"Sleeping through the night" doesn't have a single definition, and for babies it rarely means what it means for adults. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says that for babies, "sleeping through" doesn't mean eight uninterrupted hours; it simply means longer stretches of sleep as they grow. The NHS guide to helping your baby sleep says some babies may sleep for 5 to 8 hours or longer at night between 3 and 6 months, but not all.
Night waking is normal, especially in young babies who still need feeds, and many babies still wake in the second half of the first year. This guide covers what's typical at each age, why babies wake, when night feeds may no longer be needed, and safe ways to encourage longer stretches.
What does "sleeping through the night" actually mean?
Different sources use different yardsticks, which is why friends, forums and health services can seem to disagree:
- The NHS describes some 3- to 6-month-olds sleeping for 5 to 8 hours or longer at night.
- The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network says babies of 6 to 9 months can sleep for longer stretches of up to six hours or more at night.
- KidsHealth's guide for 4- to 7-month-olds says that by 6 months, most babies are sleeping at night for 9 hours or longer, with brief awakenings.
Even a baby who "sleeps through" wakes briefly. The AAP's guide to getting your baby to sleep says it's normal for a 6-month-old to wake during the night and go back to sleep after a few minutes. So when another parent says their baby sleeps through, it's worth asking what they mean.
When do babies start sleeping longer stretches?
There's a wide range of normal. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's guide to sleep patterns says some babies may start sleeping for longer periods from around 8 weeks old, and that many babies still wake at night between 6 and 12 months and need help to go back to sleep.
| Age | Typical nights | Night feeds |
|---|---|---|
| Birth–3 months | Waking every 1 to 3 hours | Several a night are normal |
| 3–6 months | Some sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer; not all | Usually fewer than before |
| 6–12 months | Longer stretches; many still wake for help | May no longer be needed for some |
| 12 months+ | Waking at night is still common | Depends on your child |
Sources for the table: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (waking after 1 to 2 sleep cycles in the first 3 months; waking common after 12 months), the NHS (5 to 8 hours at 3 to 6 months; night feeds at 6 to 12 months) and the Australian Breastfeeding Association (waking still normal beyond 12 months).
If your baby was born early, the AAP's guidance on corrected age suggests using corrected age during the first 2 years to judge when to expect developmental milestones. Many families find it helps to think about sleep the same way.
Why do babies wake at night?
Night waking is built into how babies grow. The main reasons are:
- Hunger. The NHS says newborns wake during the night because they need to be fed. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby explains that small tummies, fast brain growth and high energy needs mean babies need to feed often, day and night.
- Short sleep cycles. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says a newborn's sleep cycle is usually about 45 to 60 minutes, so they wake often. Adult-length cycles of about 90 minutes don't usually arrive until around 5 years. The AAP says babies don't have regular sleep cycles until about 4 months of age.
- A developing body clock. Newborn sleep is driven by hunger rather than light and dark. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says babies start to develop a circadian rhythm at around 4 to 6 weeks old.
- Comfort and temperature. The NHS notes that being too hot or too cold can disturb a baby's sleep.
- Change. The NHS says growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how your baby sleeps. New skills and separation anxiety often play a part too; see sleep regression ages.
Waking also has a protective side. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says breastfed babies wake more easily from active sleep than formula-fed babies, and that this is considered one of the reasons breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
When can babies stop having night feeds?
There's no fixed age. The NHS says that for some babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary. KidsHealth says most babies aged 4 to 7 months no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed, though some, particularly breastfed babies, may still wake. These sources differ, which is a good reason to go by your own baby.
Before cutting night feeds, it's worth talking with your doctor or pediatrician about how your baby is growing and feeding during the day, especially if your baby was premature, has had weight-gain concerns or is unwell. When you're ready, dropping night feeds and the night weaning plan walk through gentle ways to do it.
Do breastfed babies wake more at night?
Breastfed babies may wake more easily, but that isn't a sign that something is wrong. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says breastfed babies wake more easily from active sleep, and that there's no evidence breastfed and formula-fed babies differ in when they start sleeping through the night.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's guide to getting your baby to sleep says there's no evidence that breastfeeding a baby to sleep gives them "bad habits" or stops them settling in other ways as they mature. The AAP takes a different angle for babies from 4 months, suggesting you put them to bed drowsy rather than asleep. Both approaches are reasonable; see feeding or rocking to sleep and drowsy but awake.
How can you help your baby sleep longer at night?
You can't make a baby sleep through, but you can make longer stretches more likely.
- Make day and night feel different. The NHS suggests teaching your baby from the start that night-time is different from daytime: open the curtains and play during the day, and keep the lights low at night. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby adds that at night you can keep your voice quiet and put your baby down once they're fed and changed, without playing.
- Start a simple bedtime routine. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests you may feel ready to introduce one at around 4 to 6 months, such as a bath, story, feed, cuddle and lullaby. See bedtime routine.
- Pause before you go in. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests resisting the urge to rush in when your baby makes a sound, because they may settle on their own. If they start crying, go to them.
- Give plenty of awake, social time during the day. The AAP suggests keeping babies awake longer during the day, with talking, reading and play, to help them sleep for longer periods at night. This means more play, not fewer naps.
- Watch for tired signs. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's crying baby guide notes that missing your baby's sleep window can lead to overtiredness, which makes settling harder. See overtired baby.
- Consider a late feed. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests that waking your baby for a feed just before you go to bed might help you both sleep a bit longer. See dream feed.
- Keep sleep safe. Put your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface in their own crib or bassinet, with nothing soft or loose in it.
Safe sleep while you work on longer stretches
Safe to Sleep advises back sleeping for every sleep until 1 year, a firm, flat and level surface, no soft objects or toys, no inclined or weighted sleep products, a smoke- and vape-free home, and sharing a room for at least the first 6 months. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's safe sleep guide gives the Australian advice to room-share for the first 6 to 12 months and says to stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of being able to roll. It also warns against pillows or devices designed to keep a baby in one position.
What doesn't help babies sleep through the night?
Some popular tips don't work, and some aren't safe:
- Cereal in the bottle. The AAP's guide to starting solids says not to put baby cereal in a bottle because your baby could choke.
- Starting solids early. The AAP's healthy sleep habits page says starting solids before about 6 months will not help your baby sleep through the night, and may make sleep worse because of a tummy ache.
- A bottle in the crib. The same AAP page advises against putting your baby to bed with a bottle of juice, milk or formula, because it can cause tooth decay.
- Skipping naps. Keeping a baby awake all day to "save up" sleep tends to backfire, because an overtired baby is harder to settle.
- Unsafe shortcuts. Never put your baby on their tummy or side, or let them sleep on a sofa, armchair or inclined product, to try to get more sleep.
- Comparing. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says there's a wide range of normal and suggests not comparing your baby's sleep with other babies'.
When should you get help?
Most night waking is normal, but some signs need urgent care. The NHS guide to urgent help for under-5s is the basis for these tiers.
Call 911 now if your baby is struggling to breathe or working hard to breathe, has blue, gray, pale or blotchy skin or lips, is floppy, very hard to wake or can't be woken (including for feeds), has a seizure, or hasn't had a wet diaper in 12 hours. Also call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher.
Get medical advice today (doctor or your pediatrician's after-hours nurse line) if your baby isn't feeding, or seems unwell in a way you can't explain.
Talk to your doctor or pediatrician soon if your baby's waking worries you, you have concerns about feeding or weight, or the nights are wearing you down. If you're struggling, also reach out to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline on 1-833-852-6262 (call or text) or your pediatrician's office. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call 988 (call or text) or 911 now.
What to note in a sleep log
Note when your baby goes down, when they wake, whether they feed, and how long it takes them to resettle. A week of notes shows whether stretches are slowly lengthening, which is easy to miss when you're tired. It also helps your doctor or pediatrician give advice that fits your baby.