The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby’s Sleep: How Much Rest Does Your Little One Need?

For new parents, getting enough sleep can feel like an impossible dream. While mom and dad are desperate for some rest, their newborn is likely to spend a lot of time sleeping—just not all at once. Parents quickly find that getting their baby to sleep through the night becomes their top priority.

Naturally, questions about when babies start sleeping through the night come up. To give you a better idea of what to expect, here are answers to some common sleep-related questions for newborns.

**When will my baby start sleeping through the night?**

Newborns need about 16 hours of sleep a day, but this sleep is often scattered throughout the day and night. Some babies mix up their schedules, sleeping more during the day than at night. Fortunately, this usually sorts itself out, and you can expect your baby to start sleeping longer stretches at night between three and six months old. While they won’t sleep a full 10 to 12 hours, you will notice longer periods of uninterrupted sleep.

Don’t stress if your baby is still waking up frequently at four or five months. Help them by not waking them up for feedings and keeping the room dark and quiet.

**How can I help my baby sleep through the night?**

Create a sleep-friendly environment by turning off all lights and TVs in the baby’s room. Establish a calming bedtime routine, like a bath, a story, or gently cleaning their teeth and gums. The goal is to lull your baby into drowsiness before placing them in the crib. Stay consistent with your routine and always put your baby to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS.

If your baby wakes up, give them a few minutes to fall back asleep on their own before intervening. If they continue to cry, check on them without turning on the lights or picking them up immediately. They might need a diaper change or a feeding.

If your baby is still not sleeping through the night by six months, talk to your pediatrician about sleep-training methods.

**How much should my baby nap?**

In the early days, your baby will mostly eat and sleep without a set napping schedule. Between one and six months, they’ll start to take about three naps a day, each lasting one to two hours. By the time your child turns one, they might take just one nap a day. Most kids stop napping altogether around age five.