My Newborn Sleeps Too Much
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.
By Age
What to expect by age
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.
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.
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.
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 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
Sources
Related Resources
Related Sleep Concerns
Baby Only Napping 30 Minutes
Short naps of 30-45 minutes are extremely common in babies under 6 months. Your baby is waking at the end of a single sleep cycle and has not yet learned to link cycles together during the day. This is developmentally normal and typically improves on its own between 5-7 months as the brain matures.
Baby Fighting Sleep
A baby who fights sleep is usually either overtired, undertired, or going through a developmental leap. It can feel exhausting, but it is very common and does not mean anything is wrong. Adjusting wake windows and creating a calming pre-sleep routine are the most effective strategies.
My Baby Grinds Teeth While Sleeping
Teeth grinding (bruxism) is surprisingly common in babies and toddlers, affecting up to 30% of children. It often begins when babies first get teeth and may continue through early childhood. While the sound can be unsettling, occasional grinding is usually harmless and most children outgrow it by age 6. It may be related to teething discomfort, jaw development, or simply exploring their new teeth.
My Baby Moans in Their Sleep
Moaning, groaning, and grunting during sleep are extremely common in babies and are almost always harmless. Babies spend a large proportion of their sleep in active (REM) sleep, during which they naturally vocalize, twitch, and make facial expressions. These sounds typically decrease as your baby's nervous system matures over the first few months.
My Baby Naps Too Much
How much daytime sleep is "too much" depends heavily on your baby's age. Newborns naturally nap frequently and for long stretches, while older babies and toddlers gradually consolidate daytime sleep into fewer, shorter naps. Excessive daytime napping becomes a concern mainly if it consistently interferes with nighttime sleep or if it signals an underlying issue like illness.
Baby Needs Rocking to Sleep
Rocking your baby to sleep is a perfectly natural and loving way to help them drift off. It is not a bad habit - it is responsive parenting. If rocking is working for your family, there is no need to change anything. If you would like your baby to learn to fall asleep with less help, gentle, gradual approaches work best.