How much do newborns sleep? It depends who you ask.
The CDC, the WHO, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the NHS each publish how many hours babies sleep, and they don’t agree. Here are all of them, how long a newborn sleeps at a stretch, and the safe sleep basics, in their own words.
Newborn sleep, in hours a day, by age
“Age Group | Age | Sleep Recommended Daily
Newborn | 0–3 months | 14–17 hours
Infant | 4–12 months | 12–16 hours (including naps)” CDC
“Have 14–17h (0–3 months of age) or 12–16h (4–11 months of age) of good quality sleep, including naps.” World Health Organization
“Babies do not have regular sleep cycles until about 4 months of age. Although newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time.” American Academy of Pediatrics
“Newborns usually sleep 14-17 hours in every 24 hours.
Newborns usually sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours through the day and night. ... Newborns usually sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours each. Some newborns sleep for up to 4 hours at a time.” Raising Children Network
“Newborns may sleep as much as 18 hours a day, for 3 to 4 hours at a time. It’s normal and healthy for babies to wake up during the night to feed.” Canadian Paediatric Society
“Most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake. Their total daily sleep varies, but can be around 18 hours. Babies will wake during the night because they need to be fed.” NHS
“Some newborns may sleep for a total of around 8 hours a day, while others may sleep up to around 18 hours a day – either is perfectly normal.
Your baby may sleep in short or long bursts. It's highly unlikely they'll sleep through the night because they have tiny tummies and need to be fed.” NHS Best Start in Life
“Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night: For infants 4–12 months of age, 12–16 hours per 24 hours (including naps).” CDC
“3-6 months: what to expect from baby sleep
At this age, most babies sleep for 12-15 hours in every 24 hours. ... By the time your baby is one year old, they’ll probably sleep for 11-14 hours in every 24 hours.” Raising Children Network
How long at a stretch
“Sleep/wake cycles vary, and do not stabilize until a baby is 3 months old. These cycles occur in random intervals of 30 to 50 minutes at birth. Intervals gradually increase as the infant matures. By age 4 months, most infants will have one 5-hour period of uninterrupted sleep per day.” MedlinePlus (NIH)
Safe sleep, where they all agree
“Place babies on their backs to sleep for naps and at night. ... Use a sleep surface for baby that is firm (returns to its original shape quickly if pressed on), flat (like a table, not a hammock), level (not at an angle or incline), and covered only with a fitted sheet. ... Share a room with baby for at least the first 6 months. Give babies their own sleep space (crib, bassinet, or portable play yard) in your room, separate from your bed.” NIH Safe to Sleep
“Place your baby on their back for all naps & at night. ... Choose a firm, flat sleep surface for sleep.
A firm surface means that it shouldn't indent when your baby is lying on it. Any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees isn't safe for your baby to sleep on. ... Share a room with your baby, but never share a bed. ... Instead of sharing a bed, share a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months of life.” American Academy of Pediatrics
“Use a firm, flat (not at an angle or inclined) sleep surface. For example, a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet.
Keep your baby's sleep area (for example, a crib or bassinet) in the same room where you sleep, ideally until your baby is at least 6 months old.” CDC
“always place your baby on their back to sleep in the feet-to-foot position – this means with their feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram ... place your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep for at least the first 6 months
use a firm, flat mattress” NHS
“For at least the first 6 months your baby should be in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).” NHS
“For the first 6 months, the safest place for your baby to sleep is on their back, in a crib, cradle or bassinet that is in your room (room sharing).” Canadian Paediatric Society
How long did she sleep? It’s on the log.
With Premium, Bundle of Joy logs each sleep with when it started and how long it lasted, on your phone and your partner’s, next to the feeds and diapers. It doesn’t predict naps or set a schedule: it keeps the record.
Sources
- CDC: About Sleep (May 15, 2024)
- World Health Organization: To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more (April 24, 2019)
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Getting Your Baby to Sleep (June 4, 2024)
- Raising Children Network: Newborn sleep: what to expect (April 5, 2024)
- Canadian Paediatric Society: Healthy sleep for your baby and child (November 2024)
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleep (January 28, 2025)
- NHS Best Start in Life: Your baby's sleep patterns
- CDC: Positive Parenting Tips: Infants (0–1 years) (February 20, 2026)
- Raising Children Network: Baby sleep patterns at 2-12 months: what to expect (July 17, 2026)
- MedlinePlus (NIH): Infant - newborn development (January 1, 2025)
- NIH Safe to Sleep: Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk
- American Academy of Pediatrics: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained (September 11, 2026)
- CDC: Providing Care for Babies to Sleep Safely (September 17, 2024)
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (November 25, 2025)
- Canadian Paediatric Society: Safe sleep for babies (October 2021)
Every quote on this page was checked against its source on . Not medical advice: for your baby, ask your pediatrician or health visitor.
More from the sources: Baby feeding chart · Newborn diaper chart · Newborn weight loss and gain · Average newborn weight · Newborn fever · Tummy time · Bathing a newborn · Cluster feeding · Infant Tylenol and Motrin dosage · Newborn hiccups · Baby colic
The night, on the record.
Feeds, diapers and sleep, on both your phones.
