Newborns often sleep 14–17 hours a day, but in short bursts. Day-night confusion in the first 4–6 weeks is common — your baby is still working out the difference. Longer night stretches often develop over the first few months, but plenty of normal, healthy babies still wake more than once a night well into the first year.
Most of the “sleep through the night” benchmarks you hear about are referring to a 5-hour stretch in the research sense, not a 12-hour stretch.
Awake windows are the time between sleeps. Watch your baby more than the clock — these are starting points, not rules.
- 0–6 weeks: 45–60 minutes
- 2–3 months: 60–90 minutes
- 4–5 months: 90–120 minutes
- 6–8 months: 2–2.5 hours
- 9–12 months: 2.5–4 hours
- Glazed stare into the middle distance
- Rubbing eyes or ears, pulling at hair
- Sudden burst of activity that doesn't quite fit
- Crying that escalates with stimulation
- Difficulty falling asleep despite obvious tiredness
You don't need an elaborate routine — short and predictable beats long and complicated.
- Lower the lights and screens 20–30 minutes before sleep.
- A calm feed in a softly lit room with a soft voice.
- Slow shush and sway — slower than feels natural.
- Put baby down sleepy if you can; if not, that's okay too.
Contact naps (baby sleeping on you) are normal and can support bonding. They are not a bad habit and they do not predict long-term sleep problems. Short naps in the first 4–6 months are also normal — baby's sleep cycles are still maturing.
If a contact nap is the only way baby will sleep some days, that is okay. Set up where you sit so you have water, a snack, your phone or a book, and the remote within reach.
The current safer-sleep guidance is the simplest and most important thing to get right:
- Place baby on their back for every sleep.
- Use a firm, flat, clear sleep surface — cot, Moses basket or carrycot.
- Keep loose bedding, pillows, duvets, toys and cot bumpers out of the sleep space.
- Room-share for the first 6 months where possible.
- Keep the room around 16–20°C and smoke-free.
Speak to your health visitor about any specific concerns about your baby's sleep environment. For more, see The Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice and your local NHS guidance.
Hard nights end. You do not have to solve the night to make it through it.
- Place baby down safely in their cot or sleep space.
- Two minutes outside the room. Slow breath out, longer than in.
- A glass of water and one small bite of something.
- Message a friend or partner — “It's a hard one tonight” is enough.
For more, open the fussy baby help and new mum tips pages.
- Baby is very hard to wake or unusually drowsy
- Breathing seems laboured, fast, or irregular
- Baby sweats excessively even at a safe room temperature
- Persistent inconsolable crying or other signs baby is unwell
- You are worried about baby's wellbeing — call your GP, NHS 111 or your health visitor
Frequently asked questions
How many hours should a newborn sleep?
Newborns often sleep 14–17 hours in 24 hours, but in short stretches — typically 1 to 4 hours at a time. Day-night confusion in the first 4–6 weeks is common. Longer night stretches usually begin to appear over the first few months.
Why does my newborn only sleep on me?
Contact naps are normal and biological in the first 4–6 months — your baby has spent nine months in the warmest, most familiar place imaginable. A baby who only sleeps on you is not a bad sleeper or a bad habit — they are a newborn.
What is a safe sleep environment for a baby?
Place baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat, clear sleep surface. Keep loose bedding, pillows, duvets, toys and cot bumpers out of the sleep space. Room-share for the first 6 months. Keep the room around 16–20°C and smoke-free.
When do babies sleep through the night?
There's no single right age. Many babies start having longer stretches around 8–12 weeks, but "sleeping through the night" in the research sense often just means a 5-hour stretch. Frequent night waking in the first 12 months is normal.
How can I cope when baby won't sleep?
If tonight feels hard, put baby down safely, take two minutes outside the room, drink a glass of water and message a trusted person. You don't have to solve the night to get through it. If you ever feel close to losing control, place baby safely on their back in their cot — that is safe.
A calmer first year, one day at a time
Calm Mum is the practical, no-jargon guide for the first year with a new baby. Start free in under a minute — no card needed.
Calm Mum is educational support, not medical advice. It does not replace your GP, midwife, health visitor or emergency services. If you are worried about your baby's health, seek advice from a healthcare professional.