Newborn Sleep: Tips from a Midwife

Newborn sleep—how much trouble can it cause? Turns out, a lot. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your tiny new family member’s chaotic sleep patterns, you’re not alone. We asked midwife Maria Sahlin to share what she knows about navigating the sleepless nights that come with a newborn. Spoiler alert: there’s no instruction manual, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Welcome to the Baby Bubble

You’ve just returned home with your little bundle of joy, and life as you know it has been turned upside down. Joyful moments are quickly followed by complete chaos: eating, sleeping, and waking up seem to happen at the most unpredictable hours.

Maria has some reassuring words for new parents navigating this rollercoaster:

"Don’t worry—it will get better"

"It’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed and that things are a mess at first. But try to follow the baby’s rhythm during these first weeks. Enter the baby bubble, take one day at a time, and go with the flow!”

How Much Sleep Does a Newborn Need?

Here’s a surprising fact: newborns actually sleep more than they’re awake. On average, they’ll rack up between 16 and 22 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Sounds dreamy, right? But the reality of their short, fragmented sleep cycles can leave parents feeling like they’ve barely closed their eyes.

“As a new parent, you might think that you’ve found a routine at the beginning,” says Maria. “But it’s common for this to change frequently. The duration of your baby’s sleep periods can also vary, with longer stretches some days and shorter ones on others.”

Why Sleep Feels So Elusive

Newborns sleep in short bursts—typically 18–20 hours a day—spread across 24 hours. They don’t yet differentiate between day and night, which can make those first few weeks especially tiring for parents.

“A newborn sleeps for a while, is awake for a while, and then falls asleep again, often around the clock,” Maria explains. “Eventually, your baby will adapt to a more typical circadian rhythm, staying awake longer during the day and sleeping for longer stretches at night.”

Hunger Rules the Sleep Schedule

In the first few weeks, eating and sleeping dominate a newborn’s world. Their tiny bodies demand frequent feeding, which takes a lot of energy and often sends them right back to sleep. When they wake up again, it’s usually because they’re hungry.

Maria notes that this rhythm starts to shift between 4–7 weeks as babies become more curious about their surroundings. At this point, parents might find themselves needing to soothe their baby to sleep more often.

Sleep Cycles Begin in the Womb

Newborns come into the world with sleep habits formed during pregnancy. Unfortunately for parents, these rhythms don’t always align with a good night’s rest.

“Newborns tend to stick with the sleep pattern they had in the womb,” Maria explains. “Most babies are more active during the late evening and night and sleep soundly in the early morning.”

This mismatch can feel frustrating, but Maria offers a glimmer of hope:

“Be patient when it comes to sleep—your baby will gradually begin to sleep longer stretches at night. By the time they’re one year old, they’ll have fully outgrown their newborn sleep cycle.”

Hang in There, You’re Doing Great

Navigating newborn sleep is one of the toughest parts of early parenthood, but it’s a temporary phase. With Maria’s expert tips and some patience, you’ll get through these sleepless nights. Remember, your baby’s sleep will improve with time—and so will yours.

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