9 month old babies need an average of 11-12 hours of sleep at night and 2-3 hours of sleep during the day at nap time. Most 9 month olds are sleeping through the night but if your baby is not, we provide tips below. This article outlines sample 9-month-old baby sleep and feeding schedules, including milk feedings (for breastfeeding and formula-feeding babies!) solids, naps, and nighttime sleep. As a sleep consultant of 15+ years, I’m also sharing typical sleep habits to expect. Or, you can skip to the schedule if you prefer.
9 Month Old’s Sleep Habits and Development
At this age, most 9-month-olds are sleeping through the night without a feeding and take two naps during the day.
However, some babies, in my experience, do better with one feeding after 4 or 5 a.m., and will then sleep longer than if they don’t eat. Otherwise, babies are more often going to wake up too early for the day.
I would need to know your specific situation to make a recommendation, as all babies are unique, but by this age, I would not expect more than one feeding, typically, if any at all.
Your 9-month-old should be taking 2 naps per day for a total of about 2-3 hours per day plus 11-12 hours at night. If you’re having trouble with naps, you might be interested in helping your baby nap.
How Many Naps for an 9 Month Old?
Most 9 month old sleep schedules include 2 naps each day that total 2 to 3 hours. Each nap is typically at least an hour long. Babies this age stay awake and have wake windows between 2 and 3 hours at a time, on average, but up to 4 hours before bedtime. Most babies drop the third nap by 9 months old.
If your 9-month-old is still taking three naps and sleeping well then you probably don’t have to worry. But, if you are having sleep problems such as insomnia or split night, you may want to simply transition to two naps. Even when babies happily take three naps, this is a sign they are napping for too many sleep periods during the day even if the total sleep isn’t “too much.”
Wake Windows for 9 Month Olds
The typical wake windows for a 9-month-old are 2-4 hours with the first wake window being one of the shortest. Usually, that first wake window is just 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Most 9-month-olds have dropped their third nap (or will very soon) and the last wake window is often 3 1/2 to 4 hours long.
If your baby is a rare baby who takes two 2-hour naps, you might find they only have a 2-hour morning wake window and sleep just 10 to 10 1/2 hours at night which is just fine if they seem to be happy and thriving.
9 Month Old Feeding
All babies vary, but here are a couple of sample sleep and feeding schedules you can use to make your own for your unique 9 month old baby. Be aware that breast milk and/or formula should be the primary nutrition for the first year, and solids come second.
Below are the average amounts we expect at this age but keep in mind that all babies have a unique appetite.
Average Milk and Solid Amounts Per Day for a 9 Month Old:
- At least 3-4 nursing sessions per day or 26-32 ounces formula or combination of both
- 2 servings (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry) baby cereal
- 1-2 servings grain (1 serving = 1/2 slice bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole grain pasta)
- 2 servings (1 serving = 2-4 Tablespoons) fruit
- 2 servings (1 serving = 2-4 Tablespoons) vegetable
- 2-3 servings (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons) protein
- 1 serving Dairy (1 serving = 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/3 cup cottage cheese or 1 oz grated cheese)
- You can also offer cooked egg yolk (but possibly no egg whites until 12 months old due to allergens — check with your doctor)
For more information on starting your baby on solid food, we have a series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. We include recommendations about how and when to start solids, as well as helpful information on food allergies, recommended products, baby-friendly recipes, and more.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Sample 9 Month Old Schedules With Feedings
This first sample schedule is what I call a “staggered” approach. My first son did better nursing fully and then had solids a bit in between nursing sessions. He was a little hungry but not famished. He just didn’t do well with stopping nursing mid-way to eat solids.
Sample 9 Month Old Schedule — Staggered Approach
| 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule With Feedings | |
|---|---|
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00 AM | Wake and Milk |
| 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30/10:00 AM | Morning Nap (at least one hour long) |
| 11:00 AM | Milk (upon waking) |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 2:00 PM | Afternoon Nap (at least one hour long) |
| 3:00 PM | Milk + Snack (possibly) |
| 5:00 PM | Dinner |
| 6:30 PM | Begin your bedtime routine |
| 7:00 PM | Milk and Bedtime (goal to be asleep by this time) |
If your baby doesn’t mind a more “consolidated” approach to eating, like my second son, here is another type of schedule:
Sample 9 Month Old Schedule — Consolidated Feeding Approach
| 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule With Feedings | |
|---|---|
| Time | Activity |
| 7:00 AM | Wake |
| 7:30 AM | 1/2 Milk Feeding, then Breakfast, then offer the other 1/2 Milk |
| 9:30/10:00 AM | Morning Nap (at least one hour long) |
| 11:30 AM | 1/2 Milk Feeding, then Lunch, then offer the other 1/2 Milk |
| 2:00 PM | Afternoon Nap (at least one hour long) |
| 3:00 PM | Milk + Snack (possibly) |
| 5:00 PM | Dinner + 1/2 Milk Feeding |
| 6:30 PM | Begin your bedtime routine |
| 7:00 PM | Milk and Bedtime (goal to be asleep by this time) |
Notes: If your baby is uninterested in the second half of the milk feeding, consider decreasing the amount of solid food. In addition, when giving any feedings during your bedtime routine, be careful not to create sleep associations.
Want more information about how to help your 9 month old sleep well? Check out our detailed case study about Carrie, Ben, Elliot, and Andrew.
Read how Carrie and Ben helped 8-month-old Elliot learn to sleep longer stretches at night (and, eventually, to sleep through the night completely!) and take better naps – and how they helped to change those sleep associations that were keeping Elliot awake!
Just join our VIP Members Area, and access the case study instantly. And that’s not all – our VIP Members Area is packed with additional premium content and resources: e-Books, assessments, more case studies, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than to buy products separately!
Looking for more sample 9-month schedules?
We have over 40 sample schedules for all ages in our e-Book, Mastering Naps and Schedules. Banish naptime battles and regain control of your day (and your sanity) starting today!
You Might Also Like:
- The 8/9/10 Month Sleep Regression Explained
- The 8-10 Month Sleep Regression Survival Guide: EXPANDED EDITION (VIP Members Area article)
- Custom Schedule Maker (for VIP members)
- Mastering Naps and Schedules (VIP Members Area digital e-Book)
- Can Down Time in the Crib be Bad for Your Baby’s Sleep?
- Baby’s Sleep and the Moon
- 3 Signs It May Be Time to Night Wean Your Baby
- Night Weaning Quiz: Is Your Baby Ready to Night Wean?
- 8 Month Baby Sleep Coaching Case Study (VIP Members Area case study)
- How To Put Your Baby On A Schedule (VIP Members Area audio course)
Related posts:
11 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule With Milk, Solid Food, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep – For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Infants
10 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: With Milk, Solid Food, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep – For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Infants
8 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: With Milk, Solid Food, Naps, and Nighttime Sleep – For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Babies
7 Month Old Baby Feeding and Sleep Schedule: For Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Infants
