Abstract.Knowledge of the sleep state is important in physiological studies since many physiological variables show different properties in different sleep states. The recently developed static charge sensitive bed (SCSB) method allows long‐term recordings of body movements, respiration and ballistocardiogram without electrodes attached to the subject. The recordings are easy to carry out and they do not disturb the subject in any way. The recorded variables are basic characteristics of different sleep states. SCSB‐recordings and electroencephalography (EEG) based polygraphy as well as blind sleep state scoring were carried out in 8 newborn infants. The positive correlation between SCSB‐scoring and EEG‐based polygraphy scored by two clinical neurophysiologists was 68.1 and 64.1%. Only in 2 % of all epochs was active sleep scored as quiet sleep or vice versa. The results indicate the usefulness of the SCSB method in sleep state scoring of newborn