How long does the average newborn sleep? When do newborns start having a proper sleep pattern and why do newborn sleep patterns differ from adults?

In the first few days after birth, the average newborn will sleep between 16-18 hours daily. By 1 month, newborn sleep averages about 14 hours daily. Newborns sleep in short bouts, typically ranging from 30 minutes to 4 hours throughout the day. Newborns also awaken easily. This is because they spend a large portion of their sleep time in “active sleep," a light sleep state characterised by fluttering eyelids; rapid, irregular breathing; occasional body movements; and grunts or brief cries. Adult sleep on the other hand is governed by circadian rhythms that follow a 24-hour cycle. It is heavily influenced by our exposure to light. When we expose ourself to sunlight each morning, we help maintain our internal clock. Even if we are sleep-deprived, morning light exposure helps ensure that we will be more alert during the day than at night. As the day wears on and darkness falls, our body begins to produce less cortisol and more melatonin - which makes us feel drowsy. When we expose ourselves to bright, artificial lighting in the evening--particularly to lights that include the blue part of the spectrum, we delay these changes and may find it harder to fall asleep. Unfortunately newborn sleep is not governed by strong circadian rhythms. Newborn sleep patterns are shaped by the length of time it takes them to feed, digest, and become hungry again. Most infants take about 12 weeks to show day-night rhythms in the production of melatonin. And, overall, babies may take 3-5 months before they “settle" at night (meaning that they sleep for more than 5 hours at a stretch).