Written by: Jenn Schoen, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant
The first two months of your baby’s life are a whirlwind of sleepy snuggles, unpredictable wake-ups, and round-the-clock feeds. Newborn sleep is driven by biology—not routines or habits—so it’s normal for things to feel a little chaotic at first. Understanding how baby sleep works can make these early weeks feel much more manageable.
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick look at what this guide covers so you know exactly what to expect.
What This Newborn Sleep Guide Covers
Newborn sleep can feel unpredictable, but there is a pattern behind the chaos. In the first two months, your baby is learning how to sleep outside the womb, developing a circadian rhythm, and adjusting to life in 24-hour cycles—while you’re learning to understand their cues.
This guide walks through the five essential parts of newborn sleep:
- Newborn sleep patterns. How much newborns sleep, what typical naps and night stretches look like, and why sleep varies so much day to day.
- Newborn safe sleep practices. Evidence-based guidelines that create the safest sleep environment for your baby.
- Newborn day/night confusion Why your baby may seem “backwards” at first and how to gently guide them toward a healthier rhythm.
- The newborn witching hour. What causes the late-evening fussiness many babies experience and practical ways to make that window easier.
- Soothing techniques like the 5 S’s. Womb-mimicking strategies that help calm your baby and support smoother transitions into sleep.
By understanding how these pieces fit together, you’ll be better equipped to support your newborn’s sleep.
Newborn Sleep Overview (Ages 0–2 Months)
In the first two months, newborn sleep follows a very different rhythm than what older babies or toddlers experience. Instead of long stretches, sleep comes in short bursts spread across both day and night. That’s because your baby’s tiny stomach, frequent feeding needs, and developing circadian rhythm drive most of their patterns right now.
Understanding the typical ranges for this stage can help set realistic expectations and reassure you that your baby’s unpredictable sleep is developmentally typical.
Typical Newborn Sleep Patterns (0–2 Months)
Here’s what you can expect from your newborn’s sleep in the first two months:
- Total sleep: 14–17 hours in a 24 hour period
- Wake windows:
- Month 1: 45–60 minute wake windows
- Month 2: 60–75 minute wake windows
- Daytime sleep:
- Month 1: Up to 6 hours across 4-6 naps, ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours
- Month 2: Up to 5 hours across 4-5 naps, ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours
- Night stretch: Typically 2–4 hours initially, lengthening toward 4–6 hours
These ranges are wide because newborn sleep is inherently variable—and that’s expected.
Newborn Safe Sleep Practices Every Parent Should Know
Because newborns spend so much of their day asleep, creating a safe sleep environment is one of the most important steps you can take. Following evidence-based guidelines significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Key Newborn Safe Sleep Guidelines
Here are the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Always place your baby on their back for naps and nighttime sleep.
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard.
- Keep the sleep space clear—no pillows, blankets, toys, bumpers, or positioners.
- Room-share for at least 6 months, but with your baby in their own sleep space.
- Avoid all smoke exposure, including residual smoke on clothing, furniture, or rooms.
Why it matters: Consistently following these safe sleep practices can lower the risk of SIDS by up to 50% and give you peace of mind (which is worth a lot!).
Why Newborn Sleep Is So Irregular in the First 2 Months
Newborns have immature sleep cycles that last only 40–50 minutes and lack a strong circadian rhythm (the biological system that helps us distinguish day and night). Their bodies aren’t producing much melatonin yet, and frequent feeding needs pull them awake throughout the night.
As your baby approaches 6–8 weeks, internal rhythms begin to strengthen, and sleep typically becomes more predictable.
Newborn Day/Night Confusion: Why It Happens & How to Fix It
If your newborn naps deeply during the day and seems ready to party at 2 a.m., you’re not imagining things. For nine months, your movement lulled your baby to sleep during the day—and at birth, their circadian rhythm simply isn’t developed yet.
The good news: Most babies outgrow day/night confusion within 2–8 weeks.
How to Help Your Newborn Learn the Difference Between Day and Night
While learning the difference between day and night takes time, you can gently guide your baby toward a more organized sleep pattern using clear, consistent cues:
- Keep daytime bright and active. Open curtains, let natural light in, and go about your usual daytime routines. Background noises like conversation, music, or the dishwasher help your baby associate light with wakefulness.
- Make nighttime quiet, calm, and low-stimulation. About an hour before bedtime, dim lights and lower household noise. Use soft voices and keep interactions brief during night feeds and diaper changes so your baby learns that darkness means rest.
- Use consistent cues for morning and bedtime. Start the day by opening blinds or saying “good morning.” End the day with a simple bedtime routine like feeding, swaddling, and a lullaby. These predictable signals help your baby anticipate what comes next.
These small, consistent patterns strengthen your baby's early circadian rhythm and lay the groundwork for healthier sleep as they grow.
Understanding the Newborn Witching Hour (5–11 PM)
If your baby becomes extra fussy in the early evening (usually between 5 and 11 PM), you’re likely experiencing what many parents call the “witching hour.” This period of fussiness is extremely common and doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.
It’s typically caused by a combination of:
- Overstimulation after a full day of light, noise, and activity
- Immature sleep skills, making it harder to self-regulate when tired
- Cluster feeding, as babies “fuel up” before their longest nighttime stretch
Together, these factors can create a perfect storm of evening fussiness—even when the rest of your day has been smooth.
How to Make the Witching Hour Easier
While you can’t eliminate the witching hour entirely, these strategies can make the window more manageable:
- Move to a calm, dim space with white noise. A darker, quieter environment reduces external stimuli and helps your baby's nervous system calm.
- Use the 5 S’s to activate the calming reflex. Layering soothing strategies—like swaddling, shushing, and gentle swinging—can help your newborn settle more quickly. Skin-to-skin can also be a powerful calming tool for your newborn.
- Limit stimulation as much as possible. Reduce noise, turn off screens, and avoid passing your baby between multiple caregivers.
The newborn witching hour tends to peak between weeks 6-8, and most babies outgrow it between months 3 and 4, as their nervous systems mature and sleep becomes more organized.
When to Consult Your Doctor
If your baby’s crying seems related to pain, lasts longer than three hours, or feels different from their usual fussiness, or your gut is telling you something is off, then it’s best to reach out to your pediatrician or Poppins 24/7 pediatric medical care team. You should also call if crying is paired with any signs of illness, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, or increased discomfort during or after feeds (which may suggest reflux).
When in doubt, it’s always better to check in. Your care team can help you determine whether what you’re seeing is typical newborn behavior or something that needs attention.
How to Soothe Your Newborn: The 5 S’s
Developed by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, the 5 S’s are designed to mimic the sensations of the womb and help activate your newborn’s natural calming reflex. Under this method, each soothing step is layered one at a time, building from the first S to the next until your baby begins to settle. You don’t need to use all five—simply stop once your baby is calm.
The 5 S’s
Here are the steps of the 5 S’s in order:
- Swaddle. Wrap your baby snugly in a swaddle with their arms down at their sides to create a secure, womb-like feeling that reduces the startle reflex.
- Side or Stomach Position. Hold your baby on their side or tummy against your chest or arm.
- Shush. Use a strong, steady “shhh” sound that matches the level of their cry. As their cries soften, you can bring the volume of your “shhh” down.
- Swing. More like a gentle jiggle than a wide swing, add small, rhythmic movements to mimic the motion they felt in the womb.
- Suck. Offer a pacifier to help your baby fully settle and drift into sleep.
Most newborns typically calm by the Shush or Swing step of the 5 S’s. If you’re not a fan of the 5 S’s or would like to try something else, skin-to-skin contact, a warm bath, babywearing, or time in a low-stimulation environment can also support your baby in settling for sleep.
FAQ: Newborn Sleep (0–2 Months)
These are the most common questions parents ask during the newborn stage.
Why Does My Newborn Wake Up Every Hour?
Newborn sleep cycles are only 40–50 minutes, so brief wake-ups at the end of a cycle are very common as they don’t yet have the skills to transition from one sleep cycle to another.
How Many Naps Should My Newborn Take?
Most newborns take 4–6 naps per day, ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
What is Newborn Day/Night Confusion, and How Long Does it Last?
Day/night confusion is when your newborn tends to sleep more during the day and is awake more during the night. It happens because newborns don’t yet have a mature circadian rhythm. It usually improves within 2–8 weeks.
Is Evening Fussiness Normal?
Yes, evening fussiness is developmentally typical for a newborn. This period is often referred to as the newborn witching hour. It typically occurs between 5–11 PM due to overstimulation and cluster feeding.
How Can I Soothe My Newborn When Nothing Seems to Work?
Try layering the 5 S’s—swaddle, side/stomach hold, shush, swing, and suck—for the strongest calming effect.
Want Personalized Sleep Support? Poppins Can Help.
If you want expert guidance for building independent sleep skills or preparing for sleep training, Poppins offers:
- Customized bedtime routines
- Age-appropriate sleep schedules and wake windows
- Support for regressions, naps, and night wakings
- Evidence-based sleep training plans
Better sleep starts with the right foundation. We’ll help you build it. Schedule your free sleep consultation with one of our certified pediatric sleep consultants here.
