Newborns typically sleep for most of the day, waking only for short periods to feed. While every baby is different, most experts recommend that newborns should not stay awake for longer than 1-2 hours at a time.
What is normal newborn sleep?
During the first few months, newborn sleep cycles are quite different from older babies and adults. Newborns have much shorter cycles of active and quiet sleep. They drift in and out of sleep frequently and their sleep states are not very well-defined.
A typical newborn sleep pattern looks like this:
- Total sleep in 24 hours: 8 to 18 hours
- Daytime sleep: 30 minutes to 4 hours (in 3-4 sleep cycles)
- Nighttime sleep: 2.5 to 4 hours (in 2-3 sleep cycles)
Newborns need to feed frequently, so they usually wake every 2-4 hours around the clock. They often fall asleep while feeding and have to be woken at the end of a feed. Between feeds, their sleep periods include both active/REM sleep and quiet/non-REM sleep.
How long should newborns stay awake?
Newborns typically have a wake time of 20 minutes to 1 hour between sleep cycles. After 50-60 minutes, they become fussy and show signs of being tired again. If left awake for longer periods, they become overstimulated and overtired, making it harder for them to fall asleep.
Here are some guidelines for newborn wake times:
| Newborn Age | Time Awake Between Naps |
|---|---|
| 0-6 weeks | 30-60 minutes |
| 6-12 weeks | 45-90 minutes |
| 3-6 months | 1-2 hours |
Newborns 0-6 weeks old typically handle 30-60 minutes of wake time before needing to sleep again. By 6 weeks, some babies can stay awake for up to 1.5 hours at a time.
Signs your newborn is ready to sleep
Instead of the clock, let your baby’s cues be your guide to when they need to sleep. Here are signs your newborn is getting tired and ready for a nap:
- Rubbing eyes
- Fussiness or crying
- Yawning
- Sucking fingers
- Arched back
- Glazed eyes
- Reduced interest in people and toys
- Loss of muscle tone and floppiness
When you see these cues, gently wind down playtime and start your naptime routine. Putting your baby down within 30 minutes helps prevent overtiredness.
Consequences of keeping a newborn awake too long
While every baby is different, most newborns have a hard time staying awake for longer stretches without becoming fussy and frustrated. Leaving a newborn awake for over 2 hours can lead to the following issues:
- Overtiredness – Being kept up past their limits leads to agitation, crying, and difficulty settling down to sleep.
- Shorter naps – Overtired babies tend to take short, fitful naps.
- Difficulty sleeping through the night – Chronic overtiredness can disrupt their biological clock and nighttime sleep patterns.
- Overstimulation – Too much sensory input and interaction can stress out a newborn’s immature nervous system.
- Missing sleep cues – Keeping a tired newborn awake prevents them from learning to connect sleep cues with falling asleep.
Making sure your newborn gets adequate daytime sleep prevents a build-up of sleep pressure that can lead to fussiness, crying, and overtired meltdowns.
Tips to prevent overtiredness
- Follow your baby’s cues rather than the clock.
- Start winding down 15-30 minutes before naptime.
- Establish a calming naptime routine.
- Put your baby in the crib when you see the first tired signs.
- Keep stimulation minimal during wake times.
- Make the sleep environment dark, cool, and quiet.
Should I wake my newborn from naps?
It’s generally best to let sleeping babies lie. Longer naps are great for helping newborns get the sleep they need. The main exception is if you need to wake your newborn at the end of a nap to keep them on an age-appropriate feeding schedule, usually every 2-3 hours.
Some parents worry that long naps lead to nighttime sleep issues. But new research suggests daytime and nighttime sleep are independently regulated in newborns. Long naps don’t cause sleep disruption at night.
If your baby is sleeping long stretches (more than 4-5 hours) at an early age, check with your pediatrician. At 4-6 weeks, some babies are developmentally ready to start dropping night feeds and consolidating their sleep for 6+ hour stretches overnight.
Reasons to wake a napping newborn
- If it’s been more than 3 hours since last feeding
- To remedy day-night confusion
- If the nap is at an unusual time or duration
- If you have to leave or need them awake for a car ride
Aside from feedings, let your sleeping newborn snooze as long as they need. Naps are essential brain food for growing babies.
Ways to extend newborn awake time gradually
If your baby is consistently staying awake at the long end of normal for their age, you can gradually extend their awake periods. Here are some tips:
- Increase awake time in 15-minute increments.
- Try extending one wake period per day at first.
- Watch closely for tired signs so you don’t push too far too fast.
- Increase stimulation gradually (colors, songs, soft toys).
- Pay attention to if longer awake times impact nighttime sleep.
- Keep a log to find the optimal awake times.
As your baby matures over the first 6 weeks, their sleep cycles become more defined and they can handle longer periods awake. But don’t try to rush this process. Let your newborn guide you.
Typical newborn sleep schedule by age
While every newborn is different, this chart provides a general overview of how total sleep and awake times change in the first 6 months:
| Age | Night Sleep | Day Sleep | Awake Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 months | 8-10 hours | 8-10 hours | 30-90 minutes |
| 2-4 months | 10-12 hours | 5-6 hours | 1-2 hours |
| 4-6 months | 11-12 hours | 3-4 hours | 1.5-2 hours |
Total sleep gradually consolidates into longer nighttime stretches. More daytime awake time allows for social interaction. But babies still require day naps until around 6 months old.
Newborn sleep schedule sample
Here is an example of a typical newborn sleep schedule at 6 weeks old:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7 am | Wake and feed |
| 7:30 am | Playtime |
| 8:30 am | Nap |
| 9:30 am | Wake and feed |
| 10 am | Playtime |
| 11 am | Nap |
| 12 pm | Wake and feed |
| 12:30 pm | Playtime |
| 1:30 pm | Nap |
| 3 pm | Wake and feed |
| 3:30 pm | Playtime |
| 4:30 pm | Nap |
| 6 pm | Wake and feed |
| 6:30 pm | Playtime |
| 7:30 pm | Bath and bedtime routine |
| 8:30 pm | Asleep for the night |
Conclusion
Newborns have short awake periods and require frequent daytime sleep for adequate rest. While each baby is different, most newborns should not stay awake longer than 1-2 hours before becoming overtired.
Pay close attention to your newborn’s tired signs. Establish an eat, play, sleep routine matched to their needs. As they grow over the first 6 weeks, they can gradually extend awake times during the day. But don’t rush this process or keep your newborn awake beyond their limits.
With a flexible schedule tailored to your baby’s cues, you can ensure your newborn gets the abundant sleep they need to support healthy development.