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How much sleep does a newborn need?

Newborns typically sleep about 14 to 18 hours out of every 24, usually in short stretches of 1 to 4 hours at a time rather than all at once.

There's a wide normal range, and newborns don't yet have day-night sleep rhythms, so frequent waking (especially for feeds) is expected and healthy.

Strength of evidence

Strong

Multiple national and international pediatric guideline bodies (Canadian, American, UK, and WHO) agree closely on this range, based on consensus expert statements rather than a single study.

What the evidence says

Newborns need a lot of sleep. Canadian pediatric guidance says newborns may sleep as much as 18 hours a day, usually in stretches of about 3 to 4 hours at a time. Other major guidelines give a similar range of roughly 14 to 17 hours a day.

What matters more than the exact number is that sleep comes in short bursts around the clock, since newborns can't yet tell day from night and need to feed every 2 to 3 hours. It's completely normal for some babies to sleep less, around 8 hours a day, or considerably more, and either can be normal.

As babies grow past the newborn stage, night and day sleep patterns start to develop, usually by 2 to 3 months, and total sleep needs gradually decrease. If you're ever worried your baby is sleeping unusually little or a lot, or seems hard to wake for feeds, check in with your pediatrician.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked July 29, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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