What 14–17 hours means for a newborn
Newborns are in the National Sleep Foundation’s 0–3 month group. The recommended amount is 14 to 17 hours of sleep in every 24 hours. That sleep is spread across the day and night in short stretches, often 2 to 4 hours at a time, because small stomachs need frequent feeds.
The NSF also lists 11–13 hours or 18–19 hours as “may be appropriate” for some babies. The highlighted row in the table below is the one that applies to a newborn.
| Age group | Ages | Recommended | May be appropriate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 0–3 months | 14–17 h | 11–13 or 18–19 h |
| Infant | 4–11 months | 12–15 h | 10–11 or 16–18 h |
| Toddler | 1–2 years | 11–14 h | 9–10 or 15–16 h |
| Preschooler | 3–5 years | 10–13 h | 8–9 or 14 h |
| School-age child | 6–13 years | 9–11 h | 7–8 or 12 h |
| Teenager | 14–17 years | 8–10 h | 7 or 11 h |
| Young adult | 18–25 years | 7–9 h | 6 or 10–11 h |
| Adult | 26–64 years | 7–9 h | 6 or 10 h |
| Older adult | 65+ years | 7–8 h | 5–6 or 9 h |
Why newborns sleep day and night
Newborns are not born with a body clock that follows day and night. It develops gradually over the first few months, helped by daylight, feeds and the rhythm of family life. Until then, long sleeps can land at any time, and night waking is completely normal.
Time awake between sleeps is short in the early weeks, often somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, including the feed. Many babies begin to sleep a longer stretch at night around 3 to 4 months, but every baby is different.
Safe sleep basics
Safe sleep matters more than any schedule at this age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- Place your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps.
- Use a firm, flat surface: a cot, crib or bassinet with a fitted sheet.
- Keep the sleep space clear of pillows, blankets, bumpers and soft toys.
- Share a room, not a bed, ideally for at least the first 6 months.
- Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair, and keep the room smoke-free and not too warm.
When a sleepy newborn needs checking
Newborns sleep a lot, but they should still wake regularly to feed. If your baby is unusually hard to wake, is not feeding well or seems unwell, contact your doctor or health visitor straight away rather than waiting.
What 24 hours with a newborn can look like
There is no schedule to aim for in the first weeks, but it helps to know what is typical. Many newborns:
- Sleep in stretches of about 2 to 4 hours, day and night, waking mainly to feed.
- Feed around 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, especially if breastfed.
- Stay awake for only a short time between sleeps, often less than an hour at first.
- Spend a lot of their sleep in light, active sleep, with twitches, grunts and fluttering eyes. This is normal.
Add those short stretches together and most newborns reach the 14–17 hours in the table above, even though it rarely feels like it to the parents.
How newborn sleep changes over the first 3 months
In the first couple of weeks, many babies are very sleepy and need waking for feeds; follow the advice you are given about feeding. Around 6 to 8 weeks, babies are often more alert and many become fussier in the evenings. This is a common, temporary phase.
By around 3 months, many babies start to sleep a longer first stretch at night as their body clock develops. See how much sleep a 3-month-old needs for what changes next, and sleep needs by age for every age.
Where your newborn naps
Daytime sleeps should follow the same safe sleep rules as night-time: on the back, on a firm flat surface, with nothing else in the sleep space.
Babies often fall asleep in car seats, slings or bouncers. If your baby falls asleep in one of these outside the car, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises moving them to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as you can. Sitting devices are not designed for routine sleep.
More answers
- How much sleep a 3-month-old needsNearby answer
- How much sleep a 6-month-old needsNearby answer
- Bedtime for a 4 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:15 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:30 AM wake-upRelated answer
- Bedtime for a 4:45 AM wake-upRelated answer
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a newborn to sleep most of the day?
Yes. Newborns often sleep 14–17 hours in 24 hours, so long sleepy periods are normal. They should still wake regularly to feed; if your baby is hard to wake for feeds or isn’t feeding well, contact your doctor.
When do babies start sleeping through the night?
There is no fixed age. Many babies sleep a longer stretch at night from around 3 to 6 months, but waking at night is still common and normal during the first year.
Should I wake my newborn to feed?
In the early weeks, doctors often advise waking a newborn who sleeps much longer than usual between feeds, especially before they are back to their birth weight. Follow the advice of your baby’s doctor or health visitor.
How long should a newborn stay awake between sleeps?
Usually not long. Many newborns are ready to sleep again after less than an hour awake, and this gradually stretches over the first few months. Watch for sleepy cues such as yawning, staring or fussing.
Related calculators
Sleep needs by age
See the recommended hours of sleep for any age, from newborns to older adults.
Bedtime calculator
Enter any wake-up time to see bedtimes that let you wake between sleep cycles.
Nap calculator
Plan a 10-, 20- or 90-minute nap and see when to set your alarm.
Sleep debt calculator
Add up the last seven nights and see how far you are from your sleep target.
Sources
- Hirshkowitz M, et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 2015;1(1):40–43. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010.
- Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics, 2022;150(1):e2022057990. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057990.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Sleep.
When to seek help
Contact your baby’s doctor or health visitor if they:
- are unusually hard to wake, or too sleepy to feed well;
- have pauses in their breathing, breathe noisily, or seem to struggle to breathe while asleep;
- are feeding much less than usual or have fewer wet nappies (diapers);
- seem unwell, floppy or unusually irritable. If you are worried, get help straight away.