Newborn sleep — what is normal and how to track it

Newborn sleep is chaotic by design — their circadian rhythm does not develop until 6-12 weeks. Here is what to expect and how to track it.

What is normal

• 0-4 weeks: 16-18 hours sleep per 24 hours, in 2-4 hour stretches. No pattern.
• 4-8 weeks: slightly longer stretches begin to emerge at night. Still no reliable pattern.
• 8-12 weeks: circadian rhythm begins to develop. Longer night sleep starts to consolidate.

Why tracking helps

A feeding and sleep log helps you spot patterns before they are obvious, reassures you the baby is feeding enough (6+ wet nappies per day after day 5 indicates good intake), and gives useful information to your midwife or health visitor.

When to worry

Contact your midwife or GP if the baby: feeds fewer than 8 times in 24 hours in the first 2 weeks, has fewer than 6 wet nappies per day after day 5, or is excessively sleepy and difficult to rouse for feeds.