Why Do Newborns Sleep So Much?

You got through nine months of pregnancy and a grueling labor and delivery to finally meet your precious newborn face to face. Now that he's here, though, it seems as though he's sleeping all the time. Is this normal? Here are facts that show why newborns sleep so much.

  1. The Facts

    • According to KidsHealth.Org, newborns typically sleep about 16 hours in a 24-hour period, with much of that sleep taking place in three- or four-hour increments.

    Growth Spurts

    • During the first few months of life, newborns experience spurts of significant growth as their bodies develop, which makes them tired and in need of sleep.

    Confusion

    • When they're born, babies cannot tell the difference between night and day, so until they learn to distinguish between the two, they spend a lot of time sleeping during the daylight hours and less time sleeping during the night. All this time sleeping during the day gives parents the impression that their newborn sleeps constantly.

    Eating

    • Whether your baby nurses or drinks from a bottle, she'll spend a lot of her waking time eating to gain energy for her growing body. The movement and energy required for her to eat tires her out and causes her to get sleepy again right away.

    Considerations

    • Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford suggests you make sure your baby is getting safe sleep by always putting him to sleep on his back and keeping loose bedding and stuffed toys away from his body.

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