Your little 2-month-old baby is no doubt just the most adorable little being on the planet. But your 2-month-old baby’s sleep may be less darling! By the time your little one is 2 months old, naps may be all over the place, and night sleep may feel like a nightmare. Plus, we find in our work with parents that by the time your baby is 2 months old, all the adrenaline that was keeping you going through the newborn phase is wearing off quickly. Exhaustion is hitting full-force.
Yeah…to call 2 months old a tricky time would be an understatement. 😉 Fortunately for you, we have tips!
2 Month Old Baby Sleep Tips: 8 Ways to Help Your 2 Month Old Sleep
- Focus on the first and second naps of the day (the others may be all over the place). Nap schedule? Yeah, right.. Most 2-month-old babies are still napping all over the place and have little-to-no consistency in their daily feeding and nap schedules. That’s okay. It’s normal. Instead of worrying about making each and every nap a winner, just focus on the first and second naps of the day. Those tend to be the most restorative. Make sure those happen at home, and that they are close to an hour.
- Lots of night-waking is normal. At 2 months old, your baby’s drive to eat still trumps the drive to sleep. This is perfectly normal. Don’t worry at all about sleeping through the night at this age. Just focus on feeding your baby frequently. And take heart. Night sleep will gradually start to lengthen in the next month or two.
- Focus on rhythms and routines, not on the clock. This is HUGE. Most babies are in no way ready for a clock-based schedule at this age. If you try to force one on your baby, the outcome will no doubt be disastrous. (Over-tired baby, anyone?) But that doesn’t mean each day needs to be chaotic and unpredictable. What you CAN do is to focus on carving out routines for your 2-month-old baby. At this age, the Eat-Play-Sleep routine is a great one. Feed your baby, engage her in a short activity, and then lay her down to sleep (ideally, while she’s still slightly awake). And focus on doing this routine in chunks of time, rather than by the clock. For example, aim for 3-hour blocks of time during the day, give or take 30 minutes or so.
- Your 2 month old’s newfound alertness means you need optimal sleep conditions. Gone are the days when you could count on your newborn to sleep anywhere, through anything. Your 2-month-old baby is much more alert these days! So now, it’s key that you create a great sleep environment. Keep the room dim during sleep, use soft white noise to block out ambient sound, and try to avoid spending all day out and about so that your baby can catch sleep at home in his sleep space.
- The “witching hour” is definitely still ‘a thing’ for your 2 month old! If you find that your 2-month-old baby is fussy in the evening, believe me, you are NOT alone. This is so common! Most newborns and young babies go through this “witching hour” fussy spell. It will start to get better soon, but for now, your best bet is to plan on lots of cuddling and feeding in the evening. Remember, this is a development spell. It’s not something to “fix.” And keep in mind, too, that many babies fuss frequently in the evening because they want to cluster feed before they go to bed for the night. This can actually work to your advantage if you offer frequent feeds right before bed. Many babies will follow up this spell with their longest stretch of night sleep.
- You are still in the season of back-to-back-to-back growth spurts, so adjust accordingly. Speaking of fussy spells and cluster-feeding…growth spurt, anyone? Babies go through an eye-popping number of baby growth spurts in the first year of life, and guess what? One of those growth spurts happens right at 8 weeks. You may notice extra night-waking, shortened naps, and increased fussiness around this time. This is all normal. Respond by offering extra feedings as necessary. Just like the “witching hour,” this growth spurt is a perfectly normal developmental stage. It’s not a problem to solve. Rather, it’s a spell that you just have to wait out.
- Work now on creating a strong, sleep-inducing bedtime routine. At 2 months old, your baby is still too young for formal sleep training. (Although you can certainly use our e-Book, Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep, to work on laying a foundation of healthy sleep habits that will make sleep coaching about a million times easier in another few months!) However, it is NEVER, EVER too early to institute a great bedtime routine! Even though your baby is too young for a fixed bedtime each night, you can definitely start working out a consistent routine now. Then, by the time your baby is ready for sleep training, you’ll already have this foundational step laid.
- Work on “drowsy, but awake” at bedtime, and/or during the first nap of the day. As I mentioned earlier, your baby is too young for official sleep training at this age. However, if you want to start working on building a healthy foundation of good sleep habits now, you can slowly start to work on laying your baby down drowsy, but awake, a few times each day. You do not want to do this for every nap, and after every night waking. (Doing that will lead to an overtired and cranky baby!) Rather, just work on drowsy but awake for one nap per day (preferably the first nap, when the drive to sleep is strong) and possibly at bedtime (again, when the drive to sleep is very powerful). Just remember not to push this. If your baby protests, it’s perfectly okay to take a step back and try again in another week or two.
I have a 9 week old who will not sleep more then 1 sleep cycle, he is unable to self soothe despite the help he gets from the SNOO, white noise, and a shusher. I give my boy a little snack before bed but try and make sure I pull him off before he is completely asleep and lay him down very drowsy. Unsure what to do because I know the short naps don’t equal the longs ones. I should add he is also swaddled and in a very dark room. I am also wondering if I am not keeping him awake long enough between naps because he is sooooo tired and I don’t have the heart to keep him up longer so we are at about 45-60 mins wake time.
Hi @Sharon –
Thank you for writing to us about your 9 week old baby! At this age, it is very common to not be able to self soothe completely, and it’s also common at this age to only take those short naps! Have you checked out our free sample schedules? Here is a link:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/2-month-old-baby-sleep-and-feeding-schedules/
Hopefully things will smooth out soon! Please contact us at any time if you’d like more help!
I just want to thank you for this article. So many articles out there stress having 2 month olds on a strict schedule and sleeping through the night and it was making me feel awful. Reading this article made me say, “Yes! That sounds just like my baby!”. Very encouraging that I might be doing it right!
Hi Kate,
Thank you for your comment – I’m so glad to hear the article helped you! The vast majority of 2 month-olds are NOT on a strict schedule or sleeping through the night, and that’s completely normal for the age. You’re doing great! Hang in there 🙂
Hi there! My 8 week old actually already sleeps from 7:30pm – 4am, with only a diaper change wake at around 1am! He currently already feeds well during the day (20-25 ounces of breast milk, bottle) on his own routine of every 2.5/3hr. We want to start focusing on self soothing and “awake” sleep, is it too soon for sleep training?
Hi @Julie –
Thank you for writing to us! It sounds like you have a great little sleeper in your home!! : ) We feel that it’s never too soon to start teaching good sleeping habits, so it may be a good time to look into what else you can do to help! If you haven’t yet, you can sign up to receive our free guide written just for families with young infants, “15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know” here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/15-free-baby-sleep-facts-new-parents-must-know
If you find that you’d like concise info put together for you, We do offer a few more in-depth solutions for parents who need more help. Our e-book, Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep, may be a good option for you. In it, we give you a complete toolkit to help your baby establish healthy sleep habits today and throughout the first year.
You can read more about our wonderful newborn/young infant options here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/essential-keys-to-your-newborns-sleep
Thanks again for writing to us and please let us know if you have any other questions at any time!
Hi,
My 2 month old has been following the Eat, Play, Sleep routine for a few weeks; however, my mother in law will be watching my son when I go back to work in a few weeks and she doesn’t believe in setting a schedule. I’ve been waking/keeping him awake after he eats for some play time but she doesn’t believe in “waking a sleeping baby”. Is there harm in him falling asleep after he eats even though he just woke up? Is this going to affect his nighttime sleep? Is this making his crankiness during his witching hour around 6pm worse?
Please help 🙂
Thanks!
Erin
Hi Erin,
Thanks for writing! We’d be happy to help. At this age, setting a schedule can be helpful, but is not quite necessary. You can focus on keeping wake time, first nap, and bedtime roughly similar each day, and the rest should mostly fall into place as your son grows. Once he’s a little older and is down to 2 or 3 naps, then you’ll want to watch daytime sleep more to stop it from affecting night sleep. You can see our baby schedules page for more information about that. I hope this helps! Good luck with your return to work!
Hi… this might seem like such a silly question but how should we go about putting our two month old to bed?
Once she’s had her bath at 7/8pm, should she have her feed and then be in her Moses basket in our bedroom to sleep or should she be in her Moses basket downstairs asleep (lights dimmed etc) until we go up to bed at around 10-10.30, fed again then put in her bedroom basket? Thanks
Hi @Rochelle! Thanks for writing, and don’t worry! There are NO silly questions when it comes to sleep! Where you put her in her basket is up to you! And many families do well with a “dream feed” before mom goes to bed too! These articles should give you some great and helpful tips:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/newborns/better-newborn-sleep-7-tips
https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/bedtime-routine-baby-toddler/
You might also want to check out our e-book, Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep. In it, we give you a complete toolkit to help your baby establish healthy sleep habits today and throughout the first year.
You can read more about this e-book here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/essential-keys-to-your-newborns-sleep/
Thanks again for writing to us about your 2 month old! Sleep well!
Thanks again for writing to us {{ticket.requester.firstname}}! I hope this information helps, and please do let me know if you have any other questions at any time!
Hi, my baby boy just turned 2 months old yesterday but we’re still all over the place with breastfeeding and naps. It’s especially difficult at night time, I’m trying to put a routine in place so I’d start with giving him a bath but before I take any next step he’s already crying on top of his lungs with no way of getting him to calm down. I usually give him a bath between 7 and 8 but he usually only falls asleep at 10pm or later. The break is filled with lots of crying and lots of stress.. Any tips to solve my issues ? Thanks in advance !
Lina
@Lina – Thank you for reading and for sharing with us. We’re sorry to hear that bedtime is a little tough for you guys – we know that can be frustrating and exhausting! Being sure that your little guy is not already very tired when you start your bedtime routine is important for a nice, calm(er) time. That would be the first place I’d suggest you start. You can find more tips here in this post on everything you want to know about bedtime: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/bedtime-baby-toddler/ If you find you need more support to get to a more peaceful bedtime routine, don’t hesitate to connect with one of our sleep consultants who can help you set the stage for better day and night sleep while protecting your breastfeeding relationship with your little guy. You can read more about our lovely ladies here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/about/ Hang in there, Lina.
Hi
Since yesterday my two months baby is not sleeping like he used to. Today he refuse to sleep from morning till 9:00. But he use to sleep well at night
Hi @Esther – Thanks for writing! Sorry to hear that your 2 month old baby was sleeping well and isn’t any longer! have you checked out our free sample schedule here?:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/2-month-old-baby-sleep-and-feeding-schedules/
I hope that this helps! If things don’t improve, you can read about our wonderful newborn options here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/essential-keys-to-your-newborns-sleep
Good luck Esther!
Hi,
My 8 week old baby is really struggling with naps over the last week. He was previously sleeping 3 hours consistently but now he is doing the 30 nap thing and waking up beside himself. I have tried everything to get. Him back to sleep but he just screams as he is still shattered. He is breastfed and I make a conscious effort to put him down awake in a dark room with white noise. He usually has a grizzle for a few minutes and then goes to sleep, then wakes after 30 minutes. He wakes 3-4 times a night, so we’re all pretty exhausted. He has reflux and eczema which he is medicated for. Not really sure what to do next.
Hi @Carly – Thank you for writing to us! I’m sorry to hear you’re having some trouble with your baby’s sleep, but you’re definitely not alone! If you haven’t yet, you can sign up to receive our free guide written just for families with young babies, “15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know” here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/15-free-baby-sleep-facts-new-parents-must-know
You may also want to take a look at this article, 7 Gentle, Natural Ways To Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Better:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/newborns/better-newborn-sleep-7-tips
We do offer a few more in-depth solutions for parents who need more help.
You can read more about our wonderful newborn options here:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/essential-keys-to-your-newborns-sleep
I hope this helps, and hang in there Carly!
Hi, my baby girl is 9 week + 3 days! She has always had trouble napping. The longest I can get her to nap without holding her or having her in a stroller is usually around 30 minutes but often her naps can be only 10 minutes cat naps! She fights sleep a lot and also needs (by my own fault) her pacifier to sleep. She doesn’t need the pacifier to fall back asleep at night but she does need it to go down and if she looses it before she’s fully asleep she gets upset and I have to go replace it. I don’t mind this because I do know that the risk of SIDS decreases with giving a baby a pacifier to sleep. I also try not to let her stay up longer than an hour (where possible) between when she opened her eyes to putting her down. I keep her very active between naps, lots of tummy time, practicing standing (bearing weight) engaging her with toys and dexterity practice where there are toys above her head and she tries to reach for them (also verbal stimulation). Any tips or recommendations? Also would it be bad to introduce a carrier? I have one and would love to use it especially in the afternoone where she just doesn’t seem to want to nap without me holding her but I don’t want to introduce something that could becomes a crutch!
Hi @Alicia – Thanks for writing to us, and congrats on your new arrival! Sorry to hear that her naps are so very short, but this is pretty common! She is still young, and may need some more practice falling asleep for her naps on her own while not being held/etc, and you can definitely work on this gently now! These sample schedules should be helpful in planning for her sleep:
https://www.babysleepsite.com/newborns/newborn-sleep-schedules-by-week/
And do feel free to work on her sleeping independently for just 1-2 naps, like her morning naps, and then holding her or using the carrier for other naps. This way, she can learn to sleep more independently while also getting some longer naps while you’re working on this. Good luck, and please contact us if you would like some one on one help from an expert with this!!
Hello,
My two month old will not sleep without being held. I have tried swaddling her and putting her in a sleep sack, but she does not like either, and she’s too young for me to have her “cry it out”. She seems to not like being flat on her back. I had a rock n play, which she would sleep in for naps during the day. It’s slightly inclined, but has been recalled. I am wondering if there are any tips you can give me about getting her to sleep on her own?
Thanks!
Hi Katie,
Thank you for your comment! I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble getting your 2 month-old to sleep without being held. This is really common at this age and you are definitely not alone. One option that works for a lot of families is a baby carrier like a Moby or an Ergo, so you can “hold” her for sleep but still move around and get things done. Another option is to keep trying the swaddle – some babies want a deeper pressure option like the Miracle Blanket (this was the only one that would work for my kiddos :)) https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Blanket-Baby-Swaddling-Beige/dp/B000G0L2TM?tag=pinisbr-20&th=1
I hope this helps! The first months are hard during the day, but it will get better, so hang in there!