Pediatrics

Sample 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule

Medically reviewed byFem He@lth June 13, 2023July 12, 2023

Sleep is one of the most important factors that will affect your child’s growth and development. Although it can be hard to put your 6 month old baby on a sleep schedule, it can be helpful for them and for you. Their circadian rhythm has started developing around the age of 4 months and they are probably not able to stand on their own yet. This makes 6 months an ideal time to get your baby accustomed to the crib and to a more routine sleep schedule. Ultimately, babies and toddlers like routine. However, they are very sensitive so once the routine is broken (meaning you go on vacation or they get sick), it may take a few days to get back into the routine. This is normal so don’t be discouraged.

Sample 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule:

7 AM: Wake Up

730: Feed

8 to 930: Play

930 to 1130: Sleep

1145: Feed

12:30 to 2: Play

2 to 330: Nap

Related: Best Waterproof Bath Books For Toddlers

330: Feed

Between 4 and 7 you should do your best to keep your baby awake and engaged. This will allow more sleep pressure to build so that they are more likely to fall asleep by 7 or 730 PM. Between 7 and 8 PM is an ideal time for babies to fall asleep. If you wait too long, they could become cranky and miss their window. If you allow them to fall asleep too early then you may end up waking up at 4 am or 5 am to their crying.

630 PM: Nighttime routine (Bath and reading)

7 PM: Feed

715-730: Sleep

If needed you can add a dream feed at 11 PM, but depending on their weight many babies may be able to sleep 10 to 12 hour stretches without a feed. This may change if they are going through a growth spurt or if they have gotten sick. Babies and toddlers may also sleep more after a set of vaccinations, or it could be the complete opposite. Remember that each child is unique and while schedules can be very helpful, it is important to remain flexible to your child’s individual needs.

6 Month Old Sleep Schedule: Summary

On average your 6 month old baby should be sleeping 12 to 16 hours a day. The majority of these hours should be a night, but two daytime naps are normal at this age.

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