Your baby will need to go through periods of both light and deep sleep. Both types of sleep will be important for your baby’s health.
Light Sleep
Your baby will need light sleep for their brain to grow and develop. Light sleep helps blood and nutrients go to your baby's brain.
During light sleep, babies:
Move around and make noises
Have eye twitches or open and close their eyes quickly
- Have fast and then slow breathing
- Dream
- Wake up easily
Deep Sleep
Your baby will need deep sleep for their brain to rest. Young babies spend about 20 minutes in light sleep before going into deep sleep.
During deep sleep, babies:
Don’t move very much
Have relaxed and floppy arms and legs
Have regular, steady breathing
Make sucking movements
Don’t wake up easily
Your newborn will fall into light sleep first, meaning that they may wake easily if you lay them down right away. When they fall asleep in your arms, it can help to wait for signs of deep sleep before laying them down on their back to sleep.
3 Reasons Your Young Baby May Wake
Young babies have tiny tummies
Your newborn baby will wake up often during the night to feed. They will need frequent feedings because their tummy will be so small! Fortunately, as your baby continues to grow, their tummy will too. And when that happens, they will be able to sleep for longer periods of time.
Young babies wake easily when they are dreaming
Babies fall asleep dreaming (in "rapid eye movement" or REM sleep) and move slowly to "deeper" forms of sleep, without dreams. For infants, dreaming is vital for normal brain development, and they spend more time dreaming than adults do. Like adults, babies are more likely to wake up when they are dreaming than if they are in deeper sleep.
Young babies wake to stay comfortable and safe
Your baby’s brain, lungs, and muscles will be brand new when they are born. Because of this, their little body will need a little time to get into synch. If your baby sleeps too deeply, they may get too hot or too cold. Your baby will need to wake up when they need help to be safe and comfortable.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 3,500 infants die each year in the United States from sleep-related infant causes. This includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The safest way for your baby to sleep is:
* ALONE; No toys, blankets, stuffed animals, bumper pads, pillows, or pets.
* On their BACK;
* In their own CRIB or sleeping space like a pack-n-play, bassinet, or bedside sleeper. Your baby’s crib should have a firm mattress with a tight-fitting sheet.
Some babies need more sleep than others. Babies sleep through the night when they are developmentally ready. As your baby grows older, their sleep will change and become more predictable. Of course, every baby is different. The below information provides a basic idea of what many babies experience.
Newborns sleep for only 2 to 3 hours at a time and will wake many times throughout the day and night. This is normal and healthy for newborns (and pretty tiring for new parents). Hang in there, you can do it!
Your baby may sleep more at night because they are awake more during the day. Waking up at night is still normal and healthy. They will start to have one longer stretch of sleep during the night but they won’t sleep through the night.
Between 12 and 16 weeks your baby will begin to fall into a deep sleep first. At night, they will sleep for longer periods of time, and wake up less often.
Your baby may sleep up to 6 hours at a time.
Video
Watch this video to better understand your baby's sleep patterns and how to get sleep yourself.
This 2-minute video clip shows and explains the differences between the two types of sleep.