Bleary-eyed parents can attest to the fact that newborns do not sleep in a consistent, "normal" pattern. Although they do spend large chunks of their time asleep, they often wake frequently. They can also end up with their days and nights mixed up---leading to plenty of rest for baby in the daytime and no sleep for anybody at night. Knowing the facts about infant sleep and development can help you form realistic expectations for your newborn. They can also help you encourage healthy sleep patterns in your baby from the beginning.
Significance
Although night-waking due to hunger can be frustrating for exhausted parents, your newborn baby needs to eat frequently in order to grow properly. Night-waking also has important survival benefits, according to Dr. William Sears, pediatrician and author of "The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth Until Age Two." Sears theorizes that a baby's lighter sleep patterns ensure he wakes up and cries if his breathing is compromised or if he needs warmth.
Time Frame
Expect your newborn to sleep up to 16 hours a day, in chunks of three to four hours at a time. Breastfed babies usually wake to eat more often than formula-fed ones---sometimes as much as every one to two hours. As he grows older and gains weight, he will be able to go longer between feedings. Mayoclinic.com suggests that a 3-month-old can often sleep five hours at a time, and a 6-month-old might sleep in stretches of 9 to 12 hours.
Safety Facts
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting your baby to sleep in a crib with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid using bumpers, stuffed toys, pillows and comforters, since these pose a risk of suffocation for your baby. The AAP suggests that the safest place for your baby is in your room---but not in your bed. Avoid smoking in the house with your baby and put light sleep clothing on him to avoid the risk of over-heating.
Misconceptions
Even after they grow and develop more consistent sleep patterns, many babies continue to wake up at night throughout the first year. According to Sears, the night-waking can occur due to pain from teething or discomfort from colds. You might also notice more night-waking when your child masters a new developmental skill such as walking or crawling.
Prevention/Solution
Following a regular bedtime routine and establishing regular schedules for daytime sleep can help your baby develop healthy sleep patterns. The National Sleep Foundation also advises parents to create a "sleep-friendly" environment in their baby's rooms, including light-blocking shades and white noise, to help them sleep longer and more deeply at night. They also urge parents to get in the habit of putting babies to bed drowsy but still awake so that babies learn to fall asleep on their own.
