Newborn Sleep: Should You Wake Your Baby and How to Establish a Routine?

A peacefully sleeping newborn is a true source of serenity for parents. However, when sleep troubles arise, even the calmest moms and dads can feel overwhelmed. Questions like how much a newborn should sleep, how to settle them for sleep, and whether to wake them for a schedule seem to come up almost daily. Let’s dive into these challenging yet important topics.

Newborn Sleep: Is a Sleep Routine a Myth or Reality?

Newborn sleep and daily routines are hot topics in parenting books and consultations with experts. But if you’ve just become parents, you may have noticed that a newborn and a fixed schedule often don’t go hand in hand. Every baby is unique, and their sleep patterns can vary significantly from the “ideal” standards often described in literature.

Interesting Fact: Newborns sleep for about 16–20 hours a day, but this time is broken into short episodes. Their biological rhythms are not yet established, and they don’t distinguish between day and night.

Little Personalities

As a newborn photographer, I have the privilege of observing hundreds of babies, and each one has their own temperament and character. Even at such a young age, children are surprisingly unique:

Little Philosophers. These babies are calm and serene. They fall asleep easily and can sleep through almost the entire session, waking up only on schedule — as if intentionally timed for feeding.

Little Restless Ones. These babies are active, have trouble falling asleep, and sleep lightly. Their parents often worry because “by the book,” a newborn is supposed to sleep longer. In most cases, these babies are perfectly healthy. It’s simply their unique trait.

Interesting fact: The rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep accounts for about 50% of a newborn’s total sleep time. This phase is crucial for their brain development and growth.

Newborn Sleep: To Wake or Not to Wake

Traditional advice often suggests waking a baby every three hours for feeding. However, the modern approach increasingly leans toward following the baby’s natural rhythm: a hungry baby will wake up on their own to let parents know. So, if your baby is gaining weight well and sleeps longer than three hours, let them rest — as long as your pediatrician approves.

Newborn Sleep: Proven Methods to Help Your Baby Fall Asleep

Every mom eventually discovers her own techniques for putting her baby to sleep. Some sing lullabies, others use gentle rocking, and some turn on white noise — sounds of nature or soft monotone background noise that remind the baby of the comforting sounds of a mother’s heartbeat in the womb.

White Noise. This method is often used by newborn photographers. However, it doesn’t work for everyone. Some babies find any sound disruptive, and in such cases, complete silence becomes the best aid for sleep.

Swaddling. Soft, cozy fabrics create a sense of security, similar to what the baby experienced before birth. Today, swaddling has become gentler and more physiological: no tight wrapping, just comfort and warmth.

Interesting Fact: A newborn’s body temperature slightly decreases during sleep. This is why babies love being swaddled and surrounded by warmth — it creates the perfect conditions for restful sleep.

A Little Flexibility and Calm

The most important thing to remember is that your baby is unique. Don’t compare them to the “ideal” descriptions in parenting books. If your little one is healthy, active, and growing, their individual sleep schedule is simply part of who they are. Trust your baby and yourself, because you are the best mom for your child. ❤️

A baby’s peaceful sleep is the foundation of happiness for the whole family. So take a deep breath, relax, and try to enjoy every moment — even the challenging ones.

Learn More About a Newborn Photographer in Tallinn at LasteFoto.ee