What is normal in the first three months
Newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours a day, but in 2 to 4 hour stretches, day and night, because their stomachs are small and need frequent refills. The circadian rhythm, the body clock that separates day from night, only begins forming around 6 to 8 weeks and usually settles between 3 and 4 months.
So a 3-week-old waking every 2 hours at night does not have a “sleep problem”; they are being a baby.
Introducing day and night
- Bright, lively days. Open the curtains, talk and play when the baby is awake, let household noise carry on.
- Dark, quiet nights. Dim lights, soft voices, no play during night feeds, straight back to bed after a change.
- Morning light. Taking the baby onto the porch or near a window in the morning helps set the body clock.
A bedtime routine
Around 6 to 8 weeks you can start a short routine repeated every evening: a bath or warm wipe-down, pyjamas, a feed, a quiet song, then into the cot. A routine is not magic that produces all-night sleep, but it gives a signal the baby gradually learns to recognise.
Wake windows
At this age babies can only stay awake 45 to 90 minutes before becoming overtired, and an overtired baby is harder to settle. Sleepy cues: yawning, turning the face away, staring blankly, fussing. Logging sleep sessions in the Catat tab makes these wake-window patterns visible in Tren within days.
When to talk to a doctor
If the baby is very hard to wake for feeds, sleeps far less than 11 hours a day, or repeatedly pauses breathing during sleep, consult a paediatrician.
This article is general education and does not replace a doctor’s examination. When in doubt, consult a paediatrician.
