When a newborn sleeps all day, you need to ensure they're eating enough by waking them for feeds every 2-3 hours (or as advised by your doctor), checking for signs of illness (fever, poor feeding, lethargy), and gently encouraging day-night differentiation by exposing them to light and being business-like at night; log their sleep/feeding to discuss with your pediatrician if concerned, as occasional long sleeps are normal, but chronic issues need a check-up.
It's okay. It's normal for a newborn to sleep most of the day. Sleep averages for newborns are 16 to 18 hours a day in periods of 2 to 4 hours. Later, over 1 month old, babies start sleeping more at night and less at a daytime. Newborns usually wake up to be fed.
Baby sleeping too much and when to worry FAQs
In total, they typically need anywhere from 14 - 17 hours of sleep in 24 hours. However, some may sleep up to 18 - 19 hours a day [11]. If your little one is sleeping more than 20 hours a day, it may indicate an underlying health condition.
How to keep your newborn awake during the day
If your baby is unusually difficult to wake, sleeps much more than usual, feeds poorly, or seems less responsive even while awake, this may be a sign of lethargy and should be checked by a pediatrician right away.
A baby occasionally sleeping for longer than usual is not a cause for concern unless there are other symptoms. In general, it is uncommon for a newborn to consistently sleep through feedings or to sleep for longer than 19 hours per day unless they are ill or are having feeding difficulties.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
Signs of dehydration in a baby may include:
What makes a baby sleepy? Recovering from birth: In the first few days, some babies are sleepy or uninterested in feeding. It's especially true for small babies, after a difficult labour or birth, or if you received drugs for pain relief during labour. Jaundice or an infection may make a baby sleepy.
Newborns usually sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours each. Some newborns sleep for up to 4 hours at a time. Newborns wake frequently to feed because they have tiny tummies. Your newborn might go straight back to sleep after feeding, or they might stay awake long enough for a short play.
After the newborn period, babies nap at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the early afternoon. Some babies also need a late-afternoon nap. Try making 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. nap time. Let babies nap for as long as they want, unless they have trouble falling asleep at night.
Your young child is lethargic if he stares into space or won't smile. He won't play at all or hardly responds to you. Your child is too weak to cry or hard to wake up. These are serious symptoms.
Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. They usually regain this lost weight within 1 to 2 weeks after birth. Until then, it's important to feed your baby often. This might mean waking your baby for a feeding, especially if it's been more than four hours since the last feeding.
"The first five to eight minutes of sleep is shallow sleep," she explained. "So if you immediately place their infant down after they're asleep, you'll hit the shallow sleep, they'll wake up and you'll be unsuccessful. That's why you want to wait for that five to eight minutes after the infant falls asleep.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
Breastfed babies feed often, about every 2–3 hours. Bottle-fed babies tend to feed less often, about every 3–4 hours. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
The first hour after birth, the “Golden Hour”, when a healthy baby is calmly placed skin-to-skin on the mother's chest, not only facilitates a smooth transition from the womb to the outside world, stabilising the baby physiologically, but also offers a unique opportunity for the mother and baby to connect emotionally ( ...
It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks. It will typically completely resolve by 3-4 months.
Be expected to sleep a large portion of the day – about 16 - 20 hours. Raise their heads slightly. When your baby is awake, give him or her supervised time on his or her tummy so he or she can develop upper body muscles. Focus and begin to make eye contact with you.
Crying or irritability that does not get better with cuddling and comfort. A sleepy baby who cannot be awakened enough to nurse or bottle-feed. Signs of sickness (such as cough, diarrhea, pale skin color) Poor appetite or weak sucking ability.
Common signs of dehydration include a dry diaper for 6 or more hours, a dry mouth, or sunken eyes with few tears. This condition can be serious. Your baby's body needs fluids to make enough blood. Without a good supply of blood, vital organs such as the heart and brain can't work as well as they should.
Beyond the cuteness explosion you can expect when Baby starts smiling around 6 to 8 weeks, it's also an exciting time for their development. Baby's vision and facial recognition is improving, and they're outgrowing their early reflexes. They're also beginning to express feelings, such as excitement or contentment.