Question

A primiparous woman is watching her newborn sleep. She wants him to wake up and respond to her. The mother asks the nurse how much he will sleep every day. What is an appropriate response by the nurse?

1) He will only wake up to be fed, and you should not bother him between feedings.
2) The newborn sleeps approximately 17 hours a day, with periods of wakefulness gradually increasing.
3) He will probably follow your same sleep and wake patterns, and you can expect him to be awake soon.
4) He is being stubborn by not waking up when you want him to. You should try to keep him awake during the daytime so that he will sleep through the night.

Answer 1

A newborn typically sleeps about 17 hours per day with increasing wakefulness over time. Their sleep patterns are different from adults and include multiple sleep periods day and night.

Step-by-step explanation:

The newborn sleeps approximately 17 hours a day, with periods of wakefulness gradually increasing. It is a normal developmental stage for them to sleep most of the day and be awake during nighttime feedings. Newborns' sleep patterns differ significantly from adults, and they have frequent periods of sleep throughout the day and night.