Happy halfway to one! 6 months creeps up so quickly when you add a little one into the mix. Before you know it, you are looking at a chunky little mischief maker.
As your baby reaches the 6 month mark, you may be expecting (and hoping) sleep cycles to magically connect and overnight feedings to eliminate without much intervention. While some babies will naturally get on an age-appropriate sleep schedule, other infants need a little help. Understanding typical patterns for a 6 month old can make supporting your little one a lot easier. Let’s dive in on all things 6 months old!
What Milestones Happen in 6 Months?
As a parent, you can expect to see big changes in your 6 month olds activity and sleep habits. Some common developments at 6 months are:
- Baby rolling from front to front or back or back to front
- The start of your little one scooting around on their stomach/crawling
- An increased desire to try to communicate by linking sounds together
- The beginning of teeth
- The start of separation anxiety
For these reasons, you may be expressing some significant changes in your 6 month old’s sleep which is typically related to the 6 month sleep regression. While frustrating and exhausting, regressions are a normal part of infancy and toddler development. If you are experiencing a regression that lasts longer than a few weeks, it may be time to consider consulting a pediatric sleep consultant to help get your child’s sleep back on track.
6 Month Old Sleep Needs
At six months, babies often begin to consolidate sleep more consistently overnight and are ready to fall asleep independently. Your baby’s internal rhythms are maturing and by implementing an appropriate method, you can start to see longer stretches for naps during the day and sleep overnight.
Typical sleep needs for a 6 month old are as follows:
Total Sleep in 24 Hours: Around 14 Hours
Daytime Sleep: 2 – 3 Naps (Cap total daytime sleep at 3.5 hours)
Wake Window: Sweet Spot around 2.25 hours
Some infants do rely on one or two brief night feedings at this age, but most infants are developmentally and physically ready to sleep all night without a feeding. As always, consult with your pediatrician before eliminating overnight feedings.
6 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Here are sample schedules you can use as a stepping stone to help get your little one on a solid daytime schedule while still achieving optimal overnight sleep. Remember, flexibility is key:
3 Nap Schedule
7:00 AM Wake-Up
9:15 AM Nap #1 (90 Minutes)
1:00 PM Nap #2 (90 Minute)
4:45 – 5:15 PM Nap #3 (Cat Nap)
7:30 PM Bedtime
PRO TIP: Nap #1 should never exceed 2 hours. If Nap #1 is 2 hours, Nap #2 should be capped at 1 hour. The goal would be to have 3 hours of total sleep accumulated between the first two naps.
Reminders: Most 6 month olds still need that short cat-nap to avoid overtiredness before bed. It’s important to consider what works best for your infant. Does your child nap better at a specific time (9 AM/1 PM) or does your child nap better when focusing on wake windows?
Tips for 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Tip #1: Watch for Sleep Cues
Wake windows are a great place to start but you should consider all factors. Did your little one skip a nap? Did they sleep poorly overnight? You may need to adjust wake windows depending on specific circumstances and situations.
Tip #2: Be Consistent
The more consistent you are with your child and your approach, the more consistent they will be with you. A predictable nap and bedtime routine can help signal that sleep is coming.
Tip#3: Set Appropriate Expectations
Growth spurts, illness, teething, traveling, and developmental changes can all temporarily disrupt sleep. Make sure you are keeping your expectations realistic and giving grace when needed.
Tip #4: Support Independent Sleep
6 months is a great age to lay the foundation for independent sleep skills. Putting your baby down awake, but drowsy, and using sleep training methods to help them learn to connect sleep cycles, and self-soothe, can be a game changer.
Tip #5: Cap Daytime Sleep
Make sure you cap naps. Try not to let any single nap exceed 2 hours. If your child sleeps too much during the day, it can’t negatively impact overnight sleep.
Tip #6: Avoid Overtiredness
If a nap is short or skipped, make sure you accommodate the next wake window or shift to an early bedtime.
Tip #7: Feeding is Key
Make sure that daytime calories are high and sufficient. Whether your child is breastfeed or bottle feed, tracking your child’s intake is important and has a direct correlation to achieving optimal overnight sleep.
Tip #8: Consult with your Pediatrician
Before pursuing sleep training, or implementing a sleep training method, it is important to check with your pediatrician to rule out any underlying medical conditions. If your child has struggled with health or growth concerns, this is a really important step to take so you can move forward with confidence.
A 6-month-old sleep schedule can provide structure with flexibility. Every baby has their own rhythm, and what works for one may need a tweak for the next. With consistency, patience, and support, your baby can build healthy, independent sleep habits. Sleep Shore is here to support you through every milestone!
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Is your 6 month old having difficulty self-soothing for naps and overnight? If your child is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“As a first time Mom, I really felt lost with all the information and opinions out there. Nothing was working! Until we met with Molly. She is extremely responsive, caring and knowledgeable. I was heading back to work after leave and I had a lot of anxiety. She managed to get our 6 month old boy on a consistent schedule that worked best for his sleep needs. Our baby is able to calmly fall asleep in the crib on his own which was never possible before. We are now confident with a plan for night sleep. We have our evenings back to relax and unwind. More importantly, our baby is happier! Molly is so invested, she still checks in on us. I am so happy we decided to work with Sleep Shore- life-changing!”
Mom of 6-Month-Old