor sleep habits. It is a biological necessity.
Feeding patterns that are normal
Many newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Some will feed more often in the evenings and then do a slightly longer first stretch overnight.
It is also normal to see:
Cluster feeding, especially in the evenings
Short feeds paired with frequent waking
A baby who wants to feed again as soon as they wake
Feeding to sleep is not a bad habit in the newborn stage, it is biology and regulation.
Day-night confusion
Many newborns experience day–night confusion, where they sleep longer stretches during the day and are more wakeful overnight.
This happens because newborns are born without a mature circadian rhythm. Hormones that regulate sleep and wakefulness take time to develop, and exposure to light and darkness gradually helps regulate this process.
Day–night confusion is very common and usually improves over the first couple of months as sleep hormones begin to mature. This stage is explored further in day night confusion, which looks at why it happens and how to gently support the shift.
Settling a newborn
Newborns are not capable of settling themselves. They rely on caregivers to help regulate their nervous system and transition into sleep.
Settling a newborn may involve:
Feeding
Holding or rocking
Patting
Using motion or white noise
These supports are not habits you need to avoid. They are developmentally appropriate and often necessary in the early weeks.
Swaddling and newborn sleep
Swaddling can be very helpful for newborn sleep, particularly in the early weeks when the startle reflex is strong and sleep cycles are short.
A well-fitted swaddle can:
Reduce the Moro reflex
Help newborns stay asleep for longer stretches
Provide a sense of containment and security
Different babies respond better to different swaddle styles, and choosing the right type can make a noticeable difference to sleep quality. This is covered in more detail in which swaddle is best for my baby, which explains common swaddle options and how to choose what suits your newborn.
Swaddling should always be done safely and discontinued once your baby shows signs of rolling. Guidance on this transition is covered in when to stop swaddling.
Pacifiers, dummies, and newborn sleep
Pacifiers, also known as dummies, can be a helpful settling tool for newborns. In addition to soothing benefits, research shows that dummy use during sleep is protective against SIDS.
Understanding how newborns and pacifiers interact can help families decide whether a dummy is supportive or frustrating during the early weeks. There is no requirement to use one, but they are considered safe and beneficial when used appropriately.
Safe sleep matters
Creating a safe sleep setup is essential in the newborn stage. Newborns should always be placed on their back to sleep, on a firm mattress, in a clear sleep space.
Safe sleep guidance is covered in more detail in safe sleep, which outlines how to reduce risk and create a secure sleep environment for your baby.
A simple newborn routine, cues not clock time
Newborns are not ready for a schedule, but they do benefit from predictable cues.
During the day:
Get daylight exposure early, even 10 minutes near a window helps
Keep feeds in brighter spaces
Talk, play, and keep things normal volume
Do not stress about perfect naps, aim for enough sleep overall
At Night:
Keep lights very dim
Keep interactions boring and calm
Feed, burp, nappy if needed, back to sleep
Avoid screens, loud play, and turning on bright overhead lights
This helps your baby’s body clock mature, even if sleep is still broken.
You can read more about creating a newborn night routine in the blog.
If your newborn will not settle, try this order
Start with the simplest option and build support as needed:
Check basics, nappy, temperature, hunger
Swaddle if appropriate, or use an arms out suit if rolling is close
White noise, consistent and loud enough to mask household sound
Hold close and use rhythmic movement, rocking, bouncing, walking
Patting or shushing in arms, then transfer once deeply asleep
If transfers keep failing, use contact sleep for that nap and reset later
When does newborn sleep start to change
Sleep begins to shift gradually over the first few months as:
Sleep cycles mature
Day–night hormones develop
Awake windows lengthen
When to get help
Speak with your GP or child health nurse if you notice:
Poor weight gain or consistently sleepy during feeds
Less than expected wet nappies
Very frequent vomiting or discomfort with feeds
Persistent crying that does not improve with comfort
You are feeling low, anxious, or not coping
Looking ahead, what changes after the newborn stage
Around 12 to 16 weeks many babies become more alert, wake windows lengthen, and sleep begins to organise. This is often where families start noticing new settling challenges, more night waking, or catnapping.
If you want a clear plan for that transition, the 5 to 24 Month Infant Sleep Course walks you through routines, naps, nights, regressions, and how to support your baby to fall asleep independently over time.
Eva Beke
Certified Paediatric Sleep Consultant
Founder The Sleepy Little Bubs
I’m a certified paediatric sleep consultant and the founder of The Sleepy Little Bubs. I support families through baby and toddler sleep with practical, evidence-based guidance that considers the whole picture - sleep, development, routines, feeding, and family dynamics.
My approach is realistic, supportive, and designed to evolve as your child grows, so you’re not just getting help for today, but confidence moving forward.
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