Moving bedtime earlier on those days can minimize the impact of overtiredness on night sleep. This is especially true for babies who nap well earlier in the day.

The circadian rhythm is set by light exposure, meaning that your baby’s morning rise time will have a big impact on bedtime.Īs babies approach 7 months of age, it’s common for them to skip the third nap of the day. However, the best bedtime for your baby will be determined by their own circadian rhythm, or internal clock, and how well they’ve napped that day. Many 6 months olds are ready for bed between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. What time should a 6 month old go to bed? Likewise, if that third nap creeps later in the day, bedtime may need to be pushed later as well. When babies have short naps or skip a nap, consider moving bedtime earlier to limit overtiredness. However, it’s important to be flexible and adjust the bedtime earlier if needed. During your first cycle of sleep, it starts about 90 minutes after you fall asleep and last only 10 minutes.

Schedules tend to become more predictable at this age, and bedtime is typically 12 - 13 hours after they wake up each morning. The REM stage of sleep is unique because it’s when you have your most vivid dreams. This should work to lengthen and consolidate their nighttime sleep! Sample 6 month old sleep scheduleĨ:30 AM - 9:45 AM (1.25 hour nap) 2 hours of awake time before 1st napġ2:00 PM - 1:30 PM (1.5 hour nap) 2.25 hours of awake time before 2nd napĤ:00 PM - 4:30 PM (30 minute nap) 2.5 hours of awake time before 3rd napħ:15 PM 2.75 hours of awake time before bed If you’ve been helping your baby fall asleep (e.g., by rocking or feeding) and your family isn’t getting enough shuteye, it may be time to teach your baby to fall asleep with less help at bedtime. When should you go to bed and when should you get up Whenever you can, sleep when it’s best. Most 6 month olds are now developmentally ready to fall asleep independently and link sleep cycles for the entire night. Here’s what two doctors who specialize in sleep medicine recommend, whether your goal is to go to sleep right now or to create a sustainable pattern of sleeping at the same time each night. It’s okay if bedtime ends up being later as a result of the later nap. If that last nap is hard to get in, consider lengthening the awake window beforehand by 15 minutes. Your 6 month old baby probably still needs 3 naps. This will help your baby make it to bedtime without getting overtired. Since that last nap can be so tricky, we often encourage parents to help their child fall asleep any way they can for the third nap of the day, as long as it’s safe. Most babies still need 2 - 3 hours of awake time in between sleep periods. Aim for 11 - 12 hours at night and 2.5 - 3.5 hours during the day. Your child’s schedule may vary, and that is normal.Įxpect to see at least 14 hours of total sleep daily at 6 months old. However, please note there is a range of normal as some children have lower or higher sleep needs. This is why you will notice that although his naps become less frequent, the length of each one gets longer.

But as your little one grows, his nap time schedule adjusts to his needs. The recommendations listed below represent the average amount of sleep typically needed at this age. It is because, for the first few weeks, your baby sleeps for 16 to 18 hours in a day, only waking up to feed.

When should i wake up if i sleep now