If you’ve just welcomed a newborn into your life—congratulations! You’re stepping into one of the most beautiful, exhausting, and life-changing chapters you’ll ever experience. Those first few weeks are a blur of feedings, diaper changes, snuggles, and (let’s be honest) a lot less sleep than you’re used to. If you’re wondering when your baby will sleep, how often they should eat, or if there’s even a “right” schedule to follow, you’re not alone—these are some of the most common questions new parents have in those early months.

But here’s the truth: newborns don’t follow schedules at first. Having a rough idea of what’s “normal” for eating, sleeping, and wake windows can make those early weeks feel a lot less chaotic—and give you a bit of confidence when you’re running on only coffee and cuddles.

Newborn Sleep: What to Expect

First things first—newborns sleep a lot. Like, 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. That sounds dreamy, right? Except they don’t do it in long, cozy stretches the way we do. Instead, sleep comes in short bursts—usually 2–4 hours at a time. This is because their tiny tummies need to be refueled frequently, so they wake up often to eat. It can feel a little exhausting at first (okay, a lot exhausting), but this pattern is completely normal and necessary for their growth and development. 

Newborns aren’t born knowing the difference between day and night—their internal clocks, or circadian rhythms, haven’t developed yet. So, it’s totally normal for them to be wide awake in the middle of the night and drowsy all afternoon. On top of that, their sleep cycles are shorter than ours, with a lot more time spent in active (REM) sleep. This lighter sleep stage can make them more restless, leading to squirming, grunting, and sometimes even startling themselves awake. It’s also common for newborns to need a little help falling asleep—whether that’s rocking, feeding, or snuggling up in your arms for a contact nap. In the early weeks, follow your baby’s cues—don’t stress about a “perfect schedule.”

Instead, start by introducing gentle habits:

• Keep the room bright and lively during the day.
• At night, keep it dark and quiet (no overhead lights, minimal talking).
• Use white noise—it mimics the womb and helps signal sleep time

Newborn Eating Schedule

If there’s one thing you’ll do around the clock—it’s feeding your baby. In those early weeks, it can feel like as soon as you finish one feeding, it’s almost time for the next. No matter how you choose to feed your baby, whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both, newborns typically need to eat every 2 to 3 hours, day and night. It’s all part of helping their tiny tummies grow and keeping them happy, healthy, and comforted.

How Often Do Newborns Eat?

• Breastfed babies: every 2–3 hours (8–12 times a day)
• Formula-fed babies: every 3–4 hours (about 6–8 times a day)

A good rule of thumb? Feed on demand—if your baby is hungry, feed them, even if it technically hasn’t been “long enough.” You’ll also begin to pick up on your baby’s cues, and will be able to tell when it’s time for the next feeding, whether the 2-3 hour window has passed or not. 

Hunger Cues to Watch For:

• Rooting (turning head toward the breast or bottle)
• Sucking on hands or fingers
• Smacking lips
• Fussiness or crying (this is actually a late sign—try to feed before they cry)

How Much Should They Eat?

• First week: 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) per feed
• By 2 weeks: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) per feed
• By 1 month: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per feed

If you’re breastfeeding, you won’t see ounces, of course —but you’ll notice longer, more efficient nursing sessions over time.

Sample 24-Hour Newborn Schedule

While there’s no such thing as a perfect routine during the newborn stage, having a general idea of how the day might unfold can help you feel a little more prepared. Your baby’s needs will change often, and flexibility is key—but most days follow a rhythm of short wake windows, frequent feeds, and lots of naps. Here's an example of what a typical 24-hour period could look like in the early weeks. 

Morning (7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

• 7:00 a.m. Wake up + feed
• 7:30 a.m. Diaper change + short awake time (a few minutes of looking around, tummy time, or snuggles)
• ·        8:00 a.m. Nap (usually 1–2 hours)
• 10:00 a.m. Wake + feed + diaper change
• 10:30 a.m. Awake time (tiny—newborns get tired FAST!)
• 11:00 a.m. Nap again

Afternoon (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

• Wake/feed/diaper every 2–3 hours
• Short wake windows (30–45 minutes at most)
• 3–4 naps during this stretch

Evening & Overnight (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.)

• Evening cluster feeding (baby may want to eat every hour or two—this is normal!)
• More short naps in between feeds
• Nighttime feeds every 2–4 hours

What Are Wake Windows?

You’ll hear this term a lot—it’s basically how long your baby can stay awake before needing to sleep again. For newborns, wake windows are incredibly short—sometimes just 30 to 60 minutes. That includes feeding, diaper changes, and any brief play or cuddle time. Paying attention to your baby’s wake windows can help prevent overtiredness, which makes it harder for them to fall (and stay) asleep. The goal is to catch those sleepy cues—like yawning, staring off, or rubbing their eyes—before they become overtired and fussy.

Here’s a quick guide to age-appropriate wake windows to help you know when it’s time to wind things down and get your baby ready for sleep:

Can You Put a Newborn on a Schedule?

The big question every new parent asks is: Can I get my baby on a schedule? The honest answer is—no, not at first. Newborns aren’t developmentally ready for a strict routine until closer to 3–4 months. That said, you can start building a flexible routine early on. Try waking your baby if they nap longer than 3–4 hours during the day to ensure they’re eating enough, and aim for a general pattern of feed–awake–sleep (when possible). Establishing a consistent bedtime routine—even if the actual bedtime varies—can also help set the stage. These small routines matter; when babies begin to recognize sleep cues early, parents often feel more confident with a bit of structure, and It can ease the transition to longer stretches of sleep down the road.

What Does a Bedtime Routine Look Like for a Newborn?

Even tiny babies benefit from a simple nighttime ritual. It doesn’t have to be long or elaborate—just something predictable that signals “it’s time to rest.”

Example:

• Bath or wipe-down
• Fresh diaper & pajamas
• Feed
• White noise on, lights dimmed
• Snuggles & swaddle
• Lay down for sleep

Even if bedtime changes from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (totally normal at first), doing the same steps every night helps baby learn what comes next.

Cluster Feeding & Growth Spurts

Just when you think you’ve got a rhythm, baby will hit a growth spurt and suddenly want to eat ALL. THE. TIME.

This usually happens around:

• 1–2 weeks
• 3 weeks
• 6 weeks

It’s exhausting but totally normal—it helps boost your milk supply if you’re breastfeeding, and it generally passes after a few days.

Final Tips for Surviving the Newborn Stage

• Follow your baby’s lead. Schedules come later—right now, watch for hunger cues and tired cues.
• Nap when you can. Everyone says it because it’s true—you need rest too.
• Accept help. If someone offers to hold the baby while you nap or shower—say yes.
• Lower expectations. Dishes can wait. Laundry can wait. Your only job right now is to care for your baby (and yourself).
• Remember—it’s temporary. The sleepless nights, constant feeding, and foggy days won’t last forever. Your baby will settle into longer stretches of sleep, and life will start to feel more “normal.”

Newborns don’t stick to a perfect schedule—and that’s okay. In the early weeks, your “schedule” will look more like a series of tiny cycles: feed, change, snuggle, sleep, repeat. But by understanding what’s normal (and what’s not), you can navigate this season with a little more confidence—and a lot more grace for yourself.

You’ve got this, mama (or dad)!  Every sleepy snuggle, every midnight feed, and every tiny yawn is part of this incredible, fleeting stage – enjoy!