By 10 months, most babies are napping twice per day and sleeping for long, 10- to 11-hour stretches at night. If this isn’t happening, there are a few things you can do to help your baby sleep better. Stick to a consistent routine, try sleep training (or do a refresher), and don’t let long daytime naps sabotage nighttime sleep.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How much should a 10-month-old sleep?
- Should I put my 10-month-old baby on a sleep schedule?
- What a 10-month-old sleep schedule may look like
There’s a good chance that by 10 months, your baby is sleeping on a more predictable schedule. They may take a morning and afternoon nap, followed by a nice, long stretch of uninterrupted nighttime sleep.
If not, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot and help your baby get more sleep – here’s what to know.
How much should a 10-month-old sleep?
10-month-olds typically sleep about 14 hours a day, including two naps for one to two hours at a time. Your baby can stay awake for about three or four hours at a time during the day (this is called their wake window), so try to start each nap no more than four hours after they wake up from their last sleep. Some babies will have shorter wake windows before crankiness sets in, so watch your child for signs of tiredness in case they need to go down for a nap sooner.
If your baby now sleeps for 10 or 11 hours at night, it means they’ve figured out how to settle back to sleep all on their own – a sign that you’re raising a good sleeper.
Should I put my 10-month-old baby on a sleep schedule?
Short answer: Yes! Ten-month-old babies are capable of adjusting to a basic sleep schedule and will appreciate knowing what’s coming next in their day. If your baby hasn’t yet settled into a consistent sleep pattern, now might be a good time to try some type of sleep training. Sleep training can help your baby go to sleep more easily, sleep for longer periods at night, and keep more regular hours. Methods you can try include gentle, fading, cry it out, and Ferber.
We all wake up several times every night for brief periods of time. As adults, we put ourselves back to sleep each time – usually so quickly we don’t even remember it in the morning. If your baby hasn’t mastered this skill, they’ll wake up and cry during the night. But luckily, you can teach your baby to soothe themself to sleep.
Your sound sleeper may also suddenly become a night owl or have a hard time falling asleep at this age because they’re hard at work in other ways. At 10 months old, your baby is reaching major milestones in cognitive and motor development, like crawling, pulling up, making wordlike sounds, and learning to walk. Because your baby is refining and expanding on these skills, they may wake up at night to practice or be too excited to fall asleep.
If they can’t soothe themself back to sleep, they’ll end up crying for you. This can turn into a full-blown sleep regression, though with a consistent routine (and plenty of patience), you can help them get their sleep back on track.
Separation anxiety could also be the cause of your baby’s wake-up calls. This normal phase often starts at 8 or 9 months, and if your baby’s going through separation anxiety, waking up and finding you not there may cause some distress.
If your baby hasn’t settled into a restful sleep pattern, learn how you can establish good sleep habits that fit your family life.
To encourage healthy sleep habits in your 10-month-old, you can:
- Stick to a consistent and relaxing bedtime routine.
- Prioritize your baby’s schedule so they can take naps around the same time each day.
- Encourage your baby to fall asleep independently – that means putting them to bed when they’re drowsy, but before they’re fully asleep.
- Maintain a safe sleep environment – it’s still too early for them to sleep with a stuffy, blanket, or pillow.
What a 10-month-old sleep schedule may look like
At 10 months old, your baby may already be on a schedule that works for you both. But if not, this sample baby schedule can give you some guidance or how to structure your baby’s day:
- 6 a.m.: Wake, breastfeed or have a bottle, and play.
- 8 a.m.: Breakfast.
- 9:30 a.m.: First nap.
- 10:30 a.m.: Wake, breastfeed or have a bottle, and play.
- 12:30 p.m.: Lunch.
- 2:30 p.m.: Second nap.
- 4 p.m.: Wake, breastfeed or have a bottle, and play.
- 5:30 p.m.: Dinner.
- 7:30 p.m.: Bedtime routine, then time for bed.
Read more about
Add a Comment