Newborn sleep week by week: what to expect from week 1 to 12

Newborn sleep changes almost week by week, but the big picture stays the same for the first 12 weeks: lots of sleep in total, in short pieces around the clock, broken up by frequent feeds. The AAP says newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours a day but may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time, and the NHS says the total can be around 18 hours. Most babies feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Crying usually starts to build between the second and fourth weeks and peaks at around 6 weeks to the second month, and a day-night rhythm starts to emerge from about 8 to 9 weeks.

This guide walks through each stage: what's typical, how feeding fits in, what helps, and which signs need help. Use it as a map, not a timetable. Babies move through these stages at their own pace, and if your baby was born early, use their corrected age (their age minus the weeks they were born early), as the AAP's corrected-age guide explains.

Newborn sleep at a glance: weeks 1 to 12

These totals are ranges and averages, not targets. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) makes no recommendation for babies under 4 months, citing "the paucity of published outcomes in infants this young" in its consensus paper. KidsHealth gives 14–17 hours as typical, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) gives averages of 16 hours for a newborn, 15.5 hours at 1 month and 15 hours at 3 months, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association (Australian Breastfeeding Association) quotes an Australian study that found 11–18 hours under 3 months. A baby who is feeding well, growing and content is usually getting enough. The baby sleep schedule by age explains how these figures fit with later ages.

Do wake windows and schedules work in the newborn weeks?

Only loosely. No public-health body publishes wake-window tables; they're practical conventions from health publishers, not clinical guidance. Sleep Foundation's wake-window guide says wake windows as short as 30–45 minutes and up to 90 minutes are normal for newborns, that newborns may take six or more naps a day, and that there's no need to stretch wake windows to lengthen sleep. Sleep Foundation also says erratic sleep schedules are normal in newborns.

So in these weeks, follow your baby's cues: feed when they're hungry, and put them down when they show tired signs such as yawning, staring off or fussing. A loose order of feed, short awake time and sleep is more useful than the clock. See wake windows and newborn sleep patterns for more.

Week 1: what is newborn sleep like in the first week?

Most newborns sleep most of the day and night in the first week, waking mainly to feed. The CDC says that in the first days your baby may want to feed as often as every 1 to 3 hours. Feeds are often long and unevenly spaced while you're both learning.

Weight and waking for feeds. The NHS says it's normal for babies to lose some weight in the first few days, and that your baby will be weighed during their first 2 weeks to check they're regaining it. KidsHealth says to wake your baby to feed every 3 to 4 hours until they show good weight gain. Follow your midwife's advice for your baby, especially if they were early, jaundiced or slow to feed.

Sleep sounds. Newborn sleep is noisy. The AAP's newborn behaviour guide says breathing pauses of less than 10 seconds are normal if your baby is comfortable during them, and that grunting while pushing out a poo is normal. Grunting or moaning with every breath is not normal and needs 999.

Jaundice. The NHS jaundice page says the yellow colour is usually most noticeable around 3 days old. Jaundice in a baby less than 24 hours old, or a jaundiced baby who is sleepier than normal, difficult to wake or not feeding, needs 999. See newborn jaundice.

What helps: feeding on cue, skin-to-skin cuddles, and accepting help so you can rest. Set up the safe sleep space from the first night (see the safe-sleep section below), and see feeding a newborn for the feeding side.

Week 2: what changes in the second week?

Your baby is still sleeping in short pieces and feeding often. The CDC says most breastfed babies feed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, every 2 to 4 hours on average. The AAP's feeding guide says breastfed newborns usually feed about every 2 hours, with 10–12 feeds in 24 hours the norm, and that most bottle-fed newborns feed every 2 to 3 hours, with 8 feeds generally the minimum. The NHS says most babies are at or above their birth weight by 3 weeks.

Hungry days. Some health services describe a first growth spurt at about 2 to 3 weeks. The Maryland Department of Health's WIC programme says growth spurts last 1 to 2 days for most babies, with more frequent, longer feeds and extra fussiness. A 2024 review, though, found growth spurts at fixed ages are not well supported by evidence. Either way, the answer is the same: feed responsively. See growth spurts.

Jaundice that lingers. The NHS says jaundice usually takes around 2 weeks to go. If it isn't getting better or is getting worse, or your baby has dark yellow or brown pee or pale, creamy poo, get medical help the same day.

What helps: short wake times (often little more than a feed and a cuddle), naps wherever your baby falls asleep safely, and sleeping when your baby sleeps, which the NHS suggests.

Weeks 3 and 4: why does my baby seem more awake?

Many parents notice longer, more alert spells around now, and with them the classic mix-up of days and nights. KidsHealth says it may take a few weeks for a baby's brain to know the difference between night and day. The NHS suggests daylight, play and normal household noise by day, and low lights, quiet voices and changing nappies only when needed at night. See day-night confusion for the full approach.

Crying starts to build. The AAP's colic guide says colicky crying usually starts between the second and fourth weeks. It often clusters in the evening, which the AAP puts at between 6 pm and midnight for many babies.

Feeding. The AAP says that by the end of the first month, bottle-fed babies usually take about 90–120 mL (3–4 oz) every 3 to 4 hours. Breastfed babies keep feeding on cue, and feeds may bunch together at times; the CDC says some babies feed as often as every hour at times, often called cluster feeding.

Settling. CHOP's averages for 1 month are about 8 to 9 hours of sleep at night and 7 hours by day, spread over many sleeps. Many babies at this stage settle best in arms. That's normal; see newborn won't sleep unless held for safe ways through it. If you're breastfeeding and would like to offer a dummy, the AAP says to wait until breastfeeding is established; see dummies.

Weeks 5 and 6: why is my baby crying more in the evenings?

This is often the hardest stretch. The AAP says colicky crying usually peaks at about 3 hours a day by 6 weeks old. The NHS colic page says a baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for at least 1 week while otherwise healthy. Many babies who don't meet that definition still have fussy evenings at this age.

Another hungry patch. The Maryland WIC page lists a growth spurt around 6 weeks, with the same caution about the evidence. Expect some days of more frequent feeding and shorter sleeps.

Awake time. Cleveland Clinic gives 1 to 2 hours as a typical wake window from 1 to 3 months, up from 0.5 to 1 hour in the first month. These are practical conventions, not clinical guidance; your baby's tired signs matter more.

What helps:

1. Plan for the evening. Eat early, have the nappy station stocked, and line up help for the late afternoon if you can.
2. Use closeness and rhythm. Holding, rocking, a pram walk or a warm bath can all help; see soothing a crying baby.
3. Take a break safely. The Hull PURPLE crying leaflet says that if no trusted carer can take over, put your baby in a safe place, such as their cot, and walk away for a few minutes. Never shake a baby.

Weeks 7 and 8: when does the crying peak, and when does the body clock start?

The crying peak. The Hull leaflet explains the Period of PURPLE Crying, which describes crying increasing most in the second month, then easing in months 3 to 5. PURPLE stands for Peak of crying, Unexpected, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long-lasting and Evening. The word "period" is a reminder that it ends. See colic and PURPLE crying for a full coping plan.

The body clock switches on. Sleep Foundation's newborn sleep guide says melatonin and cortisol release begin to follow a daily rhythm at about 8 to 9 weeks, and that sleep starts to consolidate around 2 months. Keeping days bright and nights dim gives that new rhythm something to latch onto.

New skills and smiles. The CDC's 2-month milestones include calming down when spoken to or picked up, looking at your face and smiling when you talk to or smile at your baby. The AAP's reflexes guide says the startle reflex usually peaks in the first month and starts to disappear after about 2 months, and its behaviour guide says it slowly resolves by 4 months.

Watch for rolling if you swaddle. Stop swaddling (wrapping) as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll. Red Nose in Australia also says to stop by 3 months, whichever comes first, and the AAP notes some babies start trying to roll as early as 2 months. See swaddling.

Weeks 9 to 12: will my baby start sleeping longer at night?

Some will, some won't yet, and both are normal. KidsHealth says some babies sleep 5 to 6 hours at a time by 2 to 3 months, but others don't. CHOP says babies typically don't sleep six to eight hours at night until about 3 months, and the NHS says that even between 3 and 6 months, some babies sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer at night, but not all. CHOP's averages at 3 months are about 9 to 10 hours at night and 4 to 5 hours by day.

Crying eases. The AAP says colicky crying declines to 1 or 2 hours a day by 3 to 4 months, and the NHS says colic usually stops by 3 to 4 months.

Day and night come together. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says many babies start showing signs of a day-night rhythm around 3 to 4 months, though this varies widely. The NHS says a simple, calm bedtime routine may help your baby settle; see bedtime routine.

Wrapping ends. Australia's Red Nose's limit of 3 months falls in this stage, and rolling signs may appear before it. Move to an arms-free sleeping bag that fits well at the neck and chest, with no hood.

Looking ahead. The AAP says babies don't have regular sleep cycles until about 4 months, so sleep often reorganises around then. See the 4-month sleep regression and the 3–5 month sleep schedule.

What safe-sleep basics apply every week?

The rules don't change as your baby grows through these weeks. Australia's Red Nose's six safe sleep recommendations, the AAP's safe sleep guide and the NHS SIDS guidance agree on the basics:

• On the back for every sleep, naps and nights.
• A firm, flat surface. The AAP says any surface inclined more than 10 degrees isn't safe for sleep.
• Their own cot or bassinet in your room for at least the first 6 months, day and night.
• Nothing soft or loose in the cot, head and face uncovered, and no weighted blankets, sleepers or swaddles, which the AAP says not to use.
• Smoke-free, before and after birth, and breastfeed if you can.
• No heat sources. The NHS says babies should never sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket.
• Move your baby after car, swing or sling sleeps. The AAP says to move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible.
• Never on a sofa or armchair with you. The AAP says the risk of sleep-related death is up to 67 times higher when babies sleep with someone on these surfaces.
• Consider a dummy for sleep, which the AAP says helps reduce the risk of SIDS.

See safe sleep for the reasons behind each rule.

When should I get help in the first 12 weeks?

Call 999 now if your baby:

• is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast, grunting or moaning with every breath, or sucking in under the ribs or at the tummy
• has a breathing pause of more than 20 seconds, or any pause with pale, blue or grey colour or floppiness
• has blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• is floppy, much sleepier than usual, hard to wake or can't be woken, or is much sleepier than usual and not feeding
• has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry, or a cry that doesn't sound like their normal cry
• is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
• has had no wet nappy or wee for 12 hours, or has a seizure
• has jaundice and is less than 24 hours old, or is jaundiced and sleepier than normal or not feeding

These come from the NHS urgent-help guide, the NHS colic and jaundice pages, the AAP's newborn behaviour guide and the AAP's sleep apnoea guide.

Get medical help today (same-day GP, after-hours doctor or NHS 111) if your baby:

• had a breathing pause of more than 10 seconds and is now breathing normally
• is refusing feeds or feeding much less than usual but is alert
• has fewer wet nappies than usual
• has jaundice first seen after 24 hours old, jaundice that isn't getting better, or pale poo or dark yellow wee
• is under 1 month old and looks or acts differently from usual in any way, which the AAP says needs prompt care

Talk to your GP or health visitor (or your midwife in the first weeks) if you have questions about how much your baby sleeps, feeds or cries, or if colic still seems intense after 4 months, which the NHS says is worth raising. Book a check soon, rather than waiting for a routine visit, if your baby isn't back to their birth weight by 3 weeks. Tell your GP or health visitor, too, if you're finding it hard to cope; your health visitor, or NHS 111 can also help.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, put your baby safely in their cot and call Samaritans on 116 123 or 999 now.

What's worth noting in a newborn sleep log?

Rough notes beat precise ones. For a few days at a time, jot down feeds, wet and dirty nappies, roughly when your baby slept, and the time of day crying was worst. Week to week, you're looking for trends: nappies holding steady, the longest sleep drifting towards the night, evening crying easing. Bring the notes to your baby's checks, and never let them delay getting help.