Newborn Sleep Basics: What to Expect in the First 3 Months
If you feel like your newborn sleeps "all the time" yet you're somehow more exhausted than ever, you're not imagining it. Newborns sleep 14–17 hours a day, but rarely for more than 2–4 hours at a stretch — day or night. Understanding what's normal in these early weeks can take a lot of the worry out of the night shift.
Why newborns wake so often
Tiny tummies need frequent refills. Most newborns need to feed every 2–3 hours, including overnight, for the first few months. Their internal body clock (circadian rhythm) also hasn't developed yet, so day and night feel the same to them — it typically starts maturing around 8–12 weeks.
Building a gentle routine
- Keep nights calm and dim. Use a soft night-light for feeds and nappy changes, and avoid bright overhead lights or loud chatter.
- Let daytime be bright and active. Open the curtains, talk and play during the day — this helps baby's body clock learn the difference between day and night.
- Watch for sleepy cues. Yawning, eye-rubbing and looking away are signs to start winding down before overtiredness sets in, which often makes settling harder.
- A simple bedtime routine (bath, feed, swaddle or sleep sack, song) — even from a few weeks old — helps signal that sleep is coming.
Safe sleep, every time
Whether it's a nap or overnight sleep, the same safe-sleep basics apply:
- Always place baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat mattress.
- Keep the cot bare — no loose blankets, pillows, bumpers or soft toys.
- Room-sharing (baby's cot in your room) for at least the first 6 months is recommended and can make night feeds easier too.
- In Malaysia and Singapore's warm, humid climate, dress baby in light layers and keep the room comfortably cool with a fan or air-conditioning — overheating is a known risk factor.
When to check in with your doctor
Every baby is different, but if you're concerned about feeding, breathing, or your baby seems unusually difficult to wake or settle, don't hesitate to speak to your paediatrician. And remember — the newborn stage is short. It gets easier, even if it doesn't always feel that way at 3am.