Newborns sleeping too much: A norm or cause for concern?

Many parents-to-be dream of having a baby who’s a great sleeper. But after bringing home your bundle of joy, it may seem like all your newborn does is sleep — even if it feels like you never do. Newborns eat and sleep a lot and that’s completely normal! However, if your little one is spending most of their time snoozing, you may wonder how much sleep is too much sleep for newborns — or if there's even such a thing. 

IN THIS ARTICLE: 

How much sleep do newborns need?

The thing about newborn sleep is it can be chaotic and unpredictable, especially during the early days. However, on average, we hope to see around over a 24-hour period. From birth to around 2 months, most babies can only comfortably stay awake between 30 - 90 minutes at a time. Keep in mind newborn sleep needs vary, and there’s a lot of wiggle room for what’s healthy and normal.  When it comes to , babies born prematurely may have unique sleep challenges, especially in the first months of life. It may take them time to adjust to sleeping at home after leaving the NICU and there is strong evidence that preterm babies have increased night waking when compared to children born at term []. Preemies can also be overstimulated easily, require more rest, and may have less energy than full-term babies [].   

In the newborn stage, sleep is fairly evenly split between daytime and nighttime and we don’t recommend aiming for a specific number of naps per day (this will come later!). Instead of stressing about hitting certain numbers, we recommend keeping tabs on your baby’s mood and energy levels to see if they’re getting enough rest.

Do babies typically sleep too much?

If it feels like your newborn is asleep the majority of the time, that’s because they are. Newborns spend about 70% of their time [] sleeping in the first 2 months of life. However, it’s typically for no more than 4 hours at a time [].  A newborn baby will also likely only be able to comfortably stay awake for around 30 - 90 minutes at a time. It may feel like you’re in a cycle of feeding, sleeping, and diaper changes with your little one — and that’s completely normal.

However, sometimes a little one’s sleep can interfere with weight gain if they don’t wake up, or stay awake, for feedings. Breastfed newborns typically nurse every 2 hours from the start of their last session, and bottle-fed babies tend to eat every 2 - 3 hours []. If you find that your baby is sleeping more than 19 hours a day, isn’t waking for feedings, or is unusually drowsy, contact your child’s health professional.

Signs baby is sleeping too much

If you have a particularly sleepy little one on your hands, it generally isn’t cause for concern. However, sometimes a newborn may sleep too much, inhibiting their eating and weight gain. Signs of this include: Sign #1: They aren’t eating often, resulting in poor weight gain

Just like sleep patterns, newborn eating habits are also different. Some snack more frequently, while others prefer larger meals. How you choose to feed your baby will also influence how often they eat — breastfed babies tend to nurse more frequently than bottle-fed infants. The is 8 to 12 sessions per day (10 - 12 for breastfed newborns and 8 for bottle-fed newborns) []. If your little one is sleeping too much, they may not get in enough feeding sessions in a 24-hour period. 

Sign #2: They aren’t producing enough dirty diapers

New parents are often told to keep tabs on how many wet and dirty diapers their newborns have each day. Your little one’s output is a sign of their input, and low diaper count may indicate that they aren’t drinking enough, possibly because your little one isn’t effective enough during feeds or their excessive sleep is interfering with their eating. During the first 24 hours, your baby may not produce much urine, but this should increase daily. By the time your newborn is 5 days old, you should expect at least 5 - 6 wet diapers a day if they are getting enough milk []. 

The free makes it simple to track your little one’s wet and dirty diapers. Easily log each diaper change and keep a detailed record for peace of mind — or to share with your child’s doctor when needed.

Sign #3: They won’t stay awake during feedings

Eating can be exhausting and it’s common for newborns to sleep on the job. If your sleepy newborn tends to nod off at the start of a session or stops eating as effectively [], it may lead to oversleeping instead of eating enough. 

During a newborn’s first month, their nutritional needs are greater than at any other time in their life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) [], and sometimes tired newborns need help staying awake during feedings. Although keeping tabs on the number of times your little one eats per day can help determine if they’re getting enough nutrients for growth, also observe how they’re eating. 

Aim for active feeding sessions and consider tracking their frequency. You can also do this in the Huckleberry app! 

Sign #4: They’re difficult to wake

There are many reasons why your little one might seem sleepier than usual and they typically aren’t cause for concern. After all, babies are quickly growing and developing, and need sleep to support all aspects of their physical and mental health []. Your little one may also seem extra sleepy when they have a cold, fever, or are going through a growth spurt. However, in rare cases, excessive sleepiness may indicate a medical condition (like congenital heart disease) []. If you have concerns about your newborn’s sleep, consult their pediatrician to rule out any health factors affecting sleep.

Should I wake my baby if they're sleeping excessively?

During the first few weeks after birth, if your baby sleeps longer than 4 hours at night [] and starts missing feedings, many medical providers will recommend waking them and offering a bottle or breastfeed to ensure they’re getting enough nutrition. However, if your baby is healthy, growing steadily, and meeting feeding and diapering milestones, you usually don’t need to wake them from night sleep []. 

For naps during the day, limiting individual naps to no more than 2 hours each can help ensure your baby doesn’t miss feedings and gets enough awake time to establish healthy sleep and feeding rhythms.

Check with your healthcare provider if your baby:

• Isn’t gaining weight or growing as expected

• Isn’t feeding frequently enough (typically 8-12 times a day for newborns)

• Has fewer wet diapers than expected []: 2 to 3 wet diapers per day in the first few days after birth, and at least 5 to 6 wet diapers per day after the first 4 to 5 days

Once your baby is feeding well, gaining weight, and thriving, they can usually sleep for longer stretches at night. If you’re unsure, your pediatrician can provide guidance tailored to your baby’s needs.

Tips to address excessive newborn sleep

If you have a sleepy newborn on your hands, that’s completely normal. Sometimes, little ones are more interested in sleeping than eating — or anything else. Here’s how you can help encourage them to stay awake long enough to get those calories in, instead of snoozing right through them.

Tip #1: Help resolve day/night confusion

A relatable struggle for new parents is newborns who prefer to sleep during the day and party at night. It’s common for children at this age to because their circadian rhythms are still developing. To help them sort out day/night confusion and promote more balanced daytime/nighttime sleep, consider limiting each individual nap to 2 hours. Light exposure is also key for establishing normal circadian rhythms []. Try keeping the curtains open and lights on during the day, and make it dark and reduce noise at night. Also note that day/night confusion typically resolves on its own by around 8 weeks.  

Tip #2: Encourage active feeds

If your little one tends to fall asleep at the breast or bottle just as they’re getting started or they like to take a brief nap while chowing down, plan on extra time for feedings and staying as flexible as possible. The AAP calls these little ones “Resters” and you may need to help encourage them to stay awake if they haven’t regained their birth weight or aren’t getting enough milk. To do this, consider []:

• Unswaddling them if they start to nod off

• Undressing your little one during feeds 

• Keeping the room cool

• Trying skin-to-skin feeds

• Offering a burp break

• Gently stimulating them (e.g. rub their cheeks, tickling their toes, softly blow on their face, give a few dabs with a wet wash cloth)

If breastfeeding, you can also try:

• Doing breast compressions 

• Switching sides 

• Trying different positions

If bottle feeding, you can also try:

• Changing up how you’re holding them

• Momentarily tilting the bottle or removing it from their mouth)

Tip #3: Try not to overthink it

Although it may be hard, try not to lose sleep over how much sleep your newborn is getting. Remember that newborn sleep needs are high and their patterns are unpredictable, especially during the early days. Let your baby rest when they want to (unless medically advised to wake them for feedings) and don’t stress about trying to keep them awake for longer set periods to get them on a . However, capping individual daytime naps at 2 hours can help get in those daytime calories and consolidate nighttime sleep. Babies aren’t usually developmentally ready for a sleep schedule until closer to 3 - 4 months when they have a more regular 24-hour cycle of eating and sleeping.  

Tip #4: Keep them active and engaged

Although your newborn’s wake windows are short and may not leave room to do much before it’s time to sleep again, aim for some “play” time together, even if it’s just a minute. Keeping them active and engaged can help encourage sleepy little ones to stay awake during a wake window instead of drifting back to sleep. 

Babies typically only stay awake for about at this age — including feeding and diaper changes — but try to squeeze in some tummy time when you can. The AAP recommends starting tummy time with your newborn as soon as you bring them home from the hospital. 

Some parents get into the rhythm of an EAT, PLAY, SLEEP (and repeat) daytime routine with tummy time or anchor it around diaper changes. Tummy time helps little ones develop strong muscles while staying active before their next snooze. These play periods are also a great opportunity to give them lots of direct attention, which helps with attachment and better overall sleep.

Tip #5: Keep tabs on their progress

Since newborn sleep patterns can be chaotic, it can be difficult to keep tabs on their overall sleeping and eating patterns. It’s normal for sleep periods to be in flux (and at this age, your little one is a bit too young for a true sleep schedule). But you can get a head start with baby tracking from the Huckleberry app to help get a sense of how much they’re eating and sleeping, especially if you have concerns. 

When to seek professional help

Newborn sleep patterns can be erratic but one part is predictable: they need a lot of it. It’s normal for little ones to spend the majority of their time sleeping to keep up with their rapid growth. Although newborn sleep isn’t typically cause for concern, talk to your baby’s pediatrician if your baby is:

• Extremely fussy and can’t be soothed

• Having a difficult time waking up

• Isn't interested in feedings

• Isn’t producing 5 - 6 wet diapers over 24 hours []

Remember, newborn sleep can be perplexing, even for veteran parents, so don’t hesitate to check in if you have any doubts or questions about what’s “normal”.

Takeaway

• Newborns sleep a lot — typically around 15.5 - 17 hours total over a 24-hour period. 

• It’s normal for little ones to spend 70% of their time sleeping during the first 2 months

• Excessive newborn sleep typically isn’t cause for concern but may interfere with weight gain if they don’t eat enough. Signs that you’re little one may be sleeping too much include: they aren’t eating 8 - 12 times a day or having enough wet diapers in a 24-hour period, they won’t stay awake to eat, and/or they’re difficult to wake up.

• During the first few weeks, wake your baby if they sleep longer than 4 hours at night or take naps longer than 2 hours to ensure they’re feeding enough. 

• Talk to your newborn’s pediatrician about whether you should wake them and what’s best for your baby. Also discuss any questions or concerns you have about your baby’s sleep.

• If you have an extra-sleepy little one on your hands, consider working on day/night confusion, encouraging active feeds, keeping tabs on their progress, and establishing a tummy time routine.

• Remember, newborn sleep is notoriously unpredictable and babies this age aren’t developmentally ready to be on a sleep schedule. Aim to follow sleepy cues and wake windows of 30 - 90 minutes instead. Try not to put too much pressure on how much sleep they’re getting (or lose sleep yourself from worrying that they’re getting too much!).