Sample Newborn Baby Sleep Schedule: Weeks 1-2
by Babywise.life
Nov 01, 2018
Bringing home a newborn is exhilarating, exciting and, to be honest, can be confusing, especially if you're a first-time parent. That's why we're sharing this sample newborn baby sleep schedule designed for use with babies during their first two weeks of life.
There are nine feed-wake-sleep cycles distributed evenly over a 24-hour period. Each cycle, from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next, is approximately 2½ hours in length, which is consistent with the basic nutrition and sleep needs of a newborn.
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While nine feed-wake-sleep cycles a day sounds fatiguing (and it is), they are also necessary—but only temporary! (The sample times listed are for illustration use only. For example, we are using 7:00 a.m. as the “first morning feed,” but realize your baby may start at 6:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. or anytime in between.)
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Sample Newborn Baby Sleep Schedule: Weeks 1-2
Early Morning - 7:00 a.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene care
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Mid-morning - 9:30 a.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Afternoon - 12:00 p.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene care
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Mid-afternoon - 2:30 p.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene care
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Late Afternoon - 5:00 p.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene care
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Early Evening - 8:00 p.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and hygiene care
- Waketime: minimal
- Down for a nap
Late Evening - 11:00 p.m.
- Feeding, diaper change, down for sleep.
Allow baby to wake up naturally, but do not let him sleep longer than 4 hours continuously at night for the first four weeks.
Middle of the Night - 1:30 a.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and right back to crib
(Usually between 1:00 and 2:30 a.m.)
Pre-morning - 4:00 a.m.
- Feeding, diaper change and right back to crib.
(Usually between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m.)
Keep in mind, you will want to personalize the times to fit your baby’s needs. After all, each baby is different and even though we are talking about the first two weeks of your baby's life, you as her parent will understand her better than anyone.
Do you have a question about baby nap schedules or when to merge? Leave a comment below or check out these nap time articles:
- Sample Baby Nap Schedule for 3 Month Old
- Nap Time Across the Ages
- Isolating the Source of Baby's Sleep Problem
- The Fatigued Baby
For more help getting your Baby on a Babywise sleep schedule, you can read more articles on Baby Sleep here on Babywise.life.
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Excerpted with permission from On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo, M.A. and Robert Bucknam, M.D., copyright Parent-Wise Solutions, Inc. You can learn more and purchase the book here.
