Updated Jan 10th 2023
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7
min read
Medically Reviewed By
Board Certified Pediatrician & Lactation Consultant
Even people without babies know a newborn’s sleep is disorganized: they seem to sleep all the time but somehow wake often, too.
As a parent and a sleep expert– I'm here to answer some of the most common questions about a 1-month-old’s sleep, including: How much does a 1-month-old sleep? How much should a 1-month-old sleep? and the most common question: Can a 1-month-old sleep through the night? Spoiler alert: no.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
A 1-month-old typically sleeps about 14-17 hours over a 24-hour period. This sleep is spread out over many different sleep sessions, each lasting from 10-20 minutes up to 2-hours. These sleep durations will become longer and more distinctly like naps as your baby grows. Right now, however, really anything goes, a short nap or a longer nap, and wake periods between sleeps could be anything from 30-90 minutes.
It varies: a 1-month old’s sleep session may be as little as 10-20 minutes or as long as 2-hours.
Note: 1-month-olds tend to be awake longer in the afternoons between naps.
I use the term “nap” loosely here because 1-month-olds don’t take naps like older babies and children. But generally, there will be about 6-7 “naps” throughout the day, usually spaced 30-90 minutes apart. More distinct naps will begin around 2.5-3 months
1-month olds are still waking to feed through the night every 2-3 hours, but roughly speaking they will sleep approximately 9-12 hours overnight – depending on when you classify bedtime is.
Here is a sample sleep schedule for 1-month-olds. Remember, this is just a sample: your baby has their own unique sleep patterns right now, so focus less on the clock and more on their sleepy cues.
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“Good morning!” |
6:45 AM |
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Nap 1 |
7:30-8:45 AM |
Awake: 45 Mins. Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins. |
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Nap 2 |
9:45-11:00 AM |
Awake: 1 hr. Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins. |
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Nap 3 |
12:15-1:15 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. |
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Nap 4 |
2:30-4:00 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 30 mins. |
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Nap 5 |
5:15-5:45 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 30 mins. |
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Nap 6 |
7:00-7:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 30 mins. |
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Bedtime Prep |
8:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. |
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“Good night!” |
9:00 PM-10:30PM |
Wake every 2-3 hours to eat |
Put simply, a 1-month-old cannot sleep through the night. They are still very small and need to eat regularly round the clock.
A one-month-old's sleep is very disorganized: they don’t have specific bed or naptimes, firstly because 1-month-olds are developing very quickly and growing super-fast. With such small tummies, they need to re-fuel often – eating every 2-3 hours or so, round the clock.
It’s also important to remember that 1-month-olds – or newborns –aren’t able to sleep through the night because their circadian rhythms haven’t matured yet. This doesn’t happen until around 4-months of age when overnight sleep will start to consolidate and daytime awake periods will lengthen.
Right now, your baby is just where they need to be, sleeping in short bursts (20min naps are perfectly normal), waking frequently to eat, growing and developing rapidly!
That’s why sleep coaching is usually recommended around the 4-month mark, but even if your baby is still too young to sleep train, it’s a good idea to establish healthy sleep habits early on – to set yourself up for future sleep success. Consider things like black out shades and white noise machines in your baby’s sleep space.
Sharing a room with your 1-month-old is advised for two reasons:
Even though their sleep is disorganized, 1-month-olds still exhibit sleepy cues – signs they’re tired -, including rubbing their eyes and looking away from you. If you notice these cues, try to encourage them to take a sleep.
I hear this question often “How can I sleep when I have a newborn?” While, I can’t guarantee you’ll get much sleep in these first few months, here are some tips to help you thrive through sleep deprivation with a newborn:
Prepare Ahead of Bed: Your baby will wake often at night. This is a given. You can save yourself time, hassle, and avoid waking up too fully if you have everything you need ready to go. Whether it’s diapers, a bottle, a burp blanket – whatever you need, have it by your baby’s bed so you can do what you need to do and get back to bed without thinking too much.
Nap When They Nap: Your 1-month-old may only be sleeping in short bursts but try to sleep a bit when they sleep – this will at least give your mind a bit of rest, however briefly. I do appreciate there is a laundry list of other thing you need to do while they sleep – but you are no use to anyone when you’re exhausted. So like they say on the airplane – ‘Fit your own oxygen mask first’ and make sure you get some rest!
Split the Duties: If you have a partner, alternate nights or times of nights. While one sleeps, the other tends the baby, and then vice versa. This means at least one of you will be well-rested for what the next day ahead.
Accept Help: Did a friend or relative offer to “babysit anytime”? Well, now is the time – having someone trusted watch the baby during the day while you nap, shower, or just enjoy “me time” is a great way to be a great parent without losing yourself.
Order In: Sometimes ordering food is just the way to go – no muss, no fuss, no dishes!
Crying is A-Okay: You’re a new parent. This is hard. If you’re frustrated and need to have a good cry, go for it. In fact, studies show that crying is emotionally and physically beneficial .
While your 1-month-old sleeps a lot, you can make the most of their awake time by supporting their mental and physical development.
A lot – 1-month-old babies sleep 14-17 hours each day with many wakeups for feeding and cuddles.
A 1-month-old cannot sleep through the night yet and will wake often for food, cuddles, and new diapers, but many 1-month-olds can wake for those things and return to their crib at night – so while sleep may be broken, it can last 9-12 hours with brief wakings, every few hours.
Not long – 1-month-olds are growing very fast and need to eat often to develop well. That’s why they wake frequently to feed (as much as every 1-2 hours). At this age, your focus is on them eating and developing well, so if they wake hungry then it is best to feed them.
If your 1-month-old has slept 2-3 hours, it’s a good idea to wake them for a feed. Speak to your pediatrician if you want to lengthen that window or have other concerns.
“Newborn Sleep: Patterns, Interventions, and Outcomes,”
Pediatric Annals.
“Infant Sleep and Its Relation with Cognition and Growth: A Narrative Review,”
Nature and Science of Sleep.
“Crying, feeding and sleeping patterns in 1 to 12-month-old infants,”
Child: Care, Health and Development.
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
