7 month old , most babies are sleeping for longer stretches at night and taking two or three naps a day. Not all babies this age sleep through the night, but many will catch on to this much-anticipated milestone. You can help your baby get on a good sleep schedule by creating a consistent daytime and bedtime routine, making sure their needs are met during the day, and encouraging them to fall asleep on their own if they wake up at night.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How much should a 7 month old sleep?
- Should I put my 7 month old baby on a sleep schedule?
- What a 7 month old sleep schedule may look like
As babies get older, their sleep patterns progressively become more like those of a big kid or adult. This means they can sleep for longer stretches without waking and don’t need to nurse overnight.
Many babies are sleeping through the night by 7 month old, but not all have figured this milestone out yet. Creating a consistent daily routine and encouraging healthy sleep habits can help your little one settle into a sleep schedule and help you get more rest, too.
How much should a 7 month old sleep?
How much should a 7 month old sleep? Over a 24-hour period, you can expect them to sleep an average of 14 hours, give or take an hour or two.
Your little one’s average number of hours of sleep will include 10 to 11 hours of nighttime sleep and three to four hours of daytime sleep, usually broken up into two or three naps. Of course, your baby won’t sleep the exact same hours every day. Expect some variation.
Changes in your baby’s routine, illness, and developmental leaps can disrupt their sleep schedule unexpectedly. These temporary periods when your baby’s sleep takes a few steps backward are called sleep regressions.
Many babies develop a natural rhythm to their day easily, especially with a little encouragement from their caregivers. After sleeping, your baby will eat and play during their wake window (the time a baby spends awake between naps during the day). At 7 month old, the average wake window is between two and three hours long.
Should I put my 7 month old baby on a sleep schedule?
Putting your 7-month-old baby on a sleep schedule can help them thrive. Babies love consistency, and a daily routine serves as reminder to them that they’re in a secure and predictable environment.
A schedule is also an important part of teaching healthy sleep habits. The skills your baby learns now can serve them as they get older, setting them up to get good sleep that will support their physical and mental health throughout their life.
If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet, they may need a little encouragement to get the hang of it. This can be accomplished through sleep training. Here are a few ideas to help get your baby to sleep more at night:
- Start with a consistent bedtime routine. Beginning at the same time each evening, help your little one calm down with a set of rituals that work for you and your family. This could include a calming bath, a few minutes in the rocking chair, and a story. Avoid screens or noisy, light-up toys in the hour leading up to bed.
- Put your baby to bed while they’re still awake but drowsy. Each positive association your little one makes with their crib, including falling asleep while calm and alone, will make independent sleep much easier.
- Separate night and day. As much as possible, keep the house quiet, calm, and dark at bedtime and the opposite during the day. Open up the curtains or head outside to get some sun, play music, and chat with your baby throughout the day. This habit will teach your baby that night is for sleeping and day is for playing.
- Meet your baby’s needs when they’re awake. During the day, make sure they’re getting enough calories to keep them full overnight. Giving your baby plenty of attention and affection during their waking hours can help them feel more secure in their crib at night, too.
- If they wake up in the night, let your baby fuss for short periods of time before you go to them. Try five minutes at first, then check on them for a moment without picking them up before quietly exiting the room. As you feel more comfortable, you can extend their fussy periods for a few more minutes. With time, they may get the hang of soothing themself to sleep. (Or, they may need sleep training to learn this skill.)
- Stay consistent. If your baby is used to falling asleep in your arms or feeding throughout the night, sleep training won’t just click in a day or two. Decide on a routine and stick with it. Inconsistency can make sleep training harder, confusing your little one and prolonging fussiness.
What a 7 month old sleep schedule may look like
Since each baby is unique, their sleep schedule will be, too. Getting into a regular routine might take time, and not all babies will sleep through the night at this age, but here’s what a typical 7-month-old sleep schedule could look like:
- 7 a.m.: Wake for the day, breastfeed or bottle, then solid food for breakfast.
- 9:45 a.m.: Morning nap.
- 11:45 a.m.: Wake, breastfeed or bottle, and a solid-food lunch.
- 2:15 p.m.: Afternoon nap.
- 4:15 p.m.: Wake, breastfeed or bottle, and playtime.
- 5 p.m.: Solid food dinner.
- 6:15 p.m.: Start bedtime routine with bottle or breastfeeding and calming rituals.
- 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.: Bedtime.
- 10 p.m.: Dream feed, then right back to sleep.
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: May wake up, but doesn’t need to eat and is learning to settle back to sleep on their own.
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