When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night?

While being a new parent is a joyous occasion, it can also leave you utterly sleep-deprived! The first question you may want to ask is: When do babies sleep through the night? Well, all you need is a bit of patience. Some babies start sleeping for long periods once they turn four months old. However, some babies take longer and may adjust to a proper sleep routine after they turn one. But don’t be disheartened. There are a few tips and tricks that can help you out. Today, Sleep Guides India will tell you when do most babies sleep through the night and how to get a baby to sleep. 

What Does ‘Sleeping Through the Night’ Actually Mean?

The phrase ‘sleeping through the night’ isn’t the same for adults and infants. For them, it means sleeping for approximately six hours uninterrupted. Here, even if they wake up in between, they usually self-soothe and go back to sleep. 

What Can Affect When Babies Start To Sleep Through the Night?

Sleeping through the night happens with age. However, your little one’s behaviour and experiences also play a central role. Inculcating good sleep habits, such as a consistent bedtime routine, enables infants to sleep through the night. For a proper bedtime routine, some of the things you can try are;

• Dim the lights of the room 
• Keep the room silent 
• You can gently rock your baby to induce sleepiness
• Put your little one to bed as soon as they are sleepy 

When do babies sleep through the night?

A Baby’s sleeping habits depend on various factors, such as age, weight, and whether or not you are breastfeeding. So, take a look. 

Newborn

A newborn will sleep for two to four hours at a stretch and not more. But it also depends if you are breastfeeding your child, feeding formula or both. 

2 to 3 months old

Infants who are two to three months old can easily sleep for five to six hours continuously. But some babies may require a feed or two in between. 

4 months old

Wondering when do breastfed babies sleep through the night? This is it. For most parents, this is the golden period. The baby has reached the magic weight of 11 to 14 pounds, and they can easily sleep for seven to eight hours at a stretch without any nighttime feeding. Some children may demand one.

5 to 6 months old

By now, babies can easily sleep through the night. However, if your little one still wakes up asking for a feed, it might not be hunger but they are used to the nightly snacks and the cuddles you shower on them. You can always speak with your doctor to eliminate this habit. 

How to Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night

For longer snoozes,  you can always use a few tricks. It can help your little one sleep through the night even before their half-birthday milestone!

Establish a bedtime routine

Not just adults, but your little one needs a bedtime routine too. It is comforting and tells your child that it is now time to sleep. You can create your bedtime routine. However, make sure that it is always consistent. Some of the things you can try include;

• A soothing bath 
• Cuddle and story time 
• Singing a lullaby 
• Feeding 

Try not to change your baby’s diaper in the middle of the night

If your little one is a complete mess, change the diaper in the middle of the night. Otherwise, let it be as it can wake them up. And if you must, just keep the lights dim so that you don’t disturb them. 

Consider moving the baby farther away from you 

Most parents tend to share the room with their kids until they are six months old and if your little one is sleeping on the crib that’s placed very close to the bed, try moving it away as this could be the reason for multiple wake-ups. 

Keep the calories coming during the day

One of the reasons why you don’t crave food when you are asleep is that you have consumed the necessary calories throughout the day. The same rule applies to your little one. Breastfeed your child every two to three hours. And once solid food is introduced, feeding also reduces. Now, when they have had sufficient calories throughout the day, it makes it easier for babies to sleep through the night.  You can always speak with your doctor for any guidance you may need. 

Wake your baby up with a dream feed before you go down

You can try dream-feeding your little one before you are off to snooze. Here, ensure your little one is not fully asleep but tired, and let them have a few sips. However, if this trick leads to multiple wake-ups, ignore it. 

Don’t put cereal in your baby’s bottle or be tempted to start solids too early

You must not introduce solid food too soon. Your baby must be at least older than 6 months before you do so as it can not only hamper the sleep cycle but can also adversely affect their health. 

Don’t rush in at the first whimper

Give your baby a chance to self-soothe. If it doesn’t work and your little one cannot go back to sleep on their own, only then interfere. 

Start the process of weaning the baby off nighttime feeds

Once your baby hits the four-month mark, you can start cutting down on the midnight feeds to ensure they are able to sleep on their own. However, always speak with your doctor first.

When to Visit the Doctor

Despite trying everything, if your little one wakes up too often or has trouble going to sleep, it is always essential to speak with your doctor. 

Conclusion

As a new parent, the early months can be tiring. But just be patient and try the above-mentioned tricks, and soon your little one will easily sleep through the night.

FAQs