Sleep Help for Babies (3–12 Months)

This is the most transformative — and often most exhausting — period for baby sleep. The 4-month sleep regression hits, wake windows lengthen, and babies begin developing the ability to self-settle. This is the key window for building lasting sleep habits.

Wake Windows by Age

• 3–4 months: 60–90 minutes awake between naps
• 5–6 months: 1.5–2.5 hours between naps
• 7–9 months: 2.5–3 hours between naps
• 10–12 months: 3–4 hours (transitioning to 2 naps)

The 4-Month Regression

At 4 months, sleep architecture permanently changes to match adult patterns — shorter, lighter cycles with more frequent rousing. Babies who rely on feeding or rocking to fall asleep will now wake between every cycle (every 45 min). The fix: drowsy but awake at every sleep onset.

Building a Routine (6–12 months)

• 7:00 PM — warm bath
• 7:15 PM — feeding (move this earlier over time)
• 7:30 PM — pyjamas + story
• 7:45 PM — white noise on, lights off, put down drowsy