My Newborn Sleeps Too Much
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Chen, MD, FAAP · Board-Certified Pediatrician
Content reviewed against published AAP, AAP, Cleveland Clinic guidelines
Last reviewed:
Sleep concerns affect nearly every family at some point. When it comes to my newborn sleeps too much, here is what the guidelines recommend.
The short answer
Newborns normally sleep 14-17 hours per day, and some healthy newborns sleep even more. However, in the first few weeks of life, it is important that your baby wakes to feed at least every 2-3 hours. A newborn who consistently sleeps through feedings and is not gaining weight appropriately may need to be evaluated by your pediatrician.
Key takeaways
- Newborns normally sleep 14-17 hours per day, and some healthy newborns sleep even more. However, in the first few weeks of life, it is important that your baby wakes to feed at least every 2-3 hours. A newborn who consistently sleeps through feedings and is not gaining weight appropriately may need to be evaluated by your pediatrician.
- Usually normal when: Your newborn sleeps 14-17 hours per day but wakes regularly to feed and has adequate wet and dirty diapers
- Call your doctor if: Your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry
- Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below
“To reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, the AAP recommends that infants sleep on their backs, on a firm, flat surface, without any soft bedding.”
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
What Parents Should Know
According to AAP, Cleveland Clinic guidelines, newborns normally sleep 14-17 hours per day, and some healthy newborns sleep even more. However, in the first few weeks of life, it is important that your baby wakes to feed at least every 2-3 hours. A newborn who consistently sleeps through feedings and is not gaining weight appropriately may need to be evaluated by your pediatrician. At 0-2 weeks, in the first two weeks, many newborns are very sleepy, especially if the birth was long or difficult, or if there is mild jaundice. It is important to wake your baby every 2-3 hours to feed until they have regained their birth weight (typically by 10-14 days of age). Once your baby is gaining weight well and your pediatrician gives the green light, you can generally let them sleep in longer stretches. It is generally considered normal when your newborn sleeps 14-17 hours per day but wakes regularly to feed and has adequate wet and dirty diapers. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry.
Normal vs. Concerning
By Age
What to expect by age
0-2 weeks
In the first two weeks, many newborns are very sleepy, especially if the birth was long or difficult, or if there is mild jaundice. It is important to wake your baby every 2-3 hours to feed until they have regained their birth weight (typically by 10-14 days of age). Once your baby is gaining weight well and your pediatrician gives the green light, you can generally let them sleep in longer stretches.
2-6 weeks
Your newborn should be becoming more alert during some wake periods by now. While 16-17 hours of sleep per day is still normal, you should see at least a few periods of alertness where your baby is interested in looking at faces, feeding actively, and making eye contact. If your baby remains excessively sleepy with no alert periods, mention this to your pediatrician.
6-12 weeks
By this age, most babies begin to develop longer awake windows (60-90 minutes) and show more social engagement during alert periods. Total sleep is typically 14-16 hours. If your baby is sleeping significantly more than this and seems disinterested in feeding or interacting, it is worth discussing with your doctor. However, many babies at this age still sleep a lot and are perfectly healthy.
3-6 months
As the circadian rhythm matures, daytime alertness increases and nighttime sleep consolidates. Total sleep averages 12-16 hours. A baby who is suddenly sleeping much more than usual at this age - especially if they were previously more alert - may be fighting an illness, recovering from vaccinations, or going through a growth spurt. Temporary increases in sleep around these events are normal.
What to Tell Your Pediatrician
- Describe when you first noticed my newborn sleeps too much and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your newborn is consistently sleeping through feeding times and needs to be woken for every feed beyond the first two weeks.
- Mention if your baby has very few alert periods and seems disinterested in feeding even when awake.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your newborn sleeps 14-17 hours per day but wakes regularly to feed and has adequate wet and dirty diapers
- Your baby is gaining weight on track at pediatrician visits
- Your baby has alert periods where they are interested in faces and feeding actively
- Increased sleepiness follows vaccinations, a growth spurt, or a minor illness and resolves within a day or two
- Your newborn is consistently sleeping through feeding times and needs to be woken for every feed beyond the first two weeks
- Your baby has very few alert periods and seems disinterested in feeding even when awake
- Weight gain has slowed or your baby is not producing enough wet diapers (fewer than 6 per day after day 5)
- Your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry
- Excessive sleepiness is accompanied by fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), vomiting, or a change in skin color
What You Can Do at Home
- Keep track of when you notice my newborn sleeps too much — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
- Remember that your newborn sleeps 14-17 hours per day but wakes regularly to feed and has adequate wet and dirty diapers — this is generally within the range of normal.
- At 0-2 weeks, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
- Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. Keep the sleep environment cool, dark, and quiet.
- While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry.
Related Resources
Milestone Checklists by Age
Track your baby's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years with age-specific checklists.
Baby Sleep Guide
Age-by-age sleep needs, schedules, and evidence-based sleep strategies.
Month-by-Month Development
Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.
When to Call the Doctor
General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.
Frequently asked questions
Is my newborn sleeps too much normal?
When should I call the doctor about my newborn sleeps too much?
When is my newborn sleeps too much normal?
What causes my newborn sleeps too much?
What should I mention to my pediatrician about my newborn sleeps too much?
Is my newborn sleeps too much normal at 0-2 weeks?
Is my newborn sleeps too much normal at 2-6 weeks?
Should I go to the ER for my newborn sleeps too much?
Does my newborn sleeps too much go away on its own?
References
- [1]American Academy of Pediatrics. Getting Your Baby to Sleep. HealthyChildren.org. AAP
- [2]American Academy of Pediatrics. How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat? HealthyChildren.org. AAP
- [3]Cleveland Clinic. Newborn Sleep Patterns. ClevelandClinic.org. Cleveland Clinic
Doctor Visit Checklist
Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss My Newborn Sleeps Too Much.
Things to mention
- Describe when you first noticed my newborn sleeps too much and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your newborn is consistently sleeping through feeding times and needs to be woken for every feed beyond the first two weeks.
- Mention if your baby has very few alert periods and seems disinterested in feeding even when awake.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
Observations to share
- Your newborn is consistently sleeping through feeding times and needs to be woken for every feed beyond the first two weeks
- Your baby has very few alert periods and seems disinterested in feeding even when awake
- Weight gain has slowed or your baby is not producing enough wet diapers (fewer than 6 per day after day 5)
Urgent signs to report immediately
- Your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry
- Excessive sleepiness is accompanied by fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), vomiting, or a change in skin color
My notes
From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members
Related Resources
Bottom line
Most cases of my newborn sleeps too much are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if your newborn is very difficult to rouse, floppy, or limp when picked up, with poor feeding and a weak cry.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
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Related Sleep Concerns
How Long Should Baby Be Awake Between Naps?
The ideal awake time between naps (called a "wake window") increases as your baby grows. Newborns may only handle 45-90 minutes awake, while toddlers can manage 4-6 hours. Getting wake windows right is one of the most effective ways to improve nap quality, because both too-short and too-long wake times lead to poor sleep.
Is a Bath Before Bed Really Necessary?
A nightly bath is not medically necessary and some babies with sensitive skin do better with less frequent bathing. However, a warm bath can be a powerful sleep cue because the subsequent body temperature drop triggers melatonin production. If you include a bath, keep it calm and warm rather than stimulating.
How Long Should the Bedtime Routine Be?
An ideal bedtime routine for babies and toddlers is 20-30 minutes. Shorter routines may not give enough time to wind down, while routines longer than 45 minutes can become a stalling tactic. Consistency in the routine order matters more than exact length.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Early?
For most babies over 3 months, bedtime between 6:00-8:00 PM is appropriate. A bedtime that is too early can cause early morning wakings (before 6 AM) or long periods of wakefulness in the middle of the night. However, during nap transitions or on days when naps were short, an earlier-than-usual bedtime helps prevent overtiredness.
Is My Baby's Bedtime Too Late?
For babies over 3-4 months, consistently going to bed after 8:30-9:00 PM may result in overtiredness, which paradoxically makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Cortisol rises when babies are overtired, leading to more night wakings and early mornings. Moving bedtime earlier, even by 15-30 minutes, often improves overnight sleep quality.
Is It Dangerous for My Baby to Sleep in a Car Seat?
Babies should not be left to sleep in car seats outside of the car. Car seat-related deaths are most often caused by positional asphyxia, which occurs when a baby's head falls forward, compressing the airway. While car seats are essential and safe for travel, the AAP recommends transferring your sleeping baby to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as you reach your destination. Never use a car seat as a substitute for a crib or bassinet.