Sleep Problems in Newborns

Sleep Problems in Newborns: Why They Don't Sleep Like Adults

The expectation that a newborn will peacefully sleep in its crib for 8 hours is one of the biggest myths that clash with reality. An infant's sleep differs radically from an adult's sleep. Understanding the physiology of newborn sleep will help you perceive the situation adequately, avoid disappointment, and create comfortable and safe conditions for the child's rest.

Infant Sleep Architecture

The newborn's sleep has several key characteristics:

• Short sleep cycles. An adult sleep cycle lasts 90-110 minutes. In a newborn — only 45-60 minutes. This means they go through sleep phases much faster and have more opportunities to wake between cycles.
• Dominance of the active sleep phase. About 50% of an infant's sleep is spent in the active phase (the equivalent of "REM sleep" in adults). During this time you may see the baby smile, frown, move its hands and feet, its eyes moving under the lids. This is a critically important phase for brain development.
• Need for frequent feedings. A newborn's stomach is the size of a cherry, so it needs food every 2-3 hours, which determines the length of its sleep.
• Lack of circadian rhythms. The internal "clock" that distinguishes day from night is not yet set in a newborn. It develops gradually, usually by 3-4 months. That is why the baby can confuse day and night.

Creating a Safe Sleep Environment

The most important task for parents is to ensure the child's safety during sleep to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (СРДС). Modern recommendations are unequivocal:

• The baby should sleep on its back.
• The sleep surface should be firm and flat.
• There should be nothing extra in the crib: no pillows, no blankets, no soft toys, no bumpers.
• The safest sleep place is a separate crib in the parents' room.

Read more about all the rules in our article "Safe Sleep for Newborns". Creating gentle, predictable bedtime rituals also helps the baby relax and get ready for rest. We write about this in the blog "Creating a Gentle Routine for the Newborn".