Sleeping and feeding times for newborns

Newborns sleep a lot, but their sleep patterns are different from older children and adults. 

Early on, your baby might wake every 40 minutes or so, needing a feed every 2 to 3 hours during the night. By the end of their third month, you might notice extended periods of wakefulness during the day and longer stretches of sleep at night.  

“Normal” sleep is different for every baby, and it’s important to remember that very few babies will sleep through the night to begin with. Your baby might respond well to a sleep environment that reminds them of being in the uterus. This can include:  

  • sleeping near parents in a bassinet for familiar smells and sounds 

  • Lightweight wrapping to provide security 

  • white noise to replicate sound from the placenta. 

Every baby is different, and it may take some trial and error to figure out what works best for your family. See Sleep development for more information on what to expect in the first year.

Strategies for settling

As a new parent, you may experiment with the following strategies to settle your child: 

  • gentle swaying or rocking 

  • music and white noise 

  • taking a car ride 

  • going for a walk in the pram  

  • using carriers and slings to soothe your baby.

Bath time can also be a relaxing and bonding experience and a great way to resettle your child when things don’t seem to be working. Finding the right technique for your baby may take some trial and error, so be patient. 

Sleep regression

Sleep regression can happen due to various factors, such as: 

  • teething
  • nap transitions
  • developmental periods
  • illness. 

Focus on your baby's individual needs and environment rather than fixed regression schedules you may see online. Understanding your baby's sleep patterns and creating a calming environment can help manage sleep disturbances and lower anxiety around difficult periods. 

Using a dummy or pacifier to settle your child 

Introducing your baby to a dummy or pacifier for settling is a personal choice for your family. Some babies don’t like them, others may love them. Some parents are against them, some think they’re a lifesaver, and others don’t get a choice due to circumstances, like having a baby in the NICU or special care nursery.  

If your baby was born at term, and you’re establishing breastfeeding, it can be a good idea to hold off on introducing a dummy until 4-6 weeks of age. Your baby will be learning to latch onto the breast during this time, and using a dummy might cause some confusion and mask important hunger signals.  

If your baby uses a dummy to sleep, you should:  

  • put your baby to sleep with the dummy every night   

  • keep up the use of the dummy until they are at least 12 months old  

  • let the dummy fall out of their mouth naturally while sleeping, and do not replace it.

Always try a range of different settling techniques along with the dummy, and never force it into your child’s mouth or use it to replace a feed. 

Dummies can also increase the risk of ear infections, glue ear and oral thrush, so it’s important to keep an eye on your baby’s ears and mouth and make sure the dummy is clean before use.  

Babies under 6 months old will need to have their dummy sterilised before each use and after it has been dropped on the ground. Babies over 6 months old can have their dummies washed with soap and water.  

Feeding times

Nursing is the act of breastfeeding or feeding a baby. It can take up to 20 minutes to breastfeed your newborn baby and this time reduces as they become more efficient at feeding. Factors that effect how long your baby is feeding include: 

  • your breast supply as a mother (comes in approximately 2-5 days after birth) 

  • the flow of your breastmilk 

  • how well your baby latches and seals on your nipple 

  • How distracted your baby may be during feeding times.

Newborn babies can feed approximately 12 times a day in the first month after birth. It is usually on demand for your newborn, every 1.5-3 hours, until you find your child’s routine and feeding pattern. The timing of feeds usually reduces to approximately eight times a day once they are two months old.  

See Infant and baby nutrition for more information on breastfeeding.