Sample 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule
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.
We discuss products we think are useful to people. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Remember to check with your personal physician to see if a product recommended is right for you.
