9 month old need anywhere from 12 to 16 hours of sleep per day. By now, most babies are sleeping through the night and taking two naps. Nap lengths can vary widely – some babies are marathon sleepers who will log two hours in one nap, while others are cat nappers who sleep for 30 minutes at a time. As always, it’s essential to help your baby practice healthy sleep habits and get the rest they need.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How much should a 9-month-old sleep?
- Should I put my 9-month-old baby on a sleep schedule?
- What a 9-month-old sleep schedule may look like
At 9 month old, your baby is (hopefully!) settled into a regular sleep routine. If they aren’t, this is a good time to introduce healthy sleep habits or reinforce old ones to help your child get more daytime and nighttime zzz’s.
Here’s everything you need to know about sleep at 9 month old.
How much should a 9 month old sleep?
Your 9-month-old needs about 14 hours of sleep per day, split between naps and nighttime sleep. By this point, naps usually get a bit easier, with most babies only needing two: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The length of these naps may still be pretty variable, though. Your baby might be a champion napper, dozing for two hours each time, a cat-napper who only nods off for 30 minutes to an hour, or a real wild card, taking one shorter nap and one longer one.
Just keep in mind that most 9 month old still need about 3 to 4 hours of daytime sleep, so if your baby doesn’t get that in two naps, they may still need three naps to avoid getting overtired.
In general, 9-month-olds have a “wake window” of about three to three and a half hours before needing to sleep again. Many parents appreciate this increased freedom: You can get out with your 9 month old and do fun activities without being as concerned about making it home for their next nap.
As far as nighttime sleep goes, most likely you’ve left the constant waking of early infancy behind. About 80 percent of babies are sleeping through the night by 9 month old. At this point, babies don’t need to wake up to eat during the night, because they get enough calories during the day. If your baby is still waking up at night, it might be out of habit – and night weaning may help.
Should I put my 9 month old baby on a sleep schedule?
Yes! Babies love predictability because the world around them is pretty confusing. When they know what to expect or what’s happening next, they tend to feel calmer and can follow your cues more easily.
If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night at this age, that’s not necessarily a cause for concern. Some babies just aren’t quite ready yet. However, repeated nighttime wakings at 9 month old or wakeups with persistent crying, clinginess, and difficulty falling back to sleep may be a sign that your baby either isn’t feeling well or doesn’t know how to put themself back to sleep.
Teething, illness, developmental milestones, and growth spurts can cause temporary disruptions to your baby’s nighttime sleep called sleep regressions. But if you can’t find a reason for their repeat wakings, they may need to practice self-soothing techniques.
If you’ve already sleep trained your baby, it could be time for a refresher: Sleep regressions can cause setbacks, and spending a few nights reinforcing your sleep training strategy can help get your child on track again.
If you haven’t sleep trained yet, consider finding a method that works for you and getting started. Some methods include cry it out, gentle, fading, and Ferber.
Babies and young children who can sleep independently and know how to soothe themself back to sleep at night tend to sleep better and longer than kids who rely on a parent’s help to sleep.
In addition to sleep training, you can encourage healthy sleep habits at 9 month old by:
- Establishing a consistent bedtime routine for your baby.
- Prioritizing their schedule so they can take naps around the same time each day.
- Putting them to bed awake, possibly with a pacifier, to encourage independent sleep.
- Avoiding sleep hazards like pillows, crib bumpers, and co-sleeping. While sharing a bed with your baby is unsafe, sharing a room (with them in a crib or play yard in your room) is encouraged for the first year.
What a 9-month-old sleep schedule may look like
Need help figuring out a schedule for your 9-month-old? Here’s an idea of when your baby might be sleeping and waking at this age (though keep in mind this can be adjusted to fit your family’s routine and your baby’s nap lengths).
- 6 a.m.: Wake for the day, breastfeed or have a bottle, and have breakfast.
- 9:30 a.m.: First nap.
- 10:30 a.m.: Wake, breastfeed or have a bottle, and play.
- 12 p.m.: Lunch.
- 2 p.m.: Second nap.
- 4 p.m.: Wake, breastfeed or have a bottle, and play.
- 6 p.m.: Dinner.
- 7 p.m.: Bedtime routine, then time for bed.
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