Why Do Newborns Sleep So Damn Much?

By Author: David
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The reason why babies sleep so much has to do with the fact that newborns really only have one job to do: Grow bigger and thrive.
When a baby is first born, it’s basically helpless. A newborn baby is fragile and incapable of even the simplest of coordinated movements. In order to be able to do more, a newborn needs to get bigger and stronger.
To make that happen, the newborn baby’s body prioritizes growing at the expense of nearly anything else. This means taking in the right amount of breast milk and formula and then turning that food into growth.
The first month of a newborn’s life is the period during which they should sleep the most. As they grow older, you’ll start to see that sleep time gradually decrease. Here are some benchmarks in terms of sleep times and what to expect with your baby’s sleep schedule.
First of all, the above represent ranges, and it’s even possible for some babies to fall slightly outside these ranges and still be perfectly healthy. Every baby is different, and this is definitely the case when it comes to sleeping.

A newborn baby is likely to only sleep for ...
... 1-2 hours at a time, waking frequently and then falling back asleep after a short interval. Over time, these sleep intervals start to stretch out longer, becoming 2-3 hour intervals, up into 3-4 and finally into longer blocs of sleep centered more on night time.
After an initial post-birth drop in weight, expect your newborn to settle into a feeding routine. They’ll gain back the weight, and most babies grow steadily from then onward.

You can monitor your baby’s growth progress by keeping track of their feedings and dirty diapers. Your pediatrician will also weigh them at each checkup.

Over 24 hours, most babies need approximately 25 ounces of breast milk. That volume will stay fairly constant for the first six months of life, except during growth spurts. You should see your baby’s weight increase, while the number of feedings per day will decrease. They’ll get stronger, and their stomach will get bigger.

Formula-fed babies have a slower rate of feeding than breast-fed babies. They stay full longer, so they’ll feed less often.

Why do babies need so much sleep?

If you ask a new parent what topic is at the top of their minds, there’s a pretty good chance that the answer would be ‘sleep’. When you’re the parent of a newborn or infant, you suddenly end up focusing far more on sleep than you did previously. While childless, you pretty much take sleep for granted, but it’s an entirely different story once you have a child.

If you haven’t been around newborns much, it might shock you how much a baby needs to sleep. For some parents, their

Does my baby sleep too much?

Some newborn or babies are better sleepers than others. They might not wake up for meals in favor of sleep, though. You’ll need to be extra careful during the first couple of weeks and assess their progress.

Keep an eye on your baby’s diapers. Their urine shouldn’t be too yellow (darker yellow is a sign that baby isn’t drinking enough), and there should be an adequate number of stools of the right color. Mustard in color and seedy texture are normal.

A baby who doesn’t sleep enough will be clingy and whiny. Or, they might be hyper and hard to soothe. A sleepy baby doesn’t have these issues, but can make parents antsy by sleeping too soundly.

It takes at least six months for a baby to establish their own circadian rhythm. But if yours seems to be oblivious to any differences between night and day, a bit of help might be just what they need to get used to feeding at regular intervals and thriving.

How can I tell if a newborn is sleeping too much?

A baby occasionally sleeping for longer than usual is not a cause for concern unless there are other symptoms.
In general, it is uncommon for a newborn to consistently sleep through feedings or to sleep for longer than 19 hours per day unless they are ill or are having feeding difficulties. It’s common for a baby in the first few weeks of their life to sleep for as many as 17 hours per day. And to make matters even stranger, newborns usually sleep in short doses, waking up after only an hour or two asleep.

Promoting regular sleeping schedules

Here are some things you can try to promote regular sleeping (and feeding) schedules:

Take your baby out for walks during the day so they will be exposed to natural light.
Develop a calming evening routine that includes a bath, massage, and nursing.
Try removing some layers of clothing so they’ll be less warm and wake up when it’s time to feed.
Try touching their face with a wet washcloth, or lift them up to burp before moving them to the other breast.
Too much stimulation during the day can make your baby overtired. They might fall asleep despite being hungry.
You can also try to monitor their rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage. This is the light sleep stage.

During REM, you should be able to wake up your baby more easily than when they move to a deep sleep stage. But keep in mind that light and deep sleep stages alternate more often in babies than they do in adults.

Conclusion:

If your baby is gaining weight steadily after a few weeks, but still sleeping a lot, try to relax. Accept the fact that you might simply be dealing with a good sleeper. Try to enjoy it while it lasts. You should catch up on your sleep, too. Finding the rhythm of a newborn’s sleeping pattern is a constant challenge. Most babies settle into a comfortable routine sooner or later. Parents and caregivers should eventually understand what is and is not normal for their baby.

It is common to worry about a baby’s sleep. This concern often helps people detect problems early and encourages them to seek expert advice when necessary. Anyone who is worried that a baby may be sleeping too much should talk with a pediatrician.