Sleep

Babies need much more sleep at this stage than they do later on.

Newborn infants usually sleep 16 to 20 hours a day. This drops to about 15 hours by one month of age.

To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)...

• do not excessively bundle your infant, keep his or her room too warm or use soft mattresses or fluffy bedding
• always put your baby on his or her back to sleep

Simply putting babies to sleep on their back has reduced SIDS by about half.

Related Links

Return to Vol. 2: At home with your new baby

Your baby: Health, safety and more

Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota: Parenting resources

First published: 05/03/2001
Last updated: 04/09/2007

Reviewed by: Jeffrey Nelson, MD, pediatrician, Allina Medical Clinic - Coon Rapids