Realistic expectations can keep you from going crazy in the middle of the night. Most babies are not sleeping through the night at four weeks, despite what your mother-in-law may have told you. Newborns typically sleep 15 to 18 hours a day, but that sleep is spread out over four to seven sleep periods. Some time between two and six months, your baby will probably adopt a somewhat predictable sleep schedule. But every baby is an individual, so don’t get frustrated if yours hasn’t found his routine yet. “One baby may sleep soundly all night, while another is still waking up two or three times to feed. Both of these are very, very normal,” says Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and The No-Cry Nap Solution. So, no, you’re not a bad mom if your baby’s still waking up at night.
