The Real Truth About Newborn Baby Sleep Schedule

newborn baby sleep schedule

We've all heard the old cliché about sleeping like a baby.

Unfortunately, about two nights into having a newborn, we find ourselves wondering why on earth anyone would want to do this! The reality is a baby sleeps a lot, but she sure doesn't do it for long.

Sometime during the first few days, most of us parents begin hoping and pleading that our precious little bundles of joy learn how to sleep like adults instead.

So...

What's a parent to do and what is really going on with baby's sleeping?

While most babies sleep as much as 18 hours a day in their first week or so of life and about 16 a day after the first few weeks, those hours are broken up. In fact, they're broken up a lot!

The typical newborn baby sleep schedule calls for waking about once every two to four hours and sometimes more frequently.

Is there anything you can do to fix this?

No, not really.

She's honestly not trying to drive you to distraction. The reality is she's waking up that much for a host of good reasons.

The baby sleep schedule is distinctly unique from an adult's because babies have very different needs.

What's Up With A Newborn Baby Sleep Schedule?

When your baby wakes up like clockwork every two to four hours, the reasons for the patterning of her baby sleep schedule range from biological to just a plain need for a little comfort. The primary reasons she sleeps as she does and why you need to oblige when she calls include:

• More REM sleep. A baby sleep schedule is often impacted by the fact she's going to spend a great deal more time in the rapid eye movement phase of sleep than an adult or older child would. This particular pattern of sleep is important for her development, but it does mean she's easier to rouse than an older baby or child would be. This phase tends to pass fairly quickly - thank goodness!

• Hunger. Babies do not eat much at any one sitting and their little stomachs empty out fast. There's a very good chance if a baby sleep schedule develops at every two to four hours naturally, it's because she's hungry, thirsty or both. As she gets older, the span of time in between required feedings will improve. It's just getting from Point A to Point B that's hard.

• Changing time. Even a baby sleep schedule that's etched in stone can face a serious waylay when she gets dirty. Most newborns do not like the feeling of dirty or wet diapers. Even from Day One, she will let you know it.

Does It Ever Get Better?

While it's impossible to believe in the middle of a multi-week stretch with almost no sleep, the pattern will get better.

Before too much longer, a baby sleep schedule will regulate and she'll start sleeping between six and eight hours at a time.

The first marked improvements generally come about three months in and keep getting better as she gets older. The only warning here is that once she develops a good sleep schedule, chances are you will find yourself missing holding her in the middle of the night. (Really!)

The baby sleep schedule is rough on parents, but it develops the way it does to ensure she gets everything she needs. While each baby tends to vary just a bit in regard to sleep schedules, they almost all get better over time.

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