Newborns are so cute, but newborn sleep can sometimes seem downright ugly! Ask any parent of a newborn, and he or she will likely tell you that long, deep, peaceful sleep is NOT on the list of things their family is enjoying. And, that’s usually normal! Newborns aren’t supposed to sleep 8 hours straight at night just yet. Their little bodies simply aren’t designed to work that way, at first. But sometimes, newborn sleeplessness is excessive. What do you do if your newborn seems tired, but is crying and not sleeping?
We can help! If your newborn is not sleeping, keep reading for our top 6 tips.
Newborn Not Sleeping? Don’t Stress Yet…
It Might Just Be Normal Newborn Sleeping Patterns
Keep in mind that, again, newborns are supposed to wake frequently to feed. Indeed, your newborn’s sleeping patterns are nothing like yours. It’s helpful to think of newborn sleep as happening in cycles: your newborn wakes, eats, perhaps has a bit of wake time, and then goes back to sleep for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours. This sample newborn sleep and feeding schedule (for breastfeeding babies) illustrates this cyclical sleep pattern well:
9:00 AM – Wake and Feed*
10:00 AM – Nap (30-60 minutes)
11:00 AM – Wake and Feed
12:30 PM – Nap (30-60 minutes)
1:30 PM – Wake and Feed
3:30 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
4:30 PM – Wake and Feed
6:00 PM – Nap (30 – 60 minutes)
6:30 PM – Wake and Feed
7:30 PM – Catnap (20 – 30 minutes)
8:00 PM – Wake and Feed
9:30 PM – Catnap (20 – 30 minutes)
10:00 PM – Wake and Feed
11:30 PM – Feed and Bedtime*
3:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep
6:30 AM – Feed and Right back to sleep
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Newborn Not Sleeping? These 6 Reasons May Explain Why.
So, you can expect your newborn to wake often, but if your newborn seems tired and can’t fall asleep, and is instead becoming more and more upset, you no doubt want to help your newborn sleep in any way you can. To do that, you’ll need to pinpoint the cause of your newborn’s distress and offer help as best you can.
These are, in our experience, the top 6 reasons why newborns who are tired sometimes struggle to fall asleep:
1. Your Newborn is Hungry.
This is the reason many of us jump to first when a newborn won’t sleep – and it may very well be the most common cause for a newborn not sleeping. Newborns have small tummies and therefore need to eat frequently; what’s more, during a growth spurt, your newborn may feed what seems like every hour! So if your newborn seems distressed and won’t fall asleep, try offering a feeding. If you are considering putting cereal in your baby’s bottle, be sure to talk to your doctor, first!
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2. Your Newborn is Overtired.
While hunger is the reason many parents jump to first when their newborns won’t sleep, overtiredness may be the last. But it’s true; newborns can simply become too tired to fall asleep easily. The “cure” for overtiredness is simply to watch your newborn’s sleep cues closely. As soon as your newborn starts showing signs of tiredness (yawning or looking away from your face), get them down for sleep quickly. If they are rubbing their eyes, fussy, or showing other overtiredness signs, you are already too late!
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3. Your Newborn is Overstimulated.
A little stimulation is good for your newborn; during their awake time, it’s a great idea to engage them in a story, or a few simple play activities. However, too much stimulation can stress your newborn out! This is especially true for sensitive babies. Newborns don’t always cope well with bright lights, loud voices, and lots of “in your face” activity. If your newborn is looking away from people and beginning to fuss, try to get your baby to a quiet area and start working towards falling asleep.
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4. Your Newborn’s Moro (or “Startle”) Reflex is Still Strong
You’ve probably observed this in your newborn before. Your baby starts to fall asleep and then suddenly “startles” themself awake. Frustrating, especially if you’ve worked to get your baby drowsy enough to fall asleep in the first place! Fortunately, there’s an age-old remedy for newborns who startle themselves awake: swaddling. If you aren’t already, try swaddling your baby to help her fall asleep and stay asleep.
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5. Your Newborn is Uncomfortable.
This one can be harder to pin down. If you can’t seem to figure out why else your baby may be crying instead of sleeping, look to comfort. Is your newborn’s diaper wet or dirty? Is your baby too warm or too cold? (In our experience, most people overdress their babies, so too warm is usually more likely.) Is your baby ill? These can all make it tough for your newborn to settle in and fall asleep.
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6. Your Newborn Needs a Cuddle!
It’s true, parents – sometimes, your newborn simply needs to be held and cuddled by you! Just as your newborn nourishment, warmth, shelter, and sleep, he needs YOU! If your newborn is not sleeping and seems very upset, try cuddling your newborn skin-to-skin against your chest. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and effectively this can calm your newborn.
Final Thoughts on Helping Your Newborn Sleep
If your newborn is not sleeping well, you are definitely not alone. Newborn sleep can feel unpredictable and exhausting, especially in the early weeks and months. The good news is that many sleep challenges at this age are completely normal and temporary.
As your baby grows, sleep patterns will gradually become more organized and predictable. In the meantime, focusing on a calming sleep environment and realistic expectations can go a long way toward helping both you and your baby get more rest.
