If you are a first-time parent with big dreams of your Baby smiling at you and giggling when you touch their toes, you are in for some disappointment for the first few weeks. At least for the first month, all a baby does is drink milk and sleep! Yes, there goes your cuddling plans! Some parents are also worried if their child is happy with them as they often cry in their Sleep and show no interest in anything but milk. So, now that your baby is giving tough competition to sleeping beauty, you might be worried if they are supposed to rest as much or if you need to worry about it. Well, we are here to help. Here is all you need to know about the sleep routine of your little one and how it will change drastically in the months to come. Read on!

How Much Sleep Does A Week Old Baby Need

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a newborn requires 14-17 hours of sleep every 24 hours (1). Since rest is still unreliable, nap durations and overnight sleep durations will fluctuate. Your infant should sleep for 4.5–6.5 hours during the day and 10–12 hours at night (2). But because they can’t yet understand the difference between day and night, their naps and nighttime sleep may seem to run together at first. We advise exposing your infant to as much sunlight as possible during their awake times, awakening them at the three-hour nap point, and ensuring their room is dark throughout both naps & night sleep. It’s fine to hold your baby for one or two naps a day if he or she is having trouble falling asleep in the bed or bassinet, but you should try to put him or her down for at least three naps a day. Since your infant does not yet produce the hormone melatonin, nighttime is also late at this stage.

Baby’s First Week Sleeping Routine

You may be asking how you’ll manage to feed your baby with such a busy sleep pattern, so we’ve provided a sample of what a day in the life of a one-week-old baby could look like. The routines of newborns are, for the most part, completely arbitrary. As a result, establishing a regular bedtime routine may take several weeks. In fact, after two to three weeks, you may find that your baby has developed their own habit.

Wake Up Windows After One Week

Babies have a “wake window,” which is the time they may safely go without napping. Overtiredness is a common problem for newborns since they cannot control their sleep cycles. Rather than sticking to a strict timetable, you allow for 60–90 minute awake periods because your sleep patterns still fluctuate. You can try to plan ahead, but keep in mind that things will likely need to be adjusted regularly. A one-week newborn baby may have trouble staying awake, which is normal. Keep in mind that they are exhausted since they are still getting used to life outside the womb and developing fast.

Sleeping Tips For Newborns

A baby of a week’s age cannot tell day from night. Help them remember that it’s still sleep time by keeping the room dark, quiet, and tranquil during those late-night feedings and diaper changes. Remember that it is best not to force your infant to stay awake if he or she doesn’t feel like it. Even if they’re worn out, newborns who haven’t had enough sleep may have problems relaxing into a restful slumber.

The safest sleeping position for a newborn is on their back rather than their stomach or side. This aids in lowering the possibility of SIDS and other forms of unexpected infant death. Avoid placing additional bedding or toys in the infant’s crib or bassinet. For the same reasons stated above, placing soft objects like cushions, blankets, loose sheets, and bumpers in your baby’s crib or bassinet is not a good idea. Don’t cover them with layers. Even if they are infants, you may still dress them appropriately for the room’s temperature. Keep them tight enough and wrap them in enough layers. A white noise machine may help your infant relax (and perhaps tune out) in any environment, whether it’s dead silent or there are plenty of other kids running around. It also mimics the sound your kid hears regularly in the womb.

Even though most newborns are cranky, your infant still wants to be held and cuddled. A sure way to calm a fussy infant is to swaddle and rock them to sleep. But, unfortunately, you can never have enough time to cuddle a baby! So what is your favorite time with your newborn? Let us know in the comments section!