Newborn won’t sleep: How to make bedtime easier

Newborn won’t settle at night: Causes

If your little one won’t settle into a sleep schedule, the last thing you need to do is panic. Around a third of babies under 12 months don’t sleep through the night, and there are a lot of normal reasons that could be behind your newborn’s night waking.²

• Hunger: Your baby needs to be fed often and will wake up when their tiny tummy is empty. If your newborn won’t sleep at night for more than a few hours but settles down when you’ve fed them, that’s likely to be the reason.
• Sleep patterns by age: At 0-3 months, you can expect only 2-3 hour stretches of sleep before your baby’s hungry. At 3-6 months, this should start to increase, and some babies will manage a full 8 hours of rest. At 6-12 months, you might be seeing 12-hour stretches, though this will vary depending on your child.² As long as they’re getting around 3-4 hours at a time and feeding well, there isn’t a cause for concern.
• Overstimulation: If your newborn’s not sleeping after feeding, it could be that they’re overstimulated. Signs of overstimulation include turning their heads away, fussing, jerky movements, and crying. You might also notice your little one is clenching their fists and waving their arms or kicking.³
• Separation anxiety: For newborns who won’t sleep at night unless held, or newborns who won’t sleep in cribs, you might be dealing with separation anxiety. This is common between the ages of 6 months and around 3 years old, and your little one likely just wants to be near you when they rest.⁴

How to help a newborn who won’t sleep

If your newborn doesn’t sleep at night for long stretches, it’s important not to coax them into a deeper, longer sleep.

Waking frequently is a good sign that their autonomic control and arousal systems are working, allowing your baby to wake on their own.¹ This is a key part of safe sleep that could protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it should always be prioritised over longer stretches of rest.⁵

You can, however, help your baby to settle. Take a look at these tips to calm a newborn who won’t sleep:

• Reduce stimulation: Create a calm sleep space with limited light and loud noises. Use white noise machines and speak with a low, quiet voice to soothe your baby while gently rocking them.
• Try responsive feeding: Rather than sticking to a strict schedule, feed your baby when they’re giving cues that they’re hungry. A full feed and plenty of comfort can help your little one settle more easily.
• Create a wind-down routine: A warm bath, fresh nappy, and a feed can do wonders for settling your newborn. Even playing the same lullabies or white noise machine creates a routine that can help trigger sleep.
• Keep an eye from afar: Constantly checking in on your newborn is likely to keep them awake. Use a smart baby monitor instead to check in on your little one without disturbing their sleep. The Philips Avent Premium Connected Baby Monitor is an ideal choice, with built-in SenseIQ that allows you to monitor your baby’s sleep status and breathing rate for full peace of mind.

It’s normal for your baby’s sleep to change as they grow, and that doesn’t always mean sleeping for longer. Take each night as it comes, and keep using these tips to help your newborn settle.

Newborn won’t sleep at night FAQs

What is the reason why my newborn won’t sleep in a bassinet?

If your newborn won’t settle in their cot or is always fussing in their bassinet, it’s likely because it’s an unfamiliar environment or they want to be held. Your baby enjoys your warmth and movement, and a quick cuddle could help settle them to sleep. If they still aren’t happy in their bassinet, explore other reasons for their wakefulness, like hunger or growing pains.

Newborn won’t sleep in cot - what should I do?

Newborns who won’t sleep in their crib, only in your arms, can benefit from sleep cues that help them settle down. A warm bath or gentle swaddle as part of their wind-down routine is a great place to start. After sleep cues, place your baby in their cot and soothe them with light, gentle taps on their chest. If they cry, pick them up for a cuddle until they settle, and place them back in their cot.

Repeat for around 10 minutes before switching to a routine you know works, like rocking them to sleep in your arms.

If your newborn won’t sleep in their cot or seems to wake every hour, don’t overthink it. Every baby has their own sleep development path, which often includes a few hiccups along the way, but most issues tend to resolve themselves. Just say calm, soothe your baby, and make use of the Philips Avent Premium Connected Baby Monitor to learn more about their sleep.