Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: A Guide for Restful Nights
Struggling with your baby’s sleep? Learn the best baby sleep schedules by age, plus expert tips for better naps and nighttime rest.
Dear Parents,
I remember being a little envious at mommy meet-ups when I would hear moms say their babies were sleeping through the night by 6 months. That was not my ministry. In fact, I don’t think my son fully slept through the night without waking up until he was about 15 months.
Despite giving him a larger dinner and shortening nap time during the day, he always woke up at least once during the night. Sometimes he nursed and went right back to sleep; other times, he simply woke up and went back down without assistance.
Yes, we all want a good night’s rest, but we also can’t force a process that our babies aren’t ready for. Eventually, they all get there, and our job is to nurture them through it.
In this newsletter, I’ll walk you through normal sleep patterns by age and how you can guide your little one toward restful nights.
Why a Sleep Schedule Matters
Sleep is essential for your baby’s growth and development. A consistent sleep schedule:
✔ Helps regulate your baby’s internal clock
✔ Supports brain development
✔ Improves mood and behavior
✔ Allows parents to get more rest (because you deserve it!)
Let’s break down sleep expectations by age and how you can support your little one.
Newborn Sleep (0-3 Months): Understanding Sleep Cycles
What to Expect:
• Sleeps 14-17 hours a day in short stretches (2-4 hours at a time).
• No established day-night rhythm yet.
• Frequent night wakings for feeding.
How to Encourage Good Sleep Habits:
✔ Follow a simple bedtime routine (dim lights, white noise, swaddle).
✔ Offer full feedings during the day to reduce frequent hunger at night.
✔ Expose your baby to natural light during the day to help regulate their internal clock.
✔ My favorite sleep essential: A white noise machine can work wonders for soothing babies. I personally love the Hatch White Noise Machine because of its multifunctionality—it serves as a white noise machine, nightlight, and time-to-rise trainer all in one!
Infant Sleep (4-6 Months): Sleep Regression & Solutions
What to Expect:
• Sleeps 12-16 hours a day, with longer night stretches.
• Can start distinguishing day from night.
• Possible 4-month sleep regression due to brain development.
How to Support Better Sleep:
✔ Start a consistent bedtime routine (bath, book, feed, bed).
✔ Offer naps at regular times (2-3 per day).
✔ If sleep regression hits, keep night interactions minimal (no bright lights or play).
✔ Pro Tip: If your baby is a light sleeper, using a white noise machine like the Hatch can help block out background noise and create a soothing sleep environment.
Baby Sleep (7-12 Months): Sleep Training & Night Wakings
What to Expect:
• Sleeps 11-14 hours a day, including 2-3 naps.
• May wake up at night out of habit rather than hunger
• Separation anxiety can cause night wakings.
Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer:
✔ Introduce a lovey or comfort item if safe.
✔ Keep a predictable bedtime and wake-up time.
✔ Consider gentle sleep training if night wakings persist (e.g., gradual check-ins).
✔ Helpful Hack: Using a white noise machine consistently at bedtime can signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep, making nighttime wake-ups less disruptive. The Hatch is great because it grows with your child—use it for white noise now and as a toddler wake clock later!
Toddler Sleep (12-24 Months): Transitioning to One Nap
What to Expect:
• Sleeps 11-14 hours, with one nap around 12-18 months.
• Possible bedtime resistance and early waking.
• Separation anxiety and teething can disrupt sleep.
How to Ease the Nap Transition:
✔ Slowly shorten the morning nap until it’s no longer needed.
✔ Shift the afternoon nap earlier (around noon).
✔ Keep a consistent bedtime routine to prevent over-tiredness.
✔ Pro Sleep Tool: At this stage, toddlers can benefit from the time-to-rise feature on the Hatch White Noise Machine, which helps them understand when it’s time to wake up and when it’s still time to sleep.
My Favorite Sleep Tool: The Hatch White Noise Machine
I personally love the Hatch White Noise Machine because it’s not just a white noise machine—it’s a nightlight, sound machine, and time-to-rise clock all in one. It grows with your baby from newborn to toddlerhood, making it a smart investment for long-term sleep support.
Final Thoughts
Every baby is unique, and sleep isn’t always linear. Some babies sleep through the night early, while others take their time—and that’s okay! The goal is to create a soothing sleep environment and establish healthy sleep habits that will benefit them (and you) in the long run.
You’ve got this, and I’m here to help.
Tell me, how’s sleep going for you and your little one? Reply to this email - I’d love to hear from you!
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Until next time,
Kelly-Ann Smith,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | Founder of Cub Convos @cubconvos