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Baby Sleep Patterns and Information You Will Learn
Most Common Baby Sleep Problems by Age
Newborns
- Newborns – The most common concerns we get from parents of newborns are how to reduce the risk of SIDS, sleep safety, how to fix day/night confusion, and when you can put your baby on a schedule. If you haven’t already, consider downloading our free e-Book, 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know, today!
- 2-3 Month Olds – Your 2-month-old is still becoming more aware of the world and you may be wondering when he or she will stay awake longer during the day. Have no fear, that will begin soon! At this age, we hear from parents that your baby may not want to be laid down flat or won’t sleep in the bedside bassinet. Therefore, you may be interested in our 2-3 Month Old Guide here.
Babies
- 4 Month Olds – At 4 months, sleep is still organizing while your baby is consolidating sleep periods. Therefore, the primary concerns from parents tend to be related to too many naps, often short naps, or babies who only sleep in your arms or on your chest. This is also the point your baby’s sleep changes fundamentally with the 4-month sleep regression.
- 5 Month Olds – Your 5 month old will likely be sleeping in longer stretches at night. For some of you, that might mean 5-6 hours while others may even have your baby sleeping through the night. However, we often hear about babies waking every 1-2 hours all night at this age and/or taking short naps. If this is the case for you, this would be a great time to download our free e-Book 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, if you haven’t already.
- 6 Month Olds – Around this age, many parents are eager to put their baby on a schedule if the baby hasn’t naturally put themself on one, yet. Between short naps and unpredictable days, some parents are feeling fairly frustrated by this age. If you haven’t already, be sure to pick up your free e-Book, 7 Common Napping Mistakes, today!
- 7 and 8 Month Olds In this age range, 7 and 8 month old babies have learned about object permanence which means they may be exhibiting separation anxiety (get upset when you leave the room). When it comes to sleep, these babies may begin skipping their third nap which can lead to some sleep disruption and we have many parents asking about night-weaning. You probably want to read about 3 Signs It May Be Time For Night-Weaning Your Baby.
Older Babies
- 9 and 10 Month Olds – This age is so fun when your 9 or 10 month old is becoming more mobile, often learning to sit up, stand up, cruise furniture, and some even begin walking! This is super fun but super disruptive to sleep most of the time. Read more about the 8-9-10 Month Old Sleep Regression to make sure you know what’s going on.
- 11 and 12 Month Olds The most common question we get about 11 and 12 month olds is whether it’s time to transition to one nap. And, the answer is “no” most of the time. The average age to transition to one nap is around 15-18 months old. Is your baby skipping one of their naps? Read Why Not All 12 Month Olds Transition to One Nap today, so you are prepared.
- 13 and 14 Month Olds At this age, most parents are having a lot of fun with their toddler who may be saying a few words and walking around the house. However, sleep-wise, the most common complaint is their toddler is still not sleeping through the night and/or they are still seeing short naps. Read about the 4 Top Toddler Sleep Questions today to learn more about your toddler.
Toddlers
- 15 and 16 Month Olds – This is a very common age to transitiion to one nap if your toddler hasn’t done so, already. Unfortunately, this transition can be a difficult one. Check out the Ultimate Toddler Nap Guide to answer your pressing toddler nap questions.
- 17 and 18 Month Olds – What is the most common complaint about 17 and 18 month olds? You guessed it – another sleep regression! At 18 months old, we often hear about toddlers waking at night again and skipping some naps or taking short naps, AGAIN! It can feel like the newborn days all over again. Read more about the 18-month sleep regression.
- 19 to 23 Month Olds – This age range is often the best sleep for those of you who solved sleep problems earlier. We still hear about toddlers waking at night or having nap problems in this age range, but it’s often related to an issue that has gone unresolved for quite some time. If you haven’t already, now would be a good time to download Toddler Sleep Secrets, one of our free e-Books.
- 2 Year Olds – Whether your 2 year old was an amazing sleeper as a baby or had a lot of sleep problems, 2 year olds come with a new host of sleep challenges to solve. Learn 5 Things You Need to Know About Your 2 Year Old’s Sleep.
Preschoolers
- 3-5 Year Olds – Preschoolers are generally good sleepers, except we often hear from parents about late bedtimes, early waking, needing a parent in the room as the fall asleep, and sometimes nighttime fears. We also help some families transition their child to their own bed and room after co-sleeping for quite some time. This is also a common age to drop their nap. You may be interested in learning 3 Signs Your Toddler Is Ready to Stop Napping.
Your Baby’s Sleep At-a-Glance: Average Sleep Needs by Age
Babies need a lot of sleep! But, just how much you ask? While newborn babies sleep almost the entire day, they go through many changes in the first few years and will need a variable number of hours of sleep every day. Getting enough sleep is important for your baby’s health, development, mood, and behavior. Although some babies are happy despite being sleep-deprived, many babies are irritable not to mention you, their parents! Most babies can sleep through the night by 6 months of age, but not all do. Check the chart of realistic sleep expectations below, based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as 10+ years of experience, to see if your baby is getting enough sleep.
| Newborns | 9-10 hours nighttime sleep and 5-6 hours during the day broken into many fragments |
| 4 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours in 3-4 naps |
| 5 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 3-3.5 hours in 3, sometimes 4, naps |
| 6 Months | 11-12 hours nighttime sleep and 2-3 hours in 2-3 naps |
| 7 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2-3 naps |
| 8 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2, sometimes 3, naps |
| 9 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2 naps |
| 10 Months | 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2 naps |
| 11 Months | 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2 naps |
| 12 Months | 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 2 naps |
| Toddlers | 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in 1-2 naps, depending on age |
| Preschoolers (3-5 years) | 9-10 hours of sleep in 0-1 nap |
Read more details about your baby’s sleep needs here.
Sample Feeding and Sleep Schedules
Looking for sample sleep schedules? All of our schedules are free, breastfeeding-friendly and practical. Not all babies sleep well day and night without some coaching on our part. They often wake up between sleep cycles. And, one of the first things you can do is get your baby on a good sleep schedule or routine.
Testimonials
From Sleep Struggles to Success, Hear Sophia’s Story.
“I really want to thank The Baby Sleep Site® for being an amazing resource of help, providing comfort and a solution. I have shared the site with many of my friends who have since had babies and are dealing with similar sleep issues. The more you talk about it, the more you realize that most babies have sleep problems! I really wanted to share my personal story with you because I didn’t know there was a solution for me out there, and I hope this may help someone. We have recently transitioned to a toddler bed, and some issues are creeping back up again with our bedtime routines and night wakings. However, I am not worried about losing my mind, because I know exactly where to turn!”
“I am the mother of a one year old that has struggled with sleep. I also happen to be a pediatrician and I recommend The Baby Sleep Site to all of my families who are struggling with sleep.”
“When my daughter hit the 10-month mark, I was so sleep deprived I could barely remember my own name. I was spending an average of 8 hours a day rocking her to sleep, and I was starting to feel more than a little sorry for myself. I had tried so many different sleep training techniques and strategies without success, but before I resigned myself to a lifetime without sleep, I decided to reach out to Nicole to see if she could help me. I had already learned so many fabulous tips and tricks from The Baby Sleep Site, and after reading about Nicole’s sleep struggles with her own son, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a personalized sleep plan. And I’m so glad I did. Nicole worked with me to come up with a solution that I was comfortable with, and was on the other end of my computer cheering me on every step of the way.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Newborns sleep 14-16 hours per day for 1-3 hours at a time. 4 to 6-month-olds sleep 11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. 7 to 18-month-olds sleep 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day.
Unless your baby literally never wakes up, not even to eat, there is most likely no reason to worry your baby is sleeping too much. In the first few weeks, it’s also very common for you to need to wake your baby every 2-3 hours to ensure he eats, and he may go right back to sleep afterward. It is very typical for newborns to sleep anywhere from 14 to 18 hours a day, on average. If your baby is sleeping too much during the day but wants to party at night, she most likely has her days and nights confused.
There are 3 primary reasons your baby may be sleeping more than usual: Growth spurt, teething, or illness. Learn all about the reasons babies sleep more than usual.
There are many reasons why a baby is waking up excessively at night. Learn 5 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
Review more of our FREE resources here
Looking into how to help your baby or toddler sleep through the night? Sign up for our free e-Book, 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night! Over half a million parents have done so before you.