The Difference Between Day and Night Sleep for Newborns

Learning about how day and night sleep works for your baby can help when you need to sleep train them. Knowing what to expect during these early weeks of sleep training newborn babies can make bedtime feel a little easier for parents.

How Newborns Sleep During the Day:

During the day, newborns tend to sleep in short bursts. These naps usually last anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours. Daytime sleep is often lighter and less steady because babies are still adjusting to the world outside the womb. The noise and light around them can also affect how deeply they sleep.

Babies need these naps to grow and recharge. Even if they wake often, these short rests add up to a good amount of sleep over the day. Helping your baby nap in a calm, comfortable spot can support their natural rhythms.

Night Sleep Is Different for Newborns:

Nighttime sleep is different because babies are just learning to tell the difference between day and night. At first, many newborns don’t know when to sleep longer. They may wake every two to three hours to eat because their tummies are small and need frequent feeding.

At night, sleep tends to be a bit deeper than during the day, but babies still wake easily. Their sleep cycles are shorter, and they spend more time in lighter sleep stages. Over time, their bodies start to produce hormones that help them sleep longer at night.

How Day and Night Sleep Affects Sleep Training:

When parents begin sleep training newborn babies, understanding these differences helps set realistic goals. In the early weeks, it’s normal for babies to wake often, both day and night. Sleep training usually starts when babies are a little older and can start sleeping for longer stretches, often around four months.

You can begin by creating gentle routines that help your baby learn when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to be awake. For example, keeping daytime naps short and bright, and nighttime sleep dark and quiet, can help your baby’s body clock develop.

Helping Your Baby Adjust:

As babies grow, their day and night sleep patterns change. They begin to sleep longer at night and have fewer but longer naps during the day.

Understanding the difference between day and night sleep gives parents helpful tools to guide their babies gently toward better sleep habits.