Your newborn is sleeping a lot right now. So, you want to make the most of the time you have when they’re alert. But what kinds of interactions are best for your baby? What do they like to do?
We can help you figure that out! Discover 12 engaging wake window activities to do with your newborn to nurture their physical, emotional, and social development and build a sense of connection between the two of you.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- What are wake windows?
- Why are wake windows important for your newborn?
- 12 engaging wake window activities to do with your newborn
- Creating a nap wind-down routine
- What to do when wake windows don’t work
What are wake windows?
Wake windows are pretty straightforward. They’re simply the times your baby is awake between naps. When you get them timed right, your baby should be tired enough for their next sleep period but not so tired they can’t fall asleep.
For newborns, each wake window is about 60-90 minutes long. They sleep about 14-17 hours a day, leaving only a handful of hours for purposeful engagement. Don’t worry, though. It’s plenty of time for exactly what your baby needs to grow!
As your baby grows from newborn to infant, their wake windows will change, along with the number of hours they sleep a day. Here’s what you have to look forward to for the year ahead:
- Four months: Wake windows are 1.5 to 2.25 hours
- Five months: Wake windows are 2 to 2.5 hours
- Six months: Wake windows are 2 to 3 hours
- Seven to nine months: Wake windows are 2.5 to 3.25 hours
- 10 to 12 months: Wake windows are 3 to 4 hours
While those wake windows are typical, every baby is unique! The best way to keep up with your baby’s wake windows is to look for sleepy cues and put them down before they tip into overtiredness. We’ll dive into this more later in this article.
Why are wake windows important for your newborn?
Having the correct wake windows is the key to your baby’s sleep. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits.
Developing through play
Play is critical for healthy development, and you’re the first playmate for your baby. Research shows that newborns prefer human connection. They love sensory interactions with your voice, touch, and smell. Your baby wants to engage with you! Wake windows are perfect for that kind of contact.
Setting a routine
Wake windows also begin to set a routine which is both good for your baby and good for you. When your newborn’s sleep and wake rhythms become predictable, they feel a sense of security. A safe environment facilitates learning.
This routine also makes it easier for you to take a shower, make a phone call, or take a nap yourself.
Building sleep pressure
A brain chemical called adenosine builds while your baby’s awake. Wake windows allow this chemical to continue increasing to a comfortable level so that your little one has the natural drive to sleep.
Improving sleep quality
Engaging wake windows also have a positive impact on your newborn’s sleep schedule. Playing together, singing, and cuddling is strongly encouraged. Keeping them active while awake means that gentle stimulation can even help them sleep better!
Preventing overtiredness
Lastly, having the correct wake windows can prevent your baby from becoming overtired. That’s because their cortisol levels don’t get a chance to spike, so they’ll be able to stay calm and relaxed as bedtime nears.
12 wake window activities to do with your newborn
At this age, playing with your little one mostly looks like holding them. And that’s good because holding your baby is a critical part of their development. It calms them, stimulates sensory and social-emotional development, and creates a strong attachment.
Here are some important and engaging ways to hold and play with your newborn.
1) Feed your baby.
During your baby’s awake hours, one of their favorite activities is going to be mealtime. It takes a lot of energy to grow as rapidly as they do these first weeks and months, so they’ll need to be fed frequently.
2) Make time for skin-to-skin contact.
The National Library of Medicine published a paper about the importance of touch in the healthy growth and development of newborns.
Holding your baby naked against your skin helps regulate your baby's temperature, breath, and heart rate as well as stimulate your baby's feeding instincts (namely because it boosts your milk supply).
Doing this also strengthens your bond with your baby, as when you have them against your skin, both you and your little one experience a surge of oxytocin, which is known as the bonding hormone, and a drop in cortisol.
There are other health benefits as well. Plus, feeling your heartbeat and hearing your voice calms your newborn’s nervous system and helps them relax. Even 15-20 minutes of skin-to-skin a day can make a big difference.
3) Hang out face to face.
One of the easiest ways to play with your newborn is by engaging in face-to-face time. It helps develop their cognitive and language skills, increases their attention span, and teaches them social cues.
It’s important to get close to your newborn because they can only see about eight to 12 inches from their face. Although your baby won’t be able to make real, prolonged eye contact until they’re between two and three months old, even holding their gaze for a second or two promotes social skills.
And just wait until they smile at you on purpose! There’s nothing like it. Research has confirmed that this first positive expression connected to something (to you!) is a critical developmental step.
4) Play with a toy together.
Any simple and safe toy can stimulate your newborn’s senses. Shake a rattle. Touch a soft book with their fingers. Move a brightly colored object within their range of vision.
Lay them on their back on a Newton’s Breathable, Organic Cotton Sheet covering their Newton Crib Mattress and hang a toy above them. You can also help them lie on their side (only while they’re awake!) to strengthen the muscles they need for rolling over.
5) Use your voice.
Talk to your newborn. Sing to them. Read to them. (Reading to your baby as early as you can boosts their vocabulary and reading skills later in life.) Hearing your voice:
- Creates a sense of security and trust
- Stimulates brain development
- Nurtures emotional growth
- Lays the groundwork for communication
Try narrating what you’re doing. (“I’m going to bring you to the window now. See the flowers? See the trees?”) You can also have conversations with your newborn. Serve and return (responding to the sounds your baby makes through sound, eye contact, or touch) plays a big role in shaping their brain.
6) Have some tummy time.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, placing your newborn on their tummy two to three times a day prepares them to slide, scoot, and then crawl. Start with three to five minutes at a time and work up to five to 10 minutes.
If your newborn doesn’t like being on their tummy at first, try propping a high-contrast toy in front of them. (Something black and white is a great choice.) Or you can join them on the floor and add some quality face-to-face time, too.
7) Take house tours.
Your baby is not only new to the world, but new to your home as well. Take some time to tour it with them. As you walk into different rooms, speak slowly and name what you see and what you’re doing. Be conversational.
You might walk into your bedroom and say, “See your bassinet? That’s where you were just sleeping, right? Should we turn on the light so you can see it better?”
Spend some extra time in front of a mirror. As your newborn gets older, they’ll be more and more fascinated by the baby they see in front of them!
8) Massage your baby.
A gentle massage can soothe your baby and help them relax. Some parents also find it may also comfort babies who seem to be fussy or gassy.
Make sure your space is warm and quiet. Place your baby on their back and massage them slowly with a gentle touch. Rub each part of their body, beginning at their head and moving down to their feet. Talk to them as you go. You can also incorporate gentle stretching.
If you want to try using oil, stick with baby-safe options like plain coconut oil or medical-grade mineral oil, and test a small area of your little one’s skin first. Avoid essential oils or nut oils, which may irritate your baby’s skin.
Once your baby’s wake window is up and they’re tired (but not too tired), you can place them into their Newton Travel Crib and Play Yard, Bassinet and Bedside Sleeper, or Crib for a well-deserved rest.
9) Change your baby’s diaper.
It probably doesn’t seem like much of an activity, but getting a diaper change is not only necessary, but can also build just the right amount of gentle stimulation that will help your baby sleep better.
When changing their diaper, your baby will experience touch, temperature, and textures; can practice small motor movements like kicking their legs; and will bond with you through smiles and coos.
To make diaper-changing more intentional, narrate the change, add a gentle stretch, and let baby take in their surroundings. These little touches turn a routine into a developmental experience.
10) Get out in the fresh air.
Another fun activity to do during one of your baby’s wake windows is to take a walk outside. A simple lap around the block or a stroll in the backyard will do the trick.
Going outside in the daylight can be a great way to help to regulate baby’s circadian rhythms, provide sensory stimulation (a summer breeze and shifting light), not to mention that it will feel great for you both to get out of the house for a bit of fresh air.
11) Do your chores together.
The fact of the matter is that when you have a newborn, your household chores can pile up. Don’t just wait until baby’s napping to do them; make them the main event while you’re awake together.
It might be easiest to put your baby in a front carrier, and then you can check things off your list. Put on some soft music and fold the clothes together, load the dishwasher, or sweep the floor, all the while giving your little one the play by play.
12) Cuddle.
Last but not least, use wake windows to bond and cuddle. Your baby will love the attention and having you so close to them. Stroke their cheek, speak softly, make faces, and snuggle up.
Creating a wind-down routine
After all the fun of a wake window, it’s time to wind down for sleep again! To make the transition to sleep easier, it’s important to have a bedtime (or naptime) routine. Here are some steps to consider.
Dim the lights.
The goal is to gently transition your baby to sleep, and dimming the lights is a soft but clear sign that it’s time to nap. Going from bright daylight to dark in a flick of a switch can be jarring.
Change baby into sleep clothes.
With the lights dimmed, you can change your baby into their sleep sack or swaddle. Make sure they’re dressed in no more than one layer more than you would be comfortable in considering the room temperature.
(And remember to stop swaddling once your baby begins to show signs of rolling over, which can happen as early as two months old.)
Turn on some soft music.
Try turning on soft music to calm your baby. Some classical or smooth jazz may be just the thing to help them sleep.
Read a good-night book.
Before your baby’s eyes close, you can read them a short bedtime story. Listening to your voice will relax them before they drift off.
Follow safe sleep guidelines.
Any time you’re putting your baby to sleep you want to double check you’re following the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) safe sleep guidelines. These include always placing baby to bed on their back and only letting them sleep on a firm, flat sleep surface that meets applicable federal (CPSC) safety standards. (That means no bouncers, car seats, or swings.)
Also, your baby should be alone in their crib, with nothing but a firm mattress and fitted sheet. Skip the stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets as these pose suffocation risks.
Make sure the room is optimized for sleep.
Of course you always want to be sure your baby’s nursery is optimized for sleep. That means keeping the temperature cool but not cold (68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit), and ensuring the room is dark and quiet.
Whatever your wind-down routine, the main key is to keep the steps short and consistent, repeating the same calm activities night after night to help your baby know when to expect sleep.
What to do when wake windows don’t work
Getting the right wake windows can be a challenge for parents, so don’t worry if it doesn’t always work as you’d like. If you find your baby’s wake windows are out of whack, here are a few things you can do to try to get them back on track.
Watch for sleep cues.
Staying alert to your baby’s early sleep cues (like staring off, losing interest, turning their head, rubbing eyes or ears, and yawning) is the best way to know when it’s time for them to nap. If you see any of these signs within the wake window, go ahead and start your wind-down routine, even if it’s earlier than normal.
Late cues, which indicate that baby’s close to overtiredness, are sudden bursts of energy, arching their back, crying, inability to settle, and resisting a nap. This means their wake window is too long and it’s a good idea to shorten the next one.
Be flexible.
Although there are wake window ranges for every age, keep in mind that these are approximations and every baby is different.
It’s best to base your baby’s bedtime around the last nap wake-up. If they wake from that nap a little early, then move their bedtime earlier, and if they wake up later from it, push their bedtime a bit later.
What’s more important than the actual time is your baby’s specific needs. Let those be your guide.
Watch for signs of overtiredness or undertiredness.
If you start to see your baby showing signs of overtiredness, you’ll want to get them to bed quickly. Overtiredness is a build up of sleep pressure triggering a stress response, which will make sleep more difficult.
Likewise, you should look for signs of undertiredness. If your baby seems particularly alert, wide eyed, and energetic at nap time, you want to push their bedtime later since they’re not going to settle as they should if they’re not tired. Give it a little more time until you see those sleep cues.
Shift naps gradually.
Whenever you’re making changes to your newborn’s sleep schedule, do it gradually. Abrupt changes can end up being more disruptive to their rest.
Watch for other factors that affect wake windows.
It can sometimes be inevitable for your baby’s wake windows to be off, as their sleep may be affected by developmental milestones. Early milestones like increased motor activity and rapid brain growth can disrupt their sleep patterns temporarily.
Help your newborn rise and shine!
Have fun with your newborn as you engage in these wake window activities. Babies grow so fast, and an activity you do one day may look entirely different on another day. Watching those changes up close can feel magical.
Whether you’re reading a book to your baby, taking them on a tour of your kitchen, or just chatting together, you’ll begin to know the signs that tell you it’s time to lay your baby back down in their Newton bassinet or crib for sleep. And then you can rest!
Frequently asked questions
How much playtime should I give my newborn?
While the general recommended wake window is 60-90 minutes, your newborn might get tired before or might still be raring to go after that. Use your baby’s specific cues to determine if playtime is over and nap time should begin.
Good to note: if your baby is crying, you may have missed their sleepy cues. Crying can be a sign of being overtired!
When do I stretch my newborn’s wake windows?
Once your newborn is four months old, you can try extending their wake windows to around 1.5 to 2.5 hours each. But by that time, you’ll have a solid sense of their preferences, and you can increase their time awake based on that.
What are the signs that my baby is tired during a wake window?
Some sleep cues to watch for include yawning, rubbing eyes, staring off into space, becoming less interactive, and becoming irritated. It’s more important to listen to what your baby needs than stick to the recommended wake window period.
Is it OK for my newborn to sleep all day?
Most newborns sleep between approximately 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period, usually in short stretches of two to four hours at a time. But some sleep for only 11 hours total, while others sleep as much as 19.
More important than the number of hours of sleep is how much your baby is eating. If they're sleeping more and missing some feedings, they may be sick with something like a cold, or they may be experiencing a growth spurt.
Try keeping a sleep log. If you find your newborn is consistently sleeping too much, you may want to consult your physician.
