Anjali Mehta Anjali Mehta Asked 5 months ago

How much do babies sleep?

My newborn is only a few weeks old, and sometimes I feel like she sleeps all the time, then other times she's wide awake. I'm a first-time mother, so I'm trying to understand how much babies usually sleep in a day.

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12 answers

Arjun Malhotra Arjun Malhotra Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago
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I used to panic when my newborn slept for 18 hours, thinking something was wrong. But the pediatrician reassured me that babies sleep in cycles and 14-17 hours is completely normal. They wake up mostly just for feeds, so don't worry!

Sunita Bisht Sunita Bisht Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Babies sleep a lot, sometimes 15 to 16 hours, because their bodies are growing rapidly. Creating a calm, peaceful atmosphere in the room helps them rest better. Let nature do its work and don't stress over the clock.

Anil Deshpande Anil Deshpande Joined May 2026 5 months ago

For newborns, sleeping around 16 hours a day is standard. Just ensure they wake up every 2 to 3 hours for their milk feed, which is important to maintain their blood glucose levels. If they seem too lethargic to feed, check with a doctor.

Rajesh Kumar Rajesh Kumar Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

Newborns sleep around 16 hours but in short intervals of 2-3 hours. The best solution is to sleep when the baby sleeps, otherwise you will get completely exhausted. Don't worry about household chores too much during this phase.

Sunita Rao Sunita Rao Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago

With my two kids, I realized sleep patterns change every month. A newborn sleeps 16 hours, while a 6-month-old sleeps around 12-14 hours. Keep a consistent dark room routine during night hours to help them differentiate between day and night.

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Tarun Saxena Tarun Saxena Joined May 2026 5 months ago

According to sleep studies, newborns sleep 14-17 hours, which reduces to 12-15 hours by infancy. Our doctor advised that rather than counting total hours, we should monitor if the baby is active, alert during awake windows, and gaining weight normally.

Vijay Raghavan Vijay Raghavan Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

As a rule of thumb, newborns sleep 14-17 hours, and by one year it drops to about 11-14 hours including naps. Keep track of their feeding schedule. If they are active and playful when awake, their sleep is perfectly fine.

Savitri Devi Savitri Devi Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

In our times, we knew a baby was growing well if they slept soundly for 15-16 hours. A gentle warm oil massage before bath time helps them sleep very peacefully. If the baby is crying excessively instead of sleeping, consult your doctor.

Amit Patel Amit Patel Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

My sister's baby sleeps like 15 hours a day but it is completely random, sometimes daytime and sometimes night. It is totally normal for newborns to have no fixed schedule. Just let them sleep when they want.

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Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

My daughter was sleeping nearly 20 hours a day and wouldn't wake up for feeds, which turned out to be due to severe jaundice. Please do not assume extreme sleepiness is always normal. If your baby is hard to wake up, see a doctor immediately.

Nisha Gupta Nisha Gupta Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

I used to sit with a notepad tracking every single nap because I was so anxious about my baby's sleep. Most babies sleep 14-16 hours, but some sleep slightly less and are still healthy. Try to breathe and trust your motherly instincts.

Geeta Sharma Geeta Sharma Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Babies sleep around 14 to 16 hours a day, but they often get gas which wakes them up. I used to apply a little hing paste around my baby's navel to relieve colic, and she would sleep much better. Try to keep them comfortable.

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