6 Month Old Sleep Schedule

6 Month Old Nap Schedule

Although your baby’s naptimes will fluctuate between 4 and 6 months, they’ll likely be consistently logging 2 to 4 hours of total sleep during the day. It’s common for a 4-5 month old baby to have 3 naps each day, while a 6 month old will likely have 2 longer naps each day. At this age, it is now appropriate to begin sleep training, if you so desire. To do this, put your baby down to sleep when they’re showing signs of sleepiness, but are not yet asleep. Don’t be surprised if you hear some tears, as your baby may struggle as they learn to sleep without your presence. Give them some time, then come back in to check on them, and confirm that they’ve found sleep. It’s crucial during sleep training for your baby to be put to bed in a crib, instead of your bed or a bedside bassinet, so your 6 month old baby can have the space to move around and explore their sleeping environment. This transition can be tricky for both of you, but with time your baby will become comfortable with this new sleeping arrangement, and both of you will gain some autonomy. Now is also the time to remove movement from naps. So, while naps in the car and stroller may still be inevitable it’s important to strive to have your baby’s naps occur in their crib. The crib should be a quiet, safe, and cozy space for baby to the recharge.

6 Month Old Feeding Schedule

Creating a reliable sleep/eat/wake routine adds stability in to your little one’s life by helping them know when to expect food, sleep, and play time. A full night of sleep, which consists of 11-12 hours of sleep for a baby this age, should now be the norm. And, this full night of sleep should also be occurring with a few nighttime feedings. To help babies achieve this full night of sleep, without needing to wake to feed, ensure they’re receiving a minimum of 24 ounces of nourishment daily, with 5-8 ounces in each feeding. For exclusively breastfed babies, you can ensure they’re receiving enough by feeding them at least 5 times a day for 15-20 minutes. If you’re uncertain about the amount of milk your baby is receiving in each feeding, you can check the amount of milk you produce while pumping. If you’re wondering when your baby can start eating solids, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends baby only consume breast milk, or formula, for the first 4-6 months. So if they haven’t started solids yet, now is the time to start.

6 Month Old Wake Window

When your little one hits the 6 month mark, their wake windows become pretty important. These are the times your baby can hang out and play before needing a nap. Watch out for those sleep cues or a bit of fussiness – it's their way of saying, "Hey, I need a little snooze!" Keeping an eye on these sleep cues helps make sure your baby gets the right amount of rest for their growth and happiness.

How Long Should A 6 Month Old Sleep?

Now is the time to create a sleep schedule and make sure everyone in your baby’s life honors this sleep schedule. The major shifts in their sleep habits will be that they’re sleeping for longer periods during the day and night. This shift helps minimize the baby’s confusion between day and night. With their daytime naps and sleep throughout the night, your baby will likely now get 14 to 16 hours of total sleep a day. In addition to a sleep schedule, it’s important that (if you haven’t already) you begin practicing a bedtime routine with your child. You can create this routine by trying out various calming activities, like reading a book or singing a song, then sticking with the activities that do the best job at settling both you and baby – because hey, you also deserve some relaxation! Allow plenty of time for this routine and make sure to remove any distracting objects from baby’s crib before laying them down for bed.

6 Month Old Sleep Schedule