When Will My Baby Sleep Through The Night?

When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?

It’s usually when you’re exhausted and sleepwalking your way through the house in the dark, that you start wondering, “When will my baby sleep through the night?” You’re not alone. Most parents go through this exact thing. Let’s explore what “sleeping through the night” even means and how to gently move the dream closer to reality.

What "Sleeping Through the Night" Really Means

When people say “through the night” that usually means for around five to six hours in a row. Not a full eight, 10 or 12 hours. Newborns do sleep a lot but generally in shorter clusters of one to three hours. You could say they do several “sleeping sprints” rather than one long marathon session.
Babies wake up a lot because they get hungry. Their tummies are small. Their internal clock that tells adults that it’s day or night is still developing. So, their bodies sometimes get confused and wake up instead of sleeping. This is all normal and healthy sleep behavior. A few, simple newborn care tips can often help.

A Realistic Timeline for Newborn Sleep

Each baby is different but there are some common patterns for newborn sleep. Your Baptist Health mother and baby care team can help you know what's normal for yours.

Here is a realistic yet general timeline:

• Week 1 to month 3.  Your baby will probably feed about every two to three hours, no matter if it is day or night.
• Month 3 to 4. Around this time, babies may sleep for five-hour stretches.
• Month 4 to 6. A lot of babies sleep six or more hours by this time. Some start earlier. And others may still not sleep quite this long at one time.
• End of the first year. Late into the first year, your baby might sleep closer to 10 hours at night. You can dream, at least.

Safe Sleep Comes First

Before talking about helping your baby sleep longer (that’s coming, don’t worry), you should know about safe sleep practices.

Follow these guidelines to keep your baby safe:

• Lay your baby on their back to sleep, not their belly.
• Choose a firm, flat surface.
• Don’t put anything else in the crib.
• Share your room with your baby, not your bed.

That last one is for both you and your baby. Your sleep matters, too. If lack of sleep ever starts to weigh on you emotionally, know that postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are both common, treatable and nothing to face alone.

Gentle Ways to Encourage Longer Sleep

You can help your baby sleep longer in a few ways. Newborn sleep care is important. A consistent bedtime routine usually calms a baby. A calm baby is often a sleepy baby. You can also dim the lights, read a book and speak in softer tones. All of this sets the stage for a sleepy baby.

If possible, create clear differences between daytime and nighttime. Brighter lights and more moving around during the day. Darker and more still at night. It may not seem like much, but those clear signals can help your baby tell day from night.

The most important advice is to give it time. That’s not always a fun answer but it often rings true when it comes to newborns and sleep.

Baptist Health Is Here to Help

If you do not have a Baptist Health pediatrician, you can find one by visiting our provider directory.