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Sleep is important for both you and your baby. But to a newborn, sleep is the brain's main activity. Babies spend about half the time they're asleep in the dream stage, called REM sleep. That stage is linked to brain activities, such as memory, nervous system function and self-control.

And for a newborn, there's no such thing as night and day. So they sleep and wake on their own schedule. But even with a newborn, you can start to shape your baby's sleep habits for healthier lifelong rest.