How many hours should a 6 month old sleep

Sleep and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old (for Parents)

By this age, your baby should be well on the way toward having a regular sleep pattern. Some infants, particularly those who are breastfed, may still wake at night. But most no longer need a middle-of-the-night feeding.

How Long Will My Baby Sleep?

Most babies this age should sleep 12–16 hours a day, which includes a longer stretch at night and at least two naps during the day, says the National Sleep Foundation. The average amount of daytime sleep is now about 3–4 hours.

By 6 months, most babies are sleeping at night for 9 hours or longer, with brief awakenings.

How Should Babies Sleep?

The American of Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing until the first birthday or for at least 6 months, when the risk of SIDs (sudden infant death syndrome) is highest.

Room-sharing is when you place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your own bedroom instead of in a separate nursery. This keeps your baby nearby and helps with feeding, comforting, and monitoring your baby at night.

While room-sharing is safe, putting your baby to sleep in bed with you is not. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.

Follow these recommendations for a safe sleep environment for your little one:

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on the stomach or side. The rate of SIDS has gone way down since the AAP began recommending this in 1992. When babies consistently roll over from front to back and back to front, it's fine for them to remain in the sleep position they choose.
• Use a firm, flat sleep surface. Cover the mattress with a sheet that fits snugly.
• Do not put anything else in the crib or bassinet. Keep plush toys, pillows, blankets, unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads out of your baby's sleep area.
• To avoid overheating, dress your baby for the room temperature and don't overbundle. Don't cover your baby's head while they're sleeping. Watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or feeling hot to the touch.
• Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
• Offer a pacifier to your baby at sleep time, but don’t force it. If the pacifier falls out during sleep, you don’t have to replace it. If you're breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is firmly established.
• Watch out for other hazards, such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that can wrap around a baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or corner. Look around for things that your baby can touch from a seated or standing position in the crib. Hanging mobiles, wall hangings, pictures, draperies, and window blind cords could be harmful if they are within a baby's reach.
• Don’t let your baby fall asleep on a product that isn’t specifically designed for sleeping babies, such as a sitting device (like a car seat), a feeding pillow (like the Boppy pillow), or an infant lounger (like the Dock-a-Tot, Podster, and Bummzie).
• Don’t use products or devices that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners (like wedges or incliners) or monitors that can detect a baby’s heart rate and breathing pattern. No known products can actually do this.
• Don’t use weighted blankets, sleepers, or swaddles on or around your baby.
• Make sure that all sleep surfaces and products you use to help your baby sleep have been approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet federal safety standards.

Helping Your Baby Sleep

You may have started a bedtime routine that you're sticking to. If you haven't yet, now is a good time to start. Soothing activities that lead up to "night-night" time can help relax your baby. A warm bath followed by stories or singing will signal an end to the day, and these same activities can be used at bedtime for years to come.

You'll want your baby to fall asleep on their own. This may mean doing your nighttime routine and putting the baby into the crib while they're drowsy but still awake. If your baby cries, stay away for a few minutes. Your baby may settle down and go to sleep.

If the crying continues, soothe your baby for a moment without picking your little one up. This may go on a few times until your baby figures out that the crying is not getting results. This can be tough for parents, since it's upsetting to hear your baby cry. If you know your baby is safe (and not hungry, wet, soiled, or feeling unwell), it's OK to give them time to settle down.

Why Does My Baby Wake at Night?

Even a baby who has been sleeping through the night will sometimes wake in the wee hours, just as adults do. Some babies may call out or cry in the middle of the night, then calm down when mom or dad enters the room. This is due to separation anxiety, a normal stage of development that happens during this time.

Give your baby a few fussy minutes before you respond. After seeing that everything is OK and reassuring your baby without taking your little one out of the crib, leave your baby alone to fall back to sleep.

Remember: Cuddling, feeding, or talking when your baby wakes up may prompt your little one to wake regularly for this attention.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Most infants at this age will have a regular sleep routine and are able to sleep through the night. But there is a wide range of normal. If you have any questions about your baby's sleep, talk with your doctor.

6 Month Old Sleep Schedule

At six months, your baby is staying awake longer, playing more, and may even be sitting up independently. Let’s talk about the most frequent questions I get about six month old sleep schedules, naps, sleep regressions, toys, and more!

What are wake windows for a 6 month old? How long can a 6 month old stay awake?#

A six month old’s wake windows range between 2 and 3 hours. We see shorter wake windows in the morning, and these generally increase as the day goes on and babies get older. As your baby approaches seven months, his wake windows may be closer to 3 hours.

Some babies may be ready to transition from 3 naps to 2 as they approach 6.5-7 months old. When your six month old moves to 2 naps, this is when we will need to focus on stretching those wake windows closer to 3 hours throughout the day.

Here's a general routine for wake windows at this age if your baby is still taking 3 naps:

• About 2-2.5 hours after wake time = Nap 1

• About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 1 = Nap 2

• About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 2 = Nap 3

• About 2.5-3 hours after the end of Nap 3 = Bedtime

And here's the routine for wake windows at this age once your baby transitions to 2 naps:

• About 2.5-3 hours after wake time = Nap 1

• About 3 hours after the end of Nap 1 = Nap 2

• About 3-3.5 hours after the end of Nap 2 = Bedtime

**Bedtime may need to be pushed as early as 6:00 to 6:30 pm depending on the last nap of the day.

What is a sample schedule for a 6 month old?#

I have 2 six month old sleep schedules for you to use. When looking at schedules for our babies, it’s important to remember these are simply samples of how a day might play out depending on how long a baby naps. Stay flexible and meet your baby’s needs where she’s at developmentally and adjust based on how long your baby's naps last.

*Solids are often introduced around 6 months of age. Please speak with your pediatrician about the right time for your baby to start solids.

How many naps should a 6 month old take? #

We typically want to try for 3 naps per day at six months old. If your six month old is taking more than 3 naps a day because naps are short, this is a great time to double check those wake windows to make sure they're appropriate for your baby's age.

As your baby gets older, the third nap of the day can become difficult. Although 6.5-7.5 months is the average age we see a transition from 3 to 2 naps, some six month olds may be ready to drop a nap a little earlier. If you think your baby may be ready to move to 2 naps, read 5 Signs It’s Time to Drop a Nap.

When making a nap transition, please know it takes time and consistency. It’s normal for it to take 2 to 4 weeks before your baby is fully transitioned. Stay flexible with bedtime during a nap transition! You may need to move bedtime as early as 6:00-6:30 pm while your little one adjusts to fewer naps and longer wake windows. If you need more help with nap transitions, check out my Conquering Naps class.

If your baby goes to daycare and is on a different nap schedule at daycare than at home, that’s okay! We don’t have control over the daycare nap schedule, but we have control over our sleep schedule at home. You can have a great sleeper even if your days are very different at home versus daycare.

How long should a 6 month old nap?#

At six months old, our goal for daytime sleep is 3 to 4 hours total, typically divided over 3 naps.

This can look like 2 hours for the first nap, 45 minutes for the second, and 35 minutes for the third nap. The next day may be 1 hour for the first nap, 1 hour for the second, and 1 hour for the third nap. The length of each nap may change each day, and that’s okay. What matters is that your baby is getting a total of 3 to 4 hours of daytime sleep separated by age-appropriate wake windows.

If you’re struggling to get to 3 hours of napping a day, I can help you with that! Start by reading about why your baby may be taking short naps, and then check out my class, Conquering Naps. I’ll give you everything you need for great days with your six month old.

Also, keep in mind that the third nap may be the shortest of the day, lasting 30-45 minutes. This can be so normal, so don't let it worry you!

As we look at your 6 month old’s nap lengths during the day, I have 2 main recommendations.

1. We want to keep total daytime sleep under 4 hours.

2. We want to cap any single nap at 2 hours.

Doing these two things helps in several ways:

• We can make sure your baby is getting enough active awake time during the day.  

• It also helps us to keep feedings every 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

• This will also help maintain a bedtime between 7-8 p.m.

• It helps your baby get more consolidated night sleep.

As your six month old’s wake windows increase, it will be important to consider if your baby needs a feeding before a nap. If you’ve still been using an EASY routine (eat, awake, sleep, you), you’ll likely find it’s time to move away from that now, especially as you’re moving towards 2 naps. You may need to offer a feeding before a nap to prevent a short nap because your baby is waking from hunger. Or your baby may be just fine waiting until after her nap for a feeding. Bottom line: watch your baby and always be responsive to your baby's hunger cues. But please do not go more than 4 hours between feedings, even if it means having to wake your baby from a nap!

What are some activities for a 6 month old? #

There are many engaging, but simple things you can do with your six month old. When thinking about activities for your baby, here are a few suggestions:

• Give your baby a container with objects (toys, cups, blocks) so they can practice putting them in and taking them out.

• Play a game having your baby transfer objects between hands.

• Have your baby sit up (with assistance if needed) in front of a mirror to look at themselves and you.

• Any toys with lights and sounds can be very entertaining at six months old.

• If your baby is teething, give her teething toys with lots of textures she can explore with her mouth.

I have some great developmental toys in my Amazon store. Here are some I love specifically for six month olds:

• Sensory balls

• Stackers

• Stacking cups

• NogginStik

• Teethers

What are 6 month old milestones? #

New milestones can be so exciting to see. Please keep in mind that all milestones are based on age ranges, and babies hit those milestones at slightly different times. If you have any concerns about your baby meeting their milestones, make sure to speak to your pediatrician.

At six months old, you may notice that your baby:

• Begins to babble double-consonants like “dada” or “mama” 

• Giggles and laughs

• Blows raspberries (sticks out tongue and blows)

• Pushes up with straight arms while laying on belly, may rock back and forth a bit

• Can sit unassisted with own arms to support

• Looks in the mirror and reaches out for themselves

What time do 6 month olds go to bed?#

Between 7:00 and 8:00 pm is the ideal bedtime for a six month old. Often, babies who go to bed too late fight sleep, experience more false start bedtimes, and may have more early morning wakings or night wakings.

When you're determining your baby's bedtime, don't forget about our daytime guidelines for wake windows. We want that last wake window (the one between the last nap of the day and bedtime) to be about 2. 5-3 hours.

Expert Tip: Around the 3 to 2 nap transition, you may need to be more flexible with bedtime. Right before the transition, bedtime may land slightly after 8:00 pm. And just after the transition, bedtime may need to be as early as 6:00 pm as your six month old adjusts to their new sleep schedule.

Does a 6 month old baby need to eat during the night?  #

Most babies can sleep 10 to 12 hours overnight without feedings at six months old. However, some do best maintaining a night feeding. It’s always best to discuss your baby's feeding needs with your pediatrician.

If you are wondering how to wean night feedings for your six month old (or establish great sleep while still maintaining a night feeding), I can help you with a gentle and gradual approach in The 5–24 Month Collection.

Why does my 6 month old keep waking up at night?#

There are many reasons why your baby may not be sleeping through the night at six months old.

No matter the reason for your night struggles, The ABCs of Sleep can help you with a fully customizable, holistic plan for independent night sleep.

Is there a 6 month sleep regression? #

Babies have sleep setbacks for many reasons. If you're experiencing a sleep "regression” at six months, consider these possible causes:

• So much growth occurs at six months old, from physical to cognitive to emotional development. Any time we see new skills, it can affect sleep. 

• It's also normal to see an increase in distracted feedings at six months old. This can impact the calories your baby consumes during the day and cause night wakings due to hunger.

• Separation anxiety can also cause problems with sleep. I usually see a major peak in separation anxiety around 8 to 10 months old, but it can begin developing around six months – or even earlier – for some babies.

• Sleep issues at six months old can also be a sign your baby is ready to transition from 3 to 2 naps.

• If you’ve recently introduced solids and are experiencing sleep struggles, you may also want to consider whether starting solids is causing some of your sleep problems.

Is 6 months a good time to sleep train? #

Babies can be developmentally ready to sleep train starting at about 5 months. BUT, the best time to sleep train is when you decide it’s right for your family. If you’re considering sleep training, check out Let’s Talk About Sleep Training to learn more about the benefits of consolidated sleep and read about how I decided it was the right time for my family.

Is sleep still a struggle for your 6 month old?#

I can help! The 5–24 Month Collection will teach you a holistic, customizable, and emotionally-connected plan. I’ll give you the tools you need to achieve 10-12 hour consolidated nights, solid naps, and conquer all the bumps along the way. It’s the perfect time for you to have a great little sleeper!

Still have a 5 month old? Check out 5 month sleep schedules. Already have a 7 month old? I've got you covered with my 7 month sleep schedules.

Children's Clinical Medical Center of Chita

Sadly, pediatricians are increasingly stating the fact that modern children do not get enough sleep. And the lack of sleep in a child is much more dangerous than the lack of sleep in an adult. Children who sleep significantly less than normal grow more slowly and develop worse than their peers. This is easily explained.

First, growth hormones are produced during sleep.

Secondly, a good sound sleep contributes to a better memorization of previously received information.

Thirdly, general weakness due to lack of sleep makes it difficult to fully assimilate information.

In addition, the immune system is weakened in children with little sleep and the likelihood of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system increases. Sleep-deprived children become nervous, absent-minded, fussy. This applies to all children, regardless of their age: Babies and teenagers alike should sleep well.

Parents are obligated to provide their child with adequate and healthy sleep.

For children, as for adults, the normal amount of sleep is individual. Some kids sleep more, some less. The figures given by doctors are an average. In general, they should strive for. These figures reflect the total amount of sleep per day, that is, taking into account both night sleep and daytime sleep.

- Newborn baby sleeps an average of 18-22 hours a day.
- Baby from 1 to 3 months old sleeps 18-20 hours.
- A 3-4 month old baby can sleep 17-18 hours.
- A 5-6 month old baby must sleep at least 16 hours.
- Baby 7 to 12 months old sleeps 14 to 16 hours a day.
- A child from 1 to 1.5 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. In general, at least 14 hours a day.
- A child from one and a half to 2 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. In general, at least 13 hours a day.
- Child 2 to 3 years old must sleep at least 10-11 hours at night and 2-2.5 hours during the day. In general, at least 12.5 hours a day.
- Children 3-4 years old should sleep at least 10 hours at night and 2 hours during the day. In general, at least 12 hours a day.
- Children 5 to 7 years of age should sleep at least 9-10 hours at night and 1.5-2 hours during the day. In general, at least 10.5-11 hours a day.
- Pupils of elementary school may not sleep during the day. At night, they should sleep at least 9 hours, preferably 10 hours.
- Adolescent needs at least 9 hours of sleep per night.
- high school students should sleep an average of 8 hours per night.

In order for the child to get enough sleep, it is necessary to follow the regimen and put him to bed at the same time. This is especially true for night sleep. Make it a rule to put the child to bed, for example, at 21 o'clock. And never deviate from this rule. Let there be guests in the house, let the child become interested in the game, let the parents have things to do - everything should be postponed for the sake of the child's sleep. If he gets used to going to bed at the same time, nothing will prevent him from relaxing in time and wanting to sleep. No game will seem more attractive to him than a fresh warm bed and a cozy pillow.

2. Preparation for sleep, relaxation, rituals.

In order for the child to fall asleep easily and quickly, already an hour or two before bedtime, he must be in a calm atmosphere. Noisy games, difficult puzzles, intellectual tasks, homework preparation, computer games, watching noisy long movies and cartoons, listening to loud music, etc. - all this should end an hour or two before going to bed. The kid at this time can calmly play with toys or listen to a fairy tale read by his mother. An older child can read by himself, chat with his parents, watch a calm movie. Yes, and not so much time will be left for quiet leisure, because direct preparation for sleep will require a lot of time. It is necessary to take a shower, brush your teeth, straighten the bed, change into pajamas, drink some water, etc. The same actions performed day after day before going to bed become a kind of ritual, the performance of which also helps the child tune in to sleep. And this, in turn, contributes to faster and deeper falling asleep and, as a result, better rest. If, for example, a few sips of water before bedtime suddenly become a habit, do not try to wean your child from it. Let this be your ritual helper. If a child is used to parents reading a fairy tale to him, then he needs to read, regardless of employment.

3. Lightness in the stomach.

The last meal should be 2 hours before bedtime (this does not apply to infants and children who are breastfed). Shortly before bedtime, a child can drink a cup of tea with 1-2 cookies or a glass of kefir, but not with a high-calorie sandwich. Firstly, with ease in the body falls asleep more soundly. Secondly, dense high-calorie snacks before bedtime are bad for the stomach.

4. Comfortable atmosphere in the room.

The room must be well ventilated before putting the child to bed. If the room is dry, after airing it is worth turning on the humidifier and bringing the humidity level to an acceptable level. When the child goes to bed, you need to turn off the light, you can leave a dim nightlight if the baby asks for it. In no case should children be put to bed with the TV turned on or a flickering computer monitor. However, it is impossible to turn on the TV, the overhead light and the sound of the computer speakers even after the child falls asleep. Light noises and light may not wake him up, but they will make the child's sleep superficial, because of this, the body will not get proper rest. If this happens consistently, the child will show signs of sleep deprivation. That is, he seems to be sleeping as much as necessary, but still does not get enough sleep. The reason is the lack of conditions. The room where the child sleeps should be fresh, dark and quiet.

Sleep is very important for a child's normal growth and brain development, and regular lack of sleep can lead to serious illnesses. Create the conditions for your baby to fall asleep and carefully make sure that nothing interferes with his full sleep.

Dream of a child at 6 months - how much is a child sleeping at 6 months

06/22/2015

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Article author

Elena Muradova

Elena Muradova

Head of the BabySleep Center, the first sleep consultant in Russia, author of the BabySleep methodology

Mother of three children

The first six months of a baby's life are behind him, he knows a lot and pleases you with new skills almost every day. Sleep also changes. During the day, the child sleeps less and stays awake longer. Night sleep is not yet the same as that of a one-year-old baby: a six-month-old baby still needs nightly feedings, he cannot sleep all night without waking up.

It can be difficult to put a child to daytime or nighttime sleep: this is due to the increase in wakefulness, and with the characteristics of the developmental stage, and with the beginning of the transition from 3 to 2 daytime sleep.

The child is developing rapidly, becoming very active. It is important to sleep well in order to fully recuperate. Quality sleep for a baby at 6 months helps to learn new skills faster.

Child crisis calendar

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A six-month-old baby still needs to sleep almost as much as a newborn: the norm of sleep by age is from 13 to 15 hours a day. About six months, a change in sleep patterns usually begins - a transition from 3 daytime sleep to 2. When and how this happens depends on the individual characteristics of each child. On average, babies start sleeping 2 times during the day at 6-8 months.

The total time of a child's daytime sleep is about 2-4 hours, nighttime - 10-12 hours. Waking time at the beginning of the 6th month is typically 2 hours 15 minutes to 2.5 hours. Remember that it includes not only games, but also getting ready for bed, feeding, laying down and the process of falling asleep, which also takes time.

By the end of the 6th month, you may notice that it becomes more difficult to put your baby to sleep - the time to fall asleep increases, there may be resistance to lying down. This is usually associated with age-related increase in the time of wakefulness. By the end of the first half of the year of a child's life, it increases to 2 hours 45 minutes - 3 hours.

Children at this age develop and grow very rapidly, their abilities increase rapidly, including the increase in wakefulness. Therefore, the child's sleep pattern often changes. So far, this is not a clear mode with reference to the clock, but a more or less constant rhythm of sleep and wakefulness - quite predictable, but flexibly adapting to the child.

Prof. M. Weissbluth, a recognized specialist in children's sleep, notes that at this age there is usually a formation of a more or less stable afternoon nap around 12-2 pm, which usually lasts up to 3 years, as well as the inconstancy of the third daytime sleep around 15-17 hours.

Breastfeeding and 6-month-old sleep

6 months is the recommended time to start introducing complementary foods. But this does not mean that the baby no longer needs breast milk or formula. This is still the time for the baby to get acquainted with new tastes and textures, and not for a full meal that can replace breastfeeding. Most babies only eat enough solid food by the age of one. Be wary of advice to cut down on daytime feedings - a hungry baby will "fill in" the missing calories at night.

As far as the night is concerned, most babies at this age have fewer night feeds and begin to sleep for longer periods.

It is considered normal for a 6-month-old baby to have 1 to 3 nightly breastfeedings and 1-2 formula feedings. Some children at this age may sleep one or even two continuous 5-hour intervals.

Poll

Who, apart from mother, can put your baby to bed?

(you can choose one or more options)

• Dad
• Grandmother
• Any member of the family
• Nanny
• Nobody, only mom

Voted: 13552

Stage of development

During the first year and a half, the baby experiences 10 developmental leaps. A six-month-old child is no exception. A child's sleep is affected by age-related features of physical and mental development, as well as a separation crisis.

Physical development

How can I help my child?

• While awake, show your baby how to lie down "back" from a sitting position.
• Practice the new skill as much as possible during the day so that the baby quickly gets used to it.
• Educational games.

Mental development

At this age, the child is approaching a new stage of mental development. The "World of Relations" opens up to him - the realization comes that the surrounding objects are at a certain distance and each occupy its own place. Discovering this phenomenon, the baby feels tiny and helpless, he is scared and confused.

The period of anxiety can begin as early as 5 months, and this may affect the child's sleep: he begins to sleep restlessly, anxiously. Constant physical and emotional contact with the mother during this period will restore the baby's confidence and calmness.

Fear of separation from mother

Perhaps you began to notice that the child began to react painfully to your absence: a mother’s attempt to leave the room even for a minute can end in tears. The child refuses to sleep alone in the crib, does not want to stay with someone other than his mother.

This is normal. The kid grew up and realized that his mother is a separate person and can leave, leaving him alone. He's really scared! Now is not the right time to “develop independence”, it is important to show the child that you are always there and will always return if he gets scared. The first peak of fear of separation usually occurs around 7-9 months, the second around the year, but in emotional, sensitive children this period can last from 6 to 18 months. Read how you can reduce a child's fear of being separated from their mother.

New skills can not only please, but also greatly excite a child, so during a developmental leap:

Many children get tired faster than usual, so you need to reduce the time of wakefulness.

Tip of the month

Create comfortable conditions for sleep: remove everything interesting, distracting, exciting; darken the room. Complete darkness is not needed - when the baby sleeps during the day, it is enough to create a slight twilight.

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