How newborns sleep from 0-12 weeks old

Everyday may still look a little different. Baby sleep can feel like an enigma- awake too short and they aren't tired enough, awake too long and they're overtired and can't nap! Somedays your baby will only want to take a 20 minute nap and it feels like your baby is taking 100 naps a day!

For babies 0-6 weeks old do not worry about a schedule. Your baby will sleep anywhere from 15 minutes to 4 hours at a time, day and night. They will have a very short window of being awake, sometimes only to feed before they fall back asleep. Focus on resting between feeds to aid in your physical recovery. If baby sleeps for longer stretches during the day and shorter stretches at night, prioritize a light schedule: during the day keep lights on, window shades open, and get outside in the early morning. At night, keep lights off or low during feeds and diaper changes, keep sound machine on, minimize talking and playing with the baby.

Around 6 weeks your baby’s sleep will likely follow a familiar pattern that ends up being around 5 naps a day. They will gradually drop naps through 12 weeks when they are taking about 3 naps a day. Your baby will start to need more support to fall asleep for naps around this 6 week mark-shushing, swaying, sucking, and swaddling are all great tools to use. Before 12 weeks, it best to offer ALL the comfort your baby needs to get to sleep.  A dark room for naps will start to help as they move through this stage. This is also a great time to introduce a short routine - things that will cue the baby its time to sleep. Start small, with a book and a baby massage before bedtime. Then incorporate that routine (or a shorter version) before naps. Babies 6-12 weeks old can usually stay awake for a wake window of 45 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes. You may notice their wake window get longer throughout the day. 

And hang in there, mom. This is a REALLY hard stage. If your baby doesn't nap well on the go, it can be hard to get out of the house or make plans with a friend. Try to connect with other moms in the same stage or keep in touch with your doula to avoid feeling isolated. 

I teach all about baby sleep AND how you can get enough rest too in my New Mom Support Groups and Postpartum Planning sessions.