Newborn Sleep Schedule (0-3 Weeks)
Gentle survival guide for your first few weeks: understanding newborn sleep patterns, wake windows, round-the-clock feeding, and safe sleep basics during this precious early phase.
Survival mode is normal - you've got this!
Evidence-based guide reviewed by pediatric sleep experts
Last updated: January 22, 2025
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice or professional sleep consultation. Every baby is unique. Always consult your pediatrician about your baby's specific sleep, health, and safety needs. If you have concerns about your baby's breathing, development, feeding, or sleep patterns, seek professional guidance immediately.
Newborn Sleep Guidelines (0-3 Weeks)
Quick Reference: Newborn Sleep (0-3 Weeks)
📚 Data Sources:
Guidelines adapted from:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- National Sleep Foundation
- Pediatric sleep research (see References section below)
⚕️ Consult Your Pediatrician: These are general planning guidelines. Every baby is different. If you have concerns about your baby's sleep, feeding, or development, please consult your healthcare provider.
Why Use Wake Windows Instead of a Fixed Schedule?
You might be wondering: If this is a sleep schedule page, where's the actual schedule?
Here's the truth: For newborns (0-3 weeks), there is no fixed schedule. Your baby has not yet developed circadian rhythms—they literally cannot tell day from night. Their sleep is completely driven by feeding needs, and wake times vary dramatically from day to day.
What ARE Wake Windows for Newborns?
Wake windows are the amount of time your newborn can comfortably stay awake between sleeps. For newborns (0-3 weeks), this is extremely short: 30-60 minutes total, including feeding time.
Instead of trying to follow clock times (which will only frustrate you), you simply watch how long baby has been awake and help them back to sleep when they show tired cues. This is survival mode, and it's completely normal.
How the calculator below helps: Enter your newborn's wake-up time, and it will show you the approximate window when they'll likely need to sleep again (based on typical newborn wake windows). But remember: your baby may vary significantly from this, and that's okay.
Your only job right now: Feed your baby every 2-3 hours (or on demand), keep them safe, change their diapers, and love them. There is no such thing as a "schedule" for newborns. You're doing great.
Next Nap Window Calculator
What's Normal at 0-3 Weeks (And What's NOT)
Newborns have not developed circadian rhythms. They cannot tell day from night. Day-night confusion is completely normal and expected.
Newborns eat every 2-3 hours around the clock. Their sleep is entirely dictated by hunger and feeding needs, not by any schedule.
30-60 minutes is all newborns can handle before they're exhausted. This includes feeding time! They need to sleep almost constantly.
Rocking, bouncing, feeding to sleep, holding—whatever works is perfectly fine. You cannot "spoil" a newborn. They need your full support.
Any form of sleep training is developmentally inappropriate and unsafe for newborns. Focus only on safe sleep, feeding, and bonding.
If someone tells you to "put baby on a schedule" at this age, ignore them. Newborns cannot follow schedules. Follow your baby's cues.
Remember: This is survival mode. Your goal is not perfect sleep or any kind of routine—it's simply to keep your baby fed, safe, and loved. Give yourself grace. This intense phase is temporary.
Sample "Schedule" for Newborns (0-3 Weeks)
Important: This is NOT a schedule to follow. It's just an example of what a day might look like. Every newborn is different, and every day will be different. Use this as a rough guide only—your baby will tell you what they need.
Newborn wakes, you feed (breast or bottle), change diaper. Total awake time: 30-60 minutes including feeding.
After feeding and a brief diaper change/cuddle, baby is tired again. Help them back to sleep (swaddle, rock, hold, whatever works).
Repeat the cycle: wake, feed, brief awake time, back to sleep. This happens 6-8+ times per day (and night).
The pattern: Wake → Feed → Brief awake time → Sleep. Repeat every 2-3 hours, 24 hours a day. There is no "bedtime" or "morning wake time" yet—just a continuous cycle. This is completely normal for newborns.
Wake Windows Guide: Newborns (0-3 Weeks)
Newborn Wake Windows by Week
30-45 minutes. Extremely sleepy. Babies may even fall asleep while feeding. This is normal—they're recovering from birth.
35-50 minutes. Still very sleepy. Most of awake time is spent feeding. Brief moments of alertness between feeds.
40-60 minutes. Slightly more alert. May have brief periods of quiet alertness where they look around, but still tire very quickly.
These wake windows include feeding time! If your newborn takes 25-30 minutes to feed, they may only have 10-30 minutes of true "awake and alert" time before they need to sleep again. This is completely normal.
Newborn Sleep Cues
Early Tired Signs
- •Staring blankly or glazed look
- •Yawning
- •Slower movements
- •Less engaged with surroundings
Overtired Signs (Act Fast!)
- •Fussing or crying
- •Arching back
- •Jerky movements
- •Red eyebrows or flushed face
Pro tip: At this age, it's almost impossible to get a newborn to sleep "too much." If they're sleeping, let them sleep. Wake them only for feeding if instructed by your pediatrician (usually if they're not gaining weight appropriately).
How Many Naps Do Newborns Take?
Newborns (0-3 weeks) take 6-8+ naps per day—or more accurately, they're almost always sleeping.
It's more helpful to think of newborn sleep as continuous cycles of sleeping and brief waking periods, rather than distinct "naps." They wake primarily to eat, then fall back asleep.
Total Sleep for Newborns:
- Total 24-hour sleep: 14-17 hours (some sleep even more)
- Daytime sleep: 8-10 hours spread across many short periods
- Nighttime sleep: Not consolidated—broken up by frequent feeds every 2-3 hours
How Long Do Newborn Naps Last?
Newborn nap lengths are completely unpredictable and vary wildly:
- •Some "naps" may be as short as 20-30 minutes
- •Others may be 2-4 hours
- •There is no pattern or predictability
- •You cannot control or change nap length at this age
Important: Do not try to "cap" or wake a newborn from a long nap unless instructed by your pediatrician for medical reasons (such as weight gain concerns). Let them sleep as long as they need.
When Should the Last Nap Be for a Newborn?
Newborns don't have a "last nap" in the traditional sense.
Because newborns haven't developed circadian rhythms, there's no clear distinction between "last nap of the day" and "bedtime." Instead, there's just a continuous cycle of sleeping and waking throughout the entire 24-hour period.
What About Late Evening Sleep?
Many parents notice their newborn has a longer sleep period starting somewhere between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. This is the closest thing to "bedtime" for a newborn, but it's still not a true bedtime.
Your newborn will still wake every 2-3 hours during this "night" period to feed. This is normal and necessary.
When Is Bedtime for a Newborn?
Bedtime: 8:00-11:00 PM (highly variable)
But remember: "bedtime" for a newborn is not like bedtime for an older baby. It's simply when you treat the environment as "nighttime":
- Keep the room dark
- Keep things quiet and boring during night feeds
- Use minimal interaction (feed, change, back to sleep)
- Save stimulation and play for daytime hours
Focus on this: Rather than worrying about a specific bedtime, focus on creating clear environmental differences between day and night. This helps lay the foundation for circadian rhythm development, which will happen around 6-12 weeks.
Developmental Milestones: Newborns (0-3 Weeks)
At 0-3 weeks, your newborn is adjusting to life outside the womb. Development happens rapidly, but milestones are still very basic:
Vision and Awareness
- •Can see 8-12 inches away (perfect for looking at your face during feeding)
- •Prefers high-contrast patterns and faces
- •Brief periods of quiet alertness
- •May track objects briefly with eyes
Movement and Reflexes
- •Jerky, uncontrolled movements
- •Strong reflexes: rooting, sucking, grasping, startle (Moro)
- •Hands usually in fists
- •May briefly lift head during tummy time
Hearing and Response
- •Startles to loud sounds
- •May calm to soothing voices
- •Recognizes your voice (heard it in the womb!)
- •Crying is the main form of communication
Social Development
- •No social smiles yet (those come around 6-8 weeks)
- •May make brief eye contact
- •Focused primarily on basic needs: eat, sleep, comfort
- •Bonding happens through feeding, holding, skin-to-skin
Remember: Every baby develops at their own pace. These are general guidelines, not rigid checkpoints. If you have concerns about your newborn's development, always consult your pediatrician.
Is There a Newborn Sleep Regression?
No, there is no sleep regression for newborns (0-3 weeks).
Sleep regressions happen when a baby's sleep temporarily worsens after a period of improvement. But newborns haven't established any sleep patterns yet—there's nothing to regress from!
What you're experiencing at this age is normal newborn sleep: fragmented, unpredictable, and entirely driven by feeding needs. It may feel chaotic, but it's not a regression—it's just the reality of having a newborn.
The first true sleep regression typically occurs around 4 months, when babies' sleep cycles mature and become more adult-like. For now, focus on survival and meeting your baby's basic needs.
Activities for Newborns (0-3 Weeks)
At 0-3 weeks, "activities" are extremely simple. Newborns tire within minutes and need constant rest. The focus is on basic care, bonding, and avoiding overstimulation.
Simple Bonding Activities
- Skin-to-skin contact: The best activity for newborns. Regulates temperature, heart rate, and promotes bonding.
- Face-to-face gazing: Hold baby 8-12 inches from your face during feeding or cuddles.
- Gentle talking and singing: Your voice is soothing and familiar from the womb.
- Gentle stroking: Soft touches on arms, legs, or back during diaper changes.
Very Brief "Playtime"
- Tummy time: 1-2 minutes, 2-3 times per day while baby is awake and alert. Builds neck strength.
- High-contrast images: Black and white patterns or faces. Baby can only see clearly up close.
- Gentle rocking: In your arms or a baby carrier. Movement is calming.
- Diaper changes: These count as "activity time!" Talk to baby during changes.
Newborns are easily overwhelmed. Keep activities very short (just a few minutes), watch for tired cues, and don't feel pressure to "entertain" your baby. Most of their time should be sleeping, feeding, or having quiet cuddles.
What Is a Bedtime Routine for a Newborn?
You can start a very simple bedtime routine at 0-3 weeks, but keep expectations realistic. Newborns won't "understand" routines yet, but consistency helps lay the foundation for future sleep habits.
Sample Simple Bedtime Routine (10-15 minutes)
- 1.Feed: Give a full feeding (breast or bottle)
- 2.Diaper change: Fresh diaper in dim lighting
- 3.Swaddle: Wrap baby snugly (if they tolerate it)
- 4.Soothe to sleep: Rock, hold, sing softly—whatever works
That's it! Keep it short, simple, and calm. The goal is not to make baby sleep independently—it's simply to create a predictable, soothing transition to the "night period."
Tips for Newborn Bedtime Routine
- Keep lights dim: Use a nightlight or very low lighting during the routine
- Stay calm and quiet: Use a soft voice, slow movements
- Same order every night: Even if baby doesn't understand now, they will eventually
- Do NOT expect baby to "put themselves to sleep": Newborns need full support to fall asleep
Remember: The bedtime routine is for YOU as much as for baby. It signals to both of you that it's time to wind down for the night. Don't stress if it doesn't "work"—you're building a habit that will pay off in the coming months.
Should I Swaddle My Newborn?
Yes! Swaddling is highly recommended for most newborns (0-3 weeks).
Swaddling helps prevent the startle reflex (Moro reflex) from waking your baby. It also recreates the snug, womb-like environment that newborns find comforting.
Safe Swaddling Guidelines
- Always place swaddled babies on their backs to sleep
- Ensure the swaddle is snug around arms but loose around hips (to prevent hip dysplasia)
- Stop swaddling immediately at the first signs of rolling (typically 8-12 weeks)
- Don't use blankets over a swaddle—risk of overheating
- Watch for signs of overheating (sweating, flushed face, rapid breathing)
Some newborns resist swaddling or prefer having their arms free. That's okay too! Follow your baby's cues. If they're calmer without a swaddle, skip it.
What Do I Do If My Newborn Needs the Pacifier to Sleep?
It's completely fine if your newborn uses a pacifier to sleep!
At 0-3 weeks, your only concern should be safe sleep and meeting your baby's needs. If a pacifier soothes your newborn, use it. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) actually recommends offering a pacifier at sleep times, as it may reduce the risk of SIDS.
Pacifier Tips for Newborns
- If breastfeeding, wait until feeding is well-established (typically 3-4 weeks) before introducing a pacifier
- If the pacifier falls out during sleep, you don't need to put it back in
- Never force a pacifier if baby doesn't want it
- Keep pacifiers clean—wash frequently
Don't worry about "creating bad habits" at this age. Newborns need soothing, and pacifiers are a safe way to provide comfort. You can address pacifier weaning much later (if needed) when baby is older.
Can a Newborn Sleep Through the Night?
No. Newborns (0-3 weeks) cannot and should not sleep through the night.
Newborns need to feed every 2-3 hours around the clock for proper growth and development. Their tiny stomachs cannot hold enough milk to sustain them for long stretches without feeding.
What's normal for newborns:
- • Waking every 2-3 hours to eat, day and night
- • No long sleep stretches (anything over 3-4 hours is unusual)
- • Frequent night wakings for feeding and diaper changes
- • This continues for at least the first 6-8 weeks
If your newborn is sleeping unusually long stretches (over 4 hours) without waking to feed, consult your pediatrician, especially if they're not gaining weight appropriately.
When will baby sleep through the night? Most babies are not developmentally capable of sleeping through the night (defined as 6+ hours) until at least 3-6 months, and many continue night feeds well beyond that. This is normal and healthy.
Why Is My Newborn Fighting Sleep?
If your newborn is fighting sleep, it's usually due to one of these common reasons:
1. Overtired
This is the most common reason. Newborn wake windows are extremely short (30-60 min). If you miss the sleep window, baby becomes overtired and paradoxically harder to settle. Watch the clock and tired cues carefully.
2. Overstimulated
Newborns are easily overwhelmed by light, noise, and activity. If wake time was too stimulating, baby may struggle to calm down. Keep environment dim and quiet before sleep.
3. Discomfort
Gas, reflux, diaper rash, being too hot/cold, or hunger can all make it hard for newborns to settle. Check for physical discomfort before assuming it's a sleep issue.
4. Day-Night Confusion
Newborns haven't developed circadian rhythms yet. They may be wide awake at 2:00 AM and sleepy all day. This gradually improves by 6-12 weeks. Focus on environmental cues (dark and quiet at night).
5. Normal Newborn Fussiness
Sometimes newborns are just fussy, especially in the evening hours. This is called "witching hour" and is extremely common. It peaks around 2-3 weeks and gradually improves.
What helps: Swaddling, white noise, dim lighting, motion (rocking, bouncing), pacifier, and lots of patience. Sometimes babies just need to be held. You cannot spoil a newborn—respond to their needs.
Why Are My Newborn Naps Suddenly Short?
Short naps are completely normal for newborns (0-3 weeks).
Newborn sleep is extremely fragmented and unpredictable. Some naps may be 20-30 minutes, others may be several hours. There is no pattern or consistency at this age.
Why naps are short for newborns:
- • Newborns have not yet developed consolidated sleep cycles
- • They wake frequently to feed (every 2-3 hours)
- • Hunger, discomfort, or the startle reflex can wake them easily
- • This is normal and not something you can change
If naps are suddenly shorter than usual, it could be due to:
- • Growth spurt (more frequent feeding needs)
- • Overstimulation during wake time
- • Environmental factors (noise, light, temperature)
- • Normal newborn variability (some days are just different!)
What to do: Accept that short naps are normal for newborns. Focus on watching wake windows and sleep cues rather than trying to extend naps. As baby's nervous system matures (around 3-4 months), naps will gradually become more predictable.
How Do I Handle Early Morning Wakings with My Newborn?
Newborns (0-3 weeks) don't have "early morning wakings" in the traditional sense.
Because newborns haven't developed circadian rhythms, there's no such thing as "too early" for them. If your newborn is awake at 5:00 AM, to them it's no different from waking at 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM.
What to Do When Newborn Wakes "Early"
- Treat it like any other wake-up: Feed, change, and see if baby goes back to sleep
- Keep environment dark and quiet: Use blackout curtains and dim lights to signal it's still "nighttime"
- Don't start "the day" yet: Avoid turning on bright lights or starting stimulating activities
- If baby won't settle, that's okay: Sometimes they're just up. Stay calm and boring.
When will early wakings improve? Once circadian rhythms develop (around 6-12 weeks), you can start establishing a more consistent wake-up time. But for now, accept that wake times will vary dramatically from day to day.
What Are Safe Sleep Guidelines for a Newborn?
Safe sleep is THE most important thing for newborns. Follow these AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines:
Safe Sleep Checklist
- Back to sleep, every time: Always place baby on their back for sleep, never on stomach or side
- Firm sleep surface: Use a firm crib or bassinet mattress with a fitted sheet. No soft surfaces like couches, adult beds, or cushions.
- Nothing else in the crib: No blankets, pillows, bumpers, stuffed animals, or loose bedding. The crib should be completely empty except for a fitted sheet.
- Room-sharing (not bed-sharing): Baby should sleep in your room (in their own crib/bassinet) for at least the first 6 months, ideally the first year
- Avoid overheating: Dress baby in light sleep clothing, keep room temperature comfortable (68-72°F). No hats indoors.
- Offer a pacifier: AAP recommends offering a pacifier at sleep time (once breastfeeding is established, if applicable)
- No smoking around baby: Keep baby's environment smoke-free
If swaddling, always place baby on their back. Stop swaddling immediately at the first signs of rolling. Make sure swaddle is snug around arms but loose around hips.
- • Sleeping on soft surfaces (couches, armchairs, adult beds with pillows/blankets)
- • Co-sleeping in the same bed (bed-sharing)
- • Sleeping in car seats, swings, or bouncers for extended periods (use for transportation only)
- • Propping bottles for feeding
- • Using sleep positioners or wedges
Should I Start Sleep Training with a Newborn?
Absolutely not. Sleep training is NOT appropriate for newborns (0-3 weeks).
Newborns are far too young for any form of sleep training. Their needs are immediate and essential—they cannot self-soothe, they cannot wait, and they need constant care and feeding around the clock.
What newborns need instead:
- • Immediate response to their cries
- • Feeding on demand every 2-3 hours
- • Full support to fall asleep (rocking, holding, feeding)
- • Physical contact and comfort
- • Safe sleep environment
- • Love, bonding, and attachment
When can sleep training begin? Most experts recommend waiting until at least 4-6 months of age, when babies are developmentally ready and have the ability to self-soothe. Even then, it's a personal choice.
Your job right now: Survival. Feed your baby, keep them safe, respond to their needs, and rest whenever you can. This phase is temporary, and responding to your newborn's needs is building a secure attachment—not creating bad habits.
What Is the Difference Between Newborn and 1 Month Old Sleep?
While newborns (0-3 weeks) and 1 month olds (4-7 weeks) are very similar, there are some subtle differences as baby matures:
Newborn (0-3 Weeks)
- •Wake windows: 30-60 minutes
- •Circadian rhythm: None—no day/night awareness
- •Alertness: Very sleepy most of the time
- •Social: No social smiles yet
- •Schedule: Completely non-existent
1 Month Old (4-7 Weeks)
- •Wake windows: 50-90 minutes (gradually lengthening)
- •Circadian rhythm: Just starting to emerge around 6-8 weeks
- •Alertness: More alert periods, slightly more engaged
- •Social: First social smiles around 6-7 weeks!
- •Schedule: Still very flexible, but slightly more predictable
The biggest change happens around 6-8 weeks when circadian rhythms start to develop. This is when you may notice:
- • More consistent wake-up times (within an hour or so)
- • Longer wake windows during the day
- • A clearer "bedtime" emerging
- • Slightly more predictable nap patterns
Bottom line: Newborns and 1 month olds are very similar—both still need full support, frequent feeding, and flexible routines. The transition from newborn to infant is gradual, not sudden.
Related Sleep Schedule Guides
1 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Wake windows 50-90 min, 5-8 naps, handling day-night confusion
Read guide2 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Wake windows 60-90 min, 4-6 naps, emerging patterns
Read guide3 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Wake windows 75-120 min, 4-5 naps, approaching 4-month regression
Read guideWake Windows Guide
Complete wake windows chart from newborn to toddler
Read guideYou're Doing Great
The newborn phase (0-3 weeks) is survival mode. There are no schedules, no routines, no "shoulds." Your only job is to feed your baby, keep them safe, and love them.
Give yourself grace. Sleep when you can. Ask for help. This intense phase is temporary, and you're doing exactly what your baby needs.