Newborn babies are often called "sleeping machines" as they spend most of their time sleeping in their early days. Dr. Promilla Butani, a General Pediatrician in Delhi, shares that for new parents, seeing their baby sleep almost all the time can be both comforting and concerning. Sleep is crucial for their growth and development. It is essential to understand the sleeping patterns of the newborn baby. 




The Sleep Pattern of Newborn 




It is very normal for a baby to sleep 16 to 20 hours a day in the first few weeks of life. This sleep is not continuous. The sleep of the baby is categorized into two parts. 




The first part includes a short period of sleeping that is around 30 minutes and the second part involves longer periods that are for three or four hours. The reason babies sleep like this is that their stomachs are small, and they require food, and often make them wake up more frequently to feed them. 




Newborns sleep in two ways. 




One is active sleep where babies might twitch, smile, or move their eyes under their eyelids. Another one is quiet sleep where a baby sleeps deeper, calmer, and peacefully. Their brain needs to grow and develop.




Why Do Newborns Sleep So Much?




Newborns sleep a lot for a few important reasons. Firstly, babies' sleep is necessary for their growth and development. Growth hormones are released when a baby is sleeping which contributes to growing faster, mainly during the early months of life. It also helps in the development of the brain. Another reason is the transition of a baby from the mother's womb to the outside world. A baby experiences new changes outside that help them to process and adapt to things. 




Concerned Issues




Normally, a baby sleeps a lot, but parents should monitor their baby throughout to ensure the baby is healthy. If a baby is sleeping more than 20 hours a day, and it makes it difficult to wake up for feeding, it may be a sign of problems. Babies' sleeping patterns suddenly change, causing discomfort, illness, or developmental issues. 




Support Newborn's Sleep Pattern 




Parents are advised to support their newborn's sleeping patterns by providing a calm and consistent sleep environment. This can be possible by maintaining the room temperature, dimming the lights, and avoiding noises near the babies. Swaddling can help babies to feel secure and sleep better. Feeding the baby when the baby needs to do and not to follow a strict schedule. These methods help the baby to sleep naturally and without discomfort. But, if one is observing the child is sleeping more than average or is facing troubled sleeping they can get expert help from Dr. Promilla Butani, a Pediatrician in Delhi. Consulting her can help one get more details on their child's sleeping pattern and help one learn more about healthy ways that can affect their overall growth and development.