A parent of a newborn has to be one of the most exhausting roles out there. Because while newborn babies sleep about eight hours on average each night, it doesn’t happen all at once. So in the beginning, you’re getting up throughout the night to address your baby's needs and soothe them back to sleep.
Hunger is one of the biggest reasons your newborn wakes up so often. So, when can you expect them to start sleeping through the night without a feeding?
Here, we’ll explain what you need to know about your baby’s sleep habits and when you and your baby can expect a night of blissful, uninterrupted sleep.
What does “sleeping through the night” mean?
The sleep needs of newborns and infants differ from those of adults. Babies need a lot more sleep than adults do, and babies typically sleep for extended periods. Here’s what you can expect in the first year after bringing your newborn home:
- On average, babies 0 to 3 months old will sleep about 15 to 16 hours a day.
- About 8 to 10 of those hours happen at night.
- As your baby grows, their total hours of sleep will gradually decrease.
- Between the ages of 6 to 12 months old, their total hours of nighttime sleep will increase.
Generally, sleeping through the night is defined as your baby snoozing for about six continuous hours. But here's the catch: Babies will often wake briefly within that period. So, if you hear the sounds of your baby rousing through your monitor, don’t rush to their cribside immediately—most babies will soothe themselves back to sleep within a few minutes of waking. In fact, learning to self-soothe is essential to helping little ones learn to sleep through the night as they grow.
When do babies start sleeping through the night?
So, when do most babies begin to sleep through the night? It depends: Some studies show that by 3 months old, babies can sleep uninterrupted for at least six hours each night. But again wake ups are common.
Sleep times also vary from baby to baby. Here’s what your baby’s sleep schedule is likely to look like as they grow:
- Age 3 to 6 months: Here’s some good news for sleepy parents: About 62% of babies can sleep without hunger waking them up by 3 to 6 months old.
- Age 6 to 12 months: At this age, that rate increases to 72%.
In those first few months, it can be helpful to understand why your newborn won’t sleep through the night to give you a sense of perspective (even if you’re nodding off as you read).
Why does my newborn wake up so often during the night?
Your newborn is getting a lot of sleep, even if it doesn't feel like it when you’re groggy and bleary-eyed in the morning. And wakefulness during the night is normal for your new little one, due to a few factors:
- They haven’t established a circadian rhythm. For the first few months after birth, your baby has yet to establish the circadian rhythm adults know so well. That means their sleep cycles happen during the day and at night. So, even if it seems like your baby has slept plenty throughout the day, expect them to sleep just as much at night, too.
- Babies’ sleep cycles are short. Newborn babies sleep in short bursts; the average newborn will sleep in sessions lasting about 20 to 50 minutes. Their sleep cycles consist of two types of sleep known as active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, your baby might move, open their eyes, or cry out. In quiet sleep, your baby will mostly lie still.
- They’re hungry. A baby’s stomach is small, and even though they eat throughout the day, they fill up on breast milk or formula and digest it quickly. So they often wake up hungry, ready to fill their belly again. When that happens, even if your baby ate just a couple of hours earlier, offer a bit of breastmilk or formula to ease them back to sleep.
How do I know if my baby is waking from hunger or habit?
In the first few months after birth, your baby is still learning independent sleep skills and going through those short bursts of sleep we mentioned earlier. For newborns, night feedings can soothe them back to sleep.
Between 3 to 5 months old, your little one will develop longer sleep cycles, get better at self-soothing, and gradually be able to sleep for longer stretches each night.
Until then, how do you spot the difference between a baby who’s waking from hunger and a baby who’s developing some night owl habits? A few hunger cues and signs can help you discern your baby’s needs.
How to spot a hungry baby
If your baby is under 6 months old (or hasn’t yet regained their birth weight) they’re likely waking from hunger.
Signs of a hungry baby include sucking their hand or fingers, trying to latch to your shirt or sleeve, or turning their head from side to side and opening their mouth. If you spot these behaviors, they’ll probably be happy to be fed.
How to tell if your baby is waking out of habit
Even a newborn will establish habits when it comes to getting their needs met. So sometimes a baby can start to rely on feedings or cuddling in order to be able to go back to sleep.
Before opting for a night feed, rule out other possible reasons for your little one’s discomfort: Do they have a dirty diaper? Is the nursery too hot or too cold? Especially as your baby grows, other solutions may help them settle back down.
How long should a newborn sleep at night without a feeding?
For the first few weeks after birth newborns typically wake every two to three hours for a feeding, including at night. Most babies will wake themselves up, but if your baby sleeps for more than four hours, gently rouse them for a feeding.
When is it safe to let your baby sleep for longer stretches? After those first few weeks, you can stop waking your baby for feeding as long as they:
- Have regained their birth weight
- Are hitting growth milestones
- Are eating regularly during the day
How to help your baby sleep through the night without a feeding
While your newborn will wake often to be fed in the wee hours of the night, introducing a few practices to their nighttime routine can help reduce and eliminate feedings over time:
- Establish a routine. Routines help your baby shift into the bedtime mindset. Start by establishing a few soothing sleepy-time activities to do together like a warm bath, cuddling, storytime, or a final feeding. Over time, your baby will start to associate the routine with sleep and bedtime will become something both you and your baby can look forward to.
- Set up regular feeding times. Feeding your baby right before you lay them down to sleep means they’ll drift into slumberland with a full tummy, minimizing the chances they’ll wake to feed. Feed them again in the morning as soon as they wake up to curb hunger and help them learn when they should expect to eat.
- Practice gradual reduction. Generally, you can begin night weaning when your baby is about 4 months old. If you choose to night wean, start by slowly weaning your baby off of nighttime feedings by gradually reducing feedings’ duration and frequency, nursing your baby for a shorter amount of time, or giving them a smaller amount of formula each feeding.
- Monitor your baby’s sleep. One of the best ways to help your baby achieve better sleep at night is by tracking their sleep patterns. Monitoring helps you learn your baby’s nighttime habits so you know when they need your help or when they’re simply rousing between sleep cycles.
How Nanit can help
Bringing a newborn baby home is a wonderful moment. All those wakeful nights? Not so much. The good news? You will sleep again.
Nighttime wake-ups are common in the first few months after birth and happen for a handful of reasons including hunger. The path to blissful sleep might seem impossible to find, but know that you will get back to it—and a few helpful practices like sleep training methods, establishing a bedtime routine, gradually reducing feedings, and monitoring your baby’s sleep can result in your baby sleeping for longer, more regular hours.
At Nanit, our suite of carefully designed baby monitors, like our Nanit Pro Camera, helps babies and parents sleep more comfortably and confidently. Smart monitoring features track shifts in patterns and sleep habits so you can adjust to your baby’s needs as they grow.
LIMITED TIME OFFER! Get three free Sleep Wear + Breathing Wear items with a Nanit Pro Camera purchase using code FREE3 Say goodbye to sleepless nights with our advanced monitoring. Track baby's breathing, sleep patterns, and milestones, receive personalized insights, and view a crystal-clear video—all on your Nanit app. Built to last, Nanit is a must-have for parents seeking a smarter, safer way to care for their little ones. Welcome to the most awarded, connected baby monitor on the market. Choose Floor Stand for: Choose Wall Mount for:
Key takeaways
- Expect restless nights for the first few months. Nighttime wakefulness is normal for newborn babies. In the few first months after birth, practice plenty of self-care and establish a bedtime routine for your baby to ease them into regular sleep patterns.
- Explore why your baby isn’t sleeping through the night. Discerning your baby’s needs is the first step to a full night of sleep. If your baby is waking from hunger, it’s OK to feed them. Otherwise, see if your baby has additional needs or if they can self-soothe back to sleep.
- Gradually reduce feedings. Night weaning may not be right for every parent, but it can help both parent and baby establish regular habits around waking and feeding.
Sources:
Stanford Medicine. Infant Sleep. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/
Sleep Foundation. When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep/when-do-babies-sleep-through-night#references-79385
babycenter. When can my baby sleep through the night without a feeding? https://www.babycenter.com/baby/sleep/
Healthline. 5 Reasons Why Your Newborn Isn’t Sleeping at Night. https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/newborn-not-sleeping
BetterHealth. Typical sleep behaviour (1) – newborns 0 to 3 months. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/
Sleepfull. Hunger or habit? How to know why your baby is waking in the night.
https://www.sleepfullbaby.com/blog/hunger-or-habit-how-to-know-why-your-baby-is-waking-in-the-night
babycenter. Night weaning your baby. https://www.babycenter.com/baby/sleep/baby-sleep-training-night-weaning
