Welcoming a newborn into the world is an incredible experience. At the same time, understanding your baby’s sleep needs can feel overwhelming. A baby’s sleep cycle is very different from an adult’s, and knowing what to expect can make everyday life much easier.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how a baby’s sleep cycle works, how much sleep babies need at different ages, and how to support healthy sleep habits. With the right knowledge, you can better understand your child’s sleep needs and help ensure they get the rest they need to grow and thrive.
Why Understanding Your Baby’s Sleep Needs Matters
Sleep is essential for your baby’s growth and development. During sleep, the body repairs and regenerates tissue, builds bones and muscles, and strengthens the immune system. Sleep also plays a crucial role in brain development, helping your baby process and store new information.
Understanding your baby’s sleep needs also helps you establish a calming bedtime routine. Predictable routines make it easier for babies to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Finally, knowing what is normal makes it easier to identify sleep challenges such as sleep regression or disrupted sleep patterns early, so you can respond in a supportive way.
How Much Do Babies Sleep?
A baby’s sleep needs change as they grow. Below is an overview of typical sleep patterns at different ages.
Newborn Sleep
Newborns sleep around 16–17 hours per day in total. Sleep occurs in short stretches of 30 minutes to 3 hours. At this stage, babies spend much of their sleep in light sleep and REM sleep.
Baby Sleep at 3 Months
At around 3 months, babies sleep approximately 15 hours per day, with sleep stretches lasting from 30 minutes up to 6 hours. Deep sleep becomes more dominant, while REM sleep gradually decreases.
Baby Sleep at 6 Months
By 6 months, babies typically sleep around 14 hours per day, with sleep stretches up to 8 hours. Around 50% of sleep is deep sleep, and 20–25% is REM sleep.
Baby Sleep at 9 Months
At 9 months, babies usually sleep about 14 hours per day, with nighttime stretches up to 10 hours. Deep sleep makes up about 30–40%, and REM sleep remains around 20–25%.
Baby Sleep at 12 Months
At 12 months, babies sleep around 13–14 hours per day, with nighttime sleep lasting 10–12 hours. Deep sleep accounts for about 20–30%, and REM sleep remains stable at 20–25%.
Stages of a Baby’s Sleep Cycle
Understanding sleep stages helps you recognize when your baby is in light or deep sleep and when they are more likely to wake.
Sleep Stages Explained
Awake
Your baby is alert and responsive.
Drowsy
Your baby is becoming sleepy and may yawn or rub their eyes.
Light Sleep
Your baby is easy to wake, may move, twitch, or make sounds.
Deep Sleep
Your baby lies still, with slow and regular breathing and heart rate.
REM Sleep
REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement. During this stage, the brain is highly active, the eyes move quickly, and your baby is likely dreaming.
| Sleep Stage | Characteristics | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Awake | Baby is alert and awake | — |
| Drowsy | Baby is becoming sleepy | — |
| Light Sleep | Easy to wake, movement and sounds | Newborns: 40–50 min / 6+ months: 1–1.5 hours |
| Deep Sleep | Hard to wake, very still | Newborns: 60–90 min / 6+ months: 1.5–2 hours |
| REM Sleep | Rapid eye movement, high brain activity | Newborns: 10–60 min / 6+ months: 1–1.5 hours |
This overview makes it easier to understand your baby’s sleep patterns and adjust routines accordingly.
How to Help Your Baby Sleep Better
Now that you understand your baby’s sleep cycle, here are some practical tips to support better sleep:
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Establish a consistent bedtime routine
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Create a calm, comfortable sleep environment
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Swaddle your baby safely to promote security
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Use white noise or soft music if it helps your baby relax
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Avoid overstimulation before bedtime
What Is Sleep Regression?
Sleep regression is a phase where your baby’s sleep pattern changes and night wakings become more frequent. Sleep regression is a normal part of development and often coincides with growth spurts or new skills. Patience and consistency are key during these phases.
Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
A sleep schedule overview can help you understand typical nap needs and nighttime sleep.
| Age | Number of Naps | Nighttime Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 3–5 naps | 8–9 hours |
| 1–2 months | 4–5 naps | 9–10 hours |
| 3–4 months | 3–4 naps | 10–12 hours |
| 5–6 months | 2–3 naps | 11–12 hours |
| 7–8 months | 2 naps | 11–12 hours |
| 9–12 months | 2 naps | 11–12 hours |
Remember that every baby is different, and some may need more or less sleep than average.
In Short
Understanding your baby’s sleep needs is one of the most valuable tools you have as a new parent. Sleep supports growth, learning, and emotional regulation. By learning how your baby’s sleep cycle works and establishing calm, consistent routines, you can help your child get the rest they need.
Healthy sleep habits take time to develop, but with patience and understanding, better sleep is possible for both your baby and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a baby sleep at night?
Newborns typically sleep 8–9 hours at night, while babies around 6 months often sleep 10–12 hours, sometimes in stretches.
How often do babies wake at night?
Frequent night wakings are normal in the first months. As babies grow, they usually sleep for longer stretches.
What is REM sleep?
REM sleep is an active sleep phase with rapid eye movements, facial expressions, and high brain activity.
Are there tools that can help babies sleep?
Yes. Some parents find that weighted sleep sacks or swaddles help calm babies and support better sleep, as long as they are used safely.
Should I worry if my baby’s sleep differs from the schedule above?
No. Sleep needs vary. If you’re concerned, consult your pediatrician or health visitor for guidance.
Let customers speak for us
Our son woke Up very often in the middle of the night and struggled to calm down. The weighted back helps him to sleep through the night and we ordered a second one.
I'm a big fan of sleepsacks, both with and without weight. The swaddle is clearly well thought out. It's very intuitive how the arms should be placed. The weight has a smart shape and filling. It even has small holes along the sides to ensure your baby doesn't get overheated. The material is nice quality and the zipper seems like it will live out the lifetime of the product. Love it.
Wir sind super zufrieden. Meine Tochter(9monate) konnte nie auf dem Rücken schlafen weil sie immer durch ihre eigenen Bewegungen wach wurde. Seit dem ersten Tag der Nutzung kann sie jetzt auf dem Rücken schlafen, schläft viel schneller ein und wacht nicht mehr so oft in der Nacht auf wie davor. Ich fände es super wenn der Ausschnitt am Nacken tiefer wäre dann könnte man den schlafsack auch "falschrum" anziehen und das Gewicht auf dem Rücken haben sodass das Baby auch auf dem Bauch schlafen kann aber sonst top!!!
Wir haben den Schlafsack mit und ohne Beine und jetzt zuletzt auch die Weste gekauft.
Den Schlafsack haben wir gekauft, weil unser Baby damals immer schon um fünf Uhr morgens wach wurde, und nicht mehr weiter schlafen wollte. Nachdem sie mit dem Schlafsack geschlafen hatte, hat sie bis sieben Uhr morgens geschlafen und das einmal nachts Stillen hat sie auch aufgegeben und durchgeschlafen!!!
Seit her verwenden wir die Schlafsäcke vor allem wegen des frühen Aufwachens! Wir haben Phasen wo wir ihn nicht brauchen und Phasen, wo sie wieder damit schläft!
Einfach Top diese Schlafsäcke!
Für den Sommer schön dünn vom Stoff!
Im Winter haben wir in den Babyzeiten einen Wintersack drüber gezogen!
Und jetzt schläft sie einfach mit Decke drüber.
Vielen Dank für diese tollen Produkte.
Wir nennen unseren Schlafsack Schildkröte, weil es aussieht, als hätte sie einen Krötenpanzer an.
Ausprobieren und lieben!!!
Made it possible to put the baby down in the baby nest! Before baby could just sleep on me.
We had extreme problems with our 3rd child's sleep. After 3 months, we were at our wit's end and tried just about everything. He never slept for more than 45 minutes at a time and not by himself. It improved with the weighted sleeping swaddle. Now he is 5 months old and sleeps well for several hours.
Our daughter is 17 months old and she has a regular wake-up schedule around 9 PM, 11 PM, 2 AM, 4 AM, and 5:30 AM, usually staying awake between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM.
She frequently wakes up during the night, feeling upset, tossing and turning, and wanting to breastfeed. She gets upset if she doesn't get to breastfeed and prefers to sleep on us while we have to stand up and rock her back to sleep. She usually sleeps in my bed.
Nights have been challenging, and we were getting desperate. However, last night was our first experience with the weighted sleeping bag... 😱 😱
She woke up around 12 AM for the first time, climbed on me, and quickly fell back asleep. She woke up a few times after that but managed to soothe herself back to sleep. At 5 AM, I had to stand up and rock her, but she quickly fell back asleep. At 6:10 AM, there was a joyful wake-up call from our 1.5-year-old. She slept much more soundly and peacefully, and she managed to fall back asleep on her own, which she had never done before.
We noticed a significant improvement just on the first night. In fact, I don't feel utterly exhausted this morning and don't have that pressing need to take a nap during the day, which I usually do. I'm feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming nights and hoping to get a full night's sleep without interruptions, so I can regain some normalcy in my life. I can't imagine what we would have done if we hadn't found this weighted sleeping bag.
I just want to say... thank you!! ❤
About 4 months ago, we entered a nightmare period. Our little boy, who had been sleeping through the night and was generally happy, suddenly started waking up multiple times during the night, inconsolable. Initially, we attributed it to a cold, but even after he recovered, the night disturbances continued. About 2 months later, he was diagnosed with asthma, which seemed like a valid reason for his nighttime awakenings. However, despite responding well to asthma medication and having no issues during the daytime, the nights remained a pure ordeal. He would wake up incredibly anxious and screaming, and we often found ourselves staying up for hours trying to soothe him back to sleep. We tried everything and came across something called 'Night Terrors,' which seemed to describe his symptoms perfectly – an anxious nightmare from which he couldn't wake up, likely triggered by his illness.
I am a trained occupational therapist, and I understand the importance of sensory stimuli for many individuals. So, we began researching products related to weighted blankets/bags. That's when we discovered this sleeping bag.
We received it a week ago, and now, he puts it on when he has his nighttime bottle, creating a positive association. And I must say, it's been a tremendous success. He has slept for a full 11 hours every night for the past 7 nights. Our boy is now extremely happy and well-rested, and so are his parents
Our son used to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to fall back asleep, sometimes staying awake for 2-3 hours. When we read a lot about weighted pajamas, we decided to give them a try. We noticed results almost immediately. He started falling asleep faster and sleeping more peacefully. Instead of having 2-4 wakeful nights a week, it reduced to just one. Now that he has moved in with his big sister, he sleeps through the entire night, and we still use the weighted pajamas because we're afraid to try without them.
We purchased the Baby Deepsleep for our son a couple of months ago. It worked very well in terms of his daytime naps, but it was challenging to determine if it helped at night since our son continued to wake up as frequently as before. Nevertheless, it's a nice product, and I can certainly recommend it to everyone I know to give it a try
When my daughter turned 4 months old, her sleep gradually started to deteriorate. By the time she was 7-8 months old, it had become so bad that going to bed seemed pointless. She would wake up crying 1-2 times every hour throughout the night, and sometimes even more frequently during the early hours of the night. It was absolute torture.
I was aware of weighted swaddle but had hesitated due to the price. However, after trying everything else without success, it was our last option. We've used it for the past 4 nights, and the results have been remarkable. For the first 2 nights, she slept for 7-8 hours straight, and for the last 2 nights, she slept for a whopping 10 hours (!!) before waking up for a bottle. It's been incredible, and it has truly been my salvation. I should have bought it several months ago. I can't recommend a weighted bag enough!
Our girl had colic for the first 2 months, and all her sleep was on us parents... 🤯 We couldn't get her to sleep on her own under any circumstances. The first few nights with the weighted swaddle were a bit challenging as it didn't wrap as tightly as she was used to. But then, something miraculous happened! We woke up one morning and were utterly amazed because she had slept for 11 hours straight. Initially, we thought it might be a one-time occurrence, but to our delight, she has been doing the same thing every night since! 🤩 It's been a month now, and we use the weighted swaddle every time she needs to sleep, whether it's in the sling, the stroller, or the crib. We're even considering getting an extra one because we can't do without it when it's being washed. 😅🙈 The weighted swaddle has truly been invaluable to us, and we wholeheartedly recommend it!
Highly recommended if you have a child who refuses to sleep. My daughter, who was then 5 months old, simply wouldn't sleep. But once she got the weighted sleeping swaddle, she started sleeping right away. I could even stop using the stroller, and she would continue sleeping.
She went from only sleeping for 20 minutes while being held to using the weighted sleeping swaddle, and on the first day, she slept for 40 minutes in her stroller. The naps only got longer from there. Now, she's a happy and well-rested child! 🤩😍
We purchased a weighted bag for our 13-month-old daughter, who hasn't had significant sleep issues. She used to wake up 3 times at night for breastfeeding. After using the weighted bag for 14 days, we've seen a noticeable improvement. She has at least halved the number of awakenings where she needs assistance to fall back asleep 🤪.
We also immediately noticed a slower respiratory rate, with deeper breaths.
We're very pleased with the customer service and the fast delivery to Norway.
Our baby becomes noticeably calmer as soon as we put on the sleeping bag.
I was recommended one for babies aged 8 months and older, with a minimum weight of 10 kg. However, it turned out to be too big for our child, so I am selling mine to buy a smaller one.