How much sleep do newborns need?

Last reviewed June 19, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineNewborns sleep around 14 to 17 hours a day, but in short bursts across day and night with frequent waking to feed; longer night sleep develops over the first few months, and babies should always sleep on their back on a firm flat surface.

Newborns sleep a lot - usually around 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period - but in short bursts spread across day and night, not in one long stretch. This broken pattern is normal and gradually changes as they grow.

What newborn sleep looks like

• Total of roughly 14-17 hours a day
• Sleep in chunks of a few hours at a time
• Frequent waking to feed, day and night
• Little difference between day and night at first - their body clock hasn't developed yet

Why it's so broken

Newborns have tiny stomachs and need to feed often, including overnight, so they wake frequently. Their sense of day and night develops over the first few months, after which longer night-time sleep gradually emerges.

Helping them settle

• Feed on demand
• Keep night feeds calm, dark, and quiet; be more interactive and bright in the day
• Watch for tired cues (yawning, fussiness, looking away) and help them settle before overtiredness

Safe sleep matters

Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm flat surface, in their own clear cot or Moses basket, with no loose bedding, in the same room as you for the first 6 months.

When to ask for help

Talk to your midwife, health visitor, or doctor if your baby is very hard to wake for feeds, isn't feeding well, or you're worried about their breathing or development.

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