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:
How Many Hours Should a 1-Month-Old Sleep Each Day?
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.
How Long Do 1-Month-Old’s Sleep?
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.
How Many Naps Should a 1-Month-Old Take?
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
How Much Should My 1-Month-Old Sleep at Night?
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.
Sample Sleep Schedule for 1-Month-Olds:
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.
A 1-Month-Old Sample Sleep Schedule:
“Good morning!”
|
6:45 AM
|
|
Nap 1
|
7:30-8:45 AM
|
Awake: 45 Mins.
Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins.
|
Nap 2
|
9:45-11:00 AM
|
Awake: 1 hr.
Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins.
|
Nap 3
|
12:15-1:15 PM
|
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins.
Nap: 1 hr.
|
Nap 4
|
2:30-4:00 PM
|
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins.
Nap: 1 hr. 30 mins.
|
Nap 5
|
5:15-5:45 PM
|
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins.
Nap: 30 mins.
|
Nap 6
|
7:00-7:30 PM
|
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins.
Nap: 30 mins.
|
Bedtime Prep
|
8:30 PM
|
Awake: 1 hr.
|
“Good night!”
|
9:00 PM-10:30PM
|
Wake every 2-3 hours to eat
|
Can 1-Month-Old Babies Sleep Through the Night?
Put simply, a 1-month-old cannot sleep through the night. They are still very small and need to eat regularly round
the clock.
Why don’t 1-Month-Old Babies Sleep Through the Night?
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.
Should I Room Share with My 1-Month-Old?
Sharing a room with your 1-month-old is advised for two reasons:
- It makes night feedings and changings so much easier (not to mention it keeps your baby close – which can
be a comfort for both of you)
- Most importantly: studies show that room-sharing can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a rare
but mysterious phenomenon in which a newborn dies in their sleep. Room-sharing can reduce SIDS risk 50% and the
AAP recommend room sharin until your baby is 12-months of age.
How Do I Know my 1-Month-Old is Tired?
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.
How Do I Survive Sleep Deprivation with a 1-Month-Old?
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
.
How Do I Support My 1-Month-Old’s Development?
While your 1-month-old sleeps a lot, you can make the most of their awake time by supporting their mental and
physical development.
Here are 4 simple ways to support your 1-month-old’s development:
- Skin-to-Skin Contact: Cuddling your naked baby to your bare chest is more than a warm bonding moment:
Skin-to-Skin contact can also help regulate your baby’s breathing and heart rates and can reduce the risk
of SIDS.
- Tummy Time: Babies spend a lot of time on their backs – that’s how they should sleep: flat on their
backs – but babies also need about 10-15 minutes of supervised tummy time each day. Tummy time is simply
when you gently place your baby on their belly for a short period. This strengthens their neck, back, and other
muscles they’ll need to hold up their heads, sit, and – yes – even walk!
- “Tracking” Toys, Like Rattles: A 1-month-old’s babies are more focused now and able to track
moving items. Help improve your baby’s their vision and eye coordination by moving a simple toy, like a
rattle, slowly in front of them.
- Let Them Sleep: Letting your 1-month-old sleep when they’re tired is one of the best ways to help them
develop – both now, and in the long run: sleep provides a lot of
long-term health
benefits
.
FAQS:
How often do 1 month old babies sleep?
A lot – 1-month-old babies sleep 14-17 hours each day with many wakeups for feeding and cuddles.
How much nighttime sleep is appropriate for a 1-month-old?
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.
How long should a 1-month-old sleep at night without eating?
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.
How long can you leave a 1-month-old to sleep?
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.
Sources:
“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.
How We Wrote This Article
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.