By 6 months, most babies breastfeed or bottle feed about 6–8 times in 24 hours, often taking in the equivalent of 3-5 ounces per feed. Some babies drink more ounces per bottle, but not always—if your 6-month-old is content with a 4-ounce bottle, that is within the normal range.

Because intake varies, it is still important to feed every 2-3hrs or so in the daytime, and offer milk before solids. Babies often eat in patterns similar to adults, with a mix of larger meals and smaller snacks, so feeding length and volume can vary throughout the day. Under 12 months, we are still usually looking for 28-30 ounces in 24hrs (or if your baby’s norm has always been on the lower end, such as 20-24 ounces in 24hrs, that’s okay too ;) The idea is that you are prioritizing the baby’s total milk needs, before solids.

When breastfeeding, we are not counting ounces, however we are focusing on good, efficient feeds, the length of the feed, and avoiding distracted feedings. A breastfeeding mom may have about six feeds in the day, and 1-2 feeds at night, or no feeds at night! It depends on the baby’s needs and how efficiently they drink in the daytime.

Feeding Can Affect Sleep

Between 6 and 12 months, there are several nutritional-related changes that may lead to babies waking more frequently at night.

Baby may be Hungry

It is misleading to think that once babies reach 4, 6, or even 10 months that they do not need to eat as frequently at night. Babies are constantly growing and changing, and their nutritional needs are also changing. Every baby is completely different. If mom is breastfeeding, her supply is directly related to the amount of times that baby empties the breast. If the baby is waking and eating, they are doing their job of maintaining the milk supply. If however you feel that the baby is absolutely getting enough in the daytime, you can comfort the baby back to sleep during night wakings after 6 months. Before this time, it’s a bit tricky because of common growth spurts at 4-5 months.

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9-12 Month Sleep

Babies this age need an average of 11 hrs of sleep at night and about 3 hours of daytime sleep. You’ll have noticed the 3rd nap fade either already, or starting to dwindle. This occurs between 9-12mo. A lot of times the 2-nap transition happens closer to 12mo so don’t feel left out! Babies still on three naps usually have two 1-1.5hr naps, and then a much needed mini snooze at the end of the day.

From 9-11mo, babies on two naps are napping around 1.5hrs for Nap 1, and 1.5hrs for Nap 2. They may also sleep 1hr for Nap 1 and then 2hr for Nap 2.

At 12mo, they need just 2.5hr of day sleep, so Nap 1 is closer to 1hr in length and Nap 2 is closer to 1.5hrs.

We pay close, close attention to sleep windows at this age because children are more active, and can get tired out from play, even before we think it’s “time” for a nap! Some will even fight sleep, so it’s important to have wind down time in the bedroom (yes, babies will 100% mask sleepy cues in other areas of the house!).

You may see some signs of separation anxiety at this stage, and it increases when they are overtired. Peaks of separation anxiety are at 9mo and 12mo when babies learn to sit up and crawl, or learn to walk.

Day time sleep

At this stage, sleepy cues can be masked in bright, fun areas of the house, so dedicating 10 min of wind down time, plus another 5-10 min to help the baby to sleep is key to getting them to sleep at the right moment.

Here’s a sample nap routine:

• If time for a feed, offer a feeding in the living room (25-30min before they are meant to be asleep)

• Move into wind down time: Go into your child’s bedroom, draw the shades, turn on a dim lamp (15-20 min before meant to be asleep)

  • You might hang out on the floor for a little bit with them with a non-flashy toy.

  • Read a story or two (you might put on the sleep sack before books, or after)

  • One last thing (last song or prayer)

  • Turn on the sound machine, turn off the lights and say good night

• Help your child to sleep or coach them to sleep depending on what you are working on for that nap (5-10min before meant to be asleep)

Getting your child into the routine at the right time will help to avoid overfatigue, and it will also make for a better/longer nap!

If you are out of the house for the nap, just be sure the baby isn’t too distracted and that you have your timing correct. It’s okay for them to take a nap in the stroller/carrier/in your arms etc. Just make sure as you are on the move that the baby’s nap needs are a priority. You will be using motion to get them to sleep outside, 5-10 min before the wake window is ending.

Note: The first nap is a great time to practice the crib nap, but please don’t give up a nice morning walk on beautiful days. It’s just that if you are desperately working on crib sleep for naps in general, you’ll want to work on Nap 1 (and Nap 2 if you can) in the crib as morning time is the easiest time to start working on crib sleep (the baby has been there at night, recollects it’s a safe space, etc ;)

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Teething is one of those parenting milestones that can feel both exciting and exhausting. One day your baby is their cheerful self, and the next they’re drooling, clingy, and chewing on anything within reach. If you’ve ever wondered, “How long is this going to last?” you’re not alone.

Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface can make this chapter feel far less overwhelming — and even a little empowering.

How Long Does Teething Actually Last?

While teething spans roughly 5 to 30 months of age, it’s important to know this key fact: The painful part of teething typically lasts only 24–72 hours before the tooth erupts.

That means the season of teething is long, but the intense discomfort comes in short bursts. Once a tooth breaks through the gum, most babies experience noticeable relief.

Common Signs That a Tooth Is on the Way

Every baby shows teething differently, but these are the telltale clues:

• Swollen or tender gums

• Little white bumps where a tooth is about to emerge

• Reduced interest in solid foods

• A mild temperature, or face rash

• Disrupted sleep

• Fingers or toys constantly in the mouth

• More drooling than usual

• Irritability or clinginess

• More biting during nursing or bottle feeding

• Less appetite

These signs may ebb and flow, which is why teething can sometimes feel like a guessing game.

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The Most Common Reasons For Early Rising

In many families, early rising can feel unsettling and exhausting. What’s an early waking? Anything before 6am. Let’s explore the most common roots of early rising, with curiosity and compassion for your child’s developing rhythm.

Stretching the Last Wake Window Too Far

This one surprises many parents. When a child becomes overtired, their nervous system struggles to fully settle. Instead of drifting easily into deep, restorative sleep, they may take longer to fall asleep, wake more often overnight, and greet the day far too early.

Think of sleep like digestion—when we overdo it, the system becomes agitated. Gently honoring your child’s appropriate wake window, especially before bedtime, helps calm the body and mind so rest can arrive more smoothly.

The Ripple Effect of Short or Missed Naps

It feels counter-intuitive, but short naps or skipped naps often lead to more night wakings and earlier mornings. Daytime sleep nourishes nighttime sleep.

When naps are brief or end very early in the day, the body doesn’t receive enough rest to carry it through the night. Supporting fuller, more restorative naps creates balance—and balance invites deeper sleep.

A Bedtime That’s Too Late

Many parents are surprised to learn that a child’s natural bedtime often falls between 7:00–8:00pm. When bedtime drifts too late, the nervous system can become overstimulated, leading to disrupted nights, early waking, and sometimes even night terrors.

Gently experimenting with an earlier bedtime can realign your child’s internal clock and support a longer, more settled morning sleep.

*Some babies do well with a later bedtime, we just want to be sure they can have later wake times every morning. If they don’t, we know that bedtime is too late.

Morning Light Arriving Too Soon

Light is a powerful teacher for the body. If your child’s room fills with morning sunlight, even very early, their circadian rhythm may interpret this as time to wake.

Even if you’re unsure this is the cause, room-darkening curtains or shades are a simple, supportive step. Darkness in the early morning hours helps signal the body to remain at rest.

Hunger and Nighttime Feeding Transitions

Take a moment to review your baby’s daytime feeds to ensure they’re receiving enough nourishment throughout the day. When nighttime feeds are gently reduced, temporary early rising is very common—and very normal.

If your baby is used to receiving calories at night, their body needs time to adjust to gentle night weaning. You may notice early rising return briefly each time a feed is reduced. This doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It simply means their system is learning a new rhythm.

If you’ve been bed-sharing for weeks and months, even more patience is needed here. This transition asks a lot of your baby—and of you.

A Gentle Note on Weaning Night Feeds

Weaning nighttime feeds is a big process for a baby. Even when done slowly and lovingly, it takes time for their nervous system to learn that sleep can continue without feeding.

During this phase, babies may wake early and feel harder to settle back to sleep until the normal wake up time. We still gently hold the boundary of the timing of the first feed of the day, as this teaches their body that it can rest until then. The same applies to Nap 1 timing—we wait til the suggested time to nap, so as not to reinforce early rising by napping too soon after waking.

Some babies naturally need a bit less sleep, but this can only be determined after consistency and time—usually a couple of weeks with the same plan. Each change deserves at least a full week, sometimes two, for the body to integrate.

Patience here is not passive—it is deeply supportive.

Understanding Early vs. Early-ish

Anything before 6:00am is considered a true early rise. After 6:00am may still feel early, but is often linked to illness, ongoing night-feed weaning, short naps or an overly long end-of-day wake window.

Early rising asks for steadiness and trust as you work your new rhythm.

Here’s what this might look like:

If your baby’s rhythm is 7:00pm–6:30am:

• Waking before 6:00am and unable to resettle = early rising

• Keep the room dark and gently soothe your baby or your coach baby back to sleep until at least 6:00am

• If possible, continue soothing (or coaching) until 6:30am, which is the goal wake time

• Do not offer the first feed until 6:30am; open the shades first and feed with light in the room.

If your baby wakes content and chatty, resting quietly in their crib, allow them that space. Rest is still rest. Only intervene early (between 6:00–6:30am) if they are distressed.

On early-rise days, avoid naps that are too early, even though your baby may feel tired. Early naps and early feeds reinforce the early waking cycle.

You are not alone in this. Many families are gently working through early rising and the layers beneath it. With consistency, patience, and trust in your child’s innate wisdom, the rhythm does settle.

Slow, steady, and kind—to your baby and to yourself.

Why your one-year-old’s sleep feels messy—and how to get through it

If your one-ish year old is still waking at night, please hear this first: you are not alone. In fact, you’re in extremely popular company. Sleep interruptions around the 12-month mark are incredibly common. Why? Because your “baby” suddenly isn’t so baby-like anymore. They’re bursting with new skills, new feelings, and a whole new sense of independence.

You might be thinking, Wait, didn’t we just survive the 8–10 month progression?
Or maybe you’re feeling the opposite—Nothing has changed at all!

Both are totally normal. Some babies breeze through sleep progressions, others feel them deeply, and some skip phases altogether. There is a huge spectrum of normal when it comes to baby sleep.

Let’s walk through what’s happening at this age, what signs to look for, and how to gently support your little one (and yourself!) through it.

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Between eight and ten months, babies go through massive developmental shifts. With so much happening at once, it would be surprising not to see sleep impacted.

During this window, babies may be:

• Teething

• Eating more solids

• Learning to pull to stand, crawl, and cruise

• Babbling and communicating more

• Developing separation anxiety

• Understanding object permanence

• Attending more outings and baby classes

• Experiencing new environments and stimulation
  

All of this growth is exciting — and exhausting — for their little bodies and brains.

Why the Fussiness?

Fussiness at this age can stem from several sources:

• Sleep deprivation (short naps, teething pain, or nap transitions)

• Separation anxiety

• Object permanence — knowing you still exist even when they can’t see you

That last piece is a big one: once your baby truly knows you’re still somewhere when you leave the room, it becomes harder to relax when you’re out of sight. And while this can be tough in the moment, it’s also a sign of something beautiful:

Your baby feels deeply connected to you. You are their safest place.

This Stage Builds Trust

This age is foundational for developing a secure attachment. Your consistency teaches your baby:

• You come back.

• They can rely on you.

• They are safe.
  

This sense of security lays the groundwork for confidence, independence, and healthy self-esteem later on.

Supporting Sleep During the Progression

During developmental leaps, focus on the two biggest supports:

1. Protect naps

Good daytime sleep helps prevent overtiredness — one of the biggest sleep disruptors.

2. Prioritize good feeds

Well-fed babies handle big developmental leaps with more ease.

Nap Routine Tip

When prepping for naps:

1. Enter the room with normal lighting.

2. Spend 10–15 minutes winding down together.

3. Then take 5–10 minutes to soothe your baby to sleep or allow 5–10 minutes for independent settling if that’s the stage you’re working on.
   

If You’re Nap Coaching

It’s perfectly okay to skip “nap coaching” (this is when you place the baby into the crib awake and have them fall to sleep on their own) the last nap of the day and instead choose the easiest way to get them to sleep:

• stroller

• baby carrier

• car ride

Then you can assure baby gets enough daytime sleep, and bedtime isn’t a battle. As always, keep an eye on wake windows to avoid overfatigue.

Tips to Thrive Through This Stage

This progression can last a few months. Some families experience minimal disruption; others feel every bump. Neither situation reflects your parenting — it just reflects your baby’s unique temperament and timing.

1. Fill Your Cup First

“You cannot fill from an empty cup.”
Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s an essential part of responsive, attuned parenting.

• Make a self-care plan

• Share it with your partner or support team

• Ask for help

• Protect time for rest, nourishment, or small moments of joy

Your wellness directly supports your baby’s wellbeing.

2. Prioritize Quality Connection Time

Aim for two 15-minute sessions of child-led play each day. This strengthens attachment and helps babies feel secure.

Try playful games like:

• peek-a-boo

• simple hide-and-seek (duck behind a doorway and let them “find” you)

• a little treasure hunt (hide a favorite toy while they watch)
  

3. Practice Safe, Brief Separations

This helps your baby build confidence without feeling overwhelmed.

• Use the phrase, “I’ll be right back!”

• Pop out of sight for a moment

• Return with warmth and enthusiasm

Every tiny reunion helps strengthen trust.

Never sneak away.
If you want your child to trust you, consistency and honesty matter — even at this age.

4. Stay Responsive and Consistent

Your baby is learning new emotional skills right alongside new physical ones. Support them with calm, patient presence as they navigate all this change.

Some of the fussiness during this phase is simply sleep deprivation, but it can also stem from the intensity of their developmental growth. Learning new skills, processing new information, and expanding awareness can feel overwhelming for a tiny nervous system. And of course, when life feels big and unfamiliar, your baby wants their safe person close — that’s you.

As exhausting as it can be (especially when you can’t get a break), there’s a beautiful reframe here: your baby seeks you because you’ve built an incredible bond. You’re their comfort, their safety, and their home — and that’s something to be proud of.

A Growth Spurt, Too

There’s also a growth spurt around six months, which often overlaps with this sleep progression. Babies at this age may feed constantly — not only for nutrition, but also because feeding is soothing, grounding, and familiar. If you’re nursing and you hear a consistent suck–suck–swallow pattern, trust that your baby is actively feeding and genuinely needs it. Babies this age do not overeat.

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Any major change in a baby’s life can affect how they sleep. One of the most significant transitions for a baby is when their primary caregiver returns to work. From the baby’s perspective, their entire world is shifting—everything familiar and dependable is changing.

As you move through this transition, there are meaningful ways you can prepare and support your child to make the adjustment smoother.

Preparing for the Transition Back to Work

Going back to work is a big shift for both parent and baby. Here are some key ways to ease the transition:

1. Reflect on your feelings. Babies are highly attuned to their parent’s emotions. Take time to process your own feelings and feel confident about your childcare choice—your calm confidence will reassure your baby.

2. Introduce new caregivers gradually. If possible, have a nanny start early to observe routines and spend time with you and your baby together. Let your baby see you smiling, talking, and connecting with the new caregiver before they begin direct interaction.

3. Ease into daycare. Ask if you can visit with your baby before their official start. This helps them see caregivers as part of their “attachment village” and reduces stress.

4. Plan for feeding. If breastfeeding, decide whether to pump, provide stored milk, or transition to an alternative (with guidance from your pediatrician). Practice with bottles, open cups, or sippy cups before the change.

5. Maintain strong bonds. Don’t worry about practicing daycare’s nap routines at home. What matters most is keeping your bond strong through snuggles, nursing (if applicable), and emotional availability at sleep times. Caregivers will develop their own soothing methods.

6. Lean on your support system. Babies may wake more at night during the transition. Ask your partner or family for help with night care or household tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed.

7. Offer comfort items. Introduce a lovey or familiar object that carries your scent. Sending along sheets, a white noise machine, or other familiar items can also make daycare naps easier.

Remember During the Transition

• Show confidence. Get to know caregivers and let your baby see you trust them.

• Keep routines steady. Arrive home, enjoy lots of snuggles and fresh air, and work with your regular bedtime routine.

• Prioritize connection. Keep weekends and evenings simple with snuggles, play, or nursing (if applicable).

• Bridge goodbyes. Always say goodbye, then focus on the next connection (“I can’t wait to read stories tonight”). For a young baby, this might look like a big kiss after saying goodbye, then whispering that you will see them soon.

• Expect emotions. Fussiness at pickup is normal—your child feels safe releasing emotions with you.

• Delegate tasks. Outsource meals or chores so you have more time to reconnect.

• Be present. Put down your phone; practice mindful, focused time with your child.

• Follow their lead in play. Let older children guide short, daily play sessions to fill their “connection bucket”.

• Adjust expectations. Challenging behaviors at daycare for older children (crying, hitting, biting) are normal as they are still learning self-regulation. Talk to your child’s caretaker about compassionate ways they are managing these behaviors.

Returning to work is a big change for both parent and baby. Babies may show more clinginess, fussiness, or sleep disruptions—it’s their way of expressing that things feel different. You can ease the transition by staying calm, connected, and consistent.

6-8 Month Sleep

Babies this age need an average of 11.5hrs of sleep at night and 3.5 hours maximum daytime sleep (spread over three naps).

Your 6-8mo baby might nap 3hrs total in the day, with an 11.5-12hr night. Or they may sleep 3.5hrs in the day with an 11-11.5hr at night. We need to see what they can do.

Wake windows are 2-2.5hrs. Nap 1 is ideally 60-90min long. Nap 2 is 60-120min long. And Nap 3 is 30-60min. You’ll find some sample flexible nap schedules below.

You’ll usually see the 3rd nap fade between 9-12 mo- it is not often that I see a 6-8mo baby take only 2 naps- this only happens if they can take a 1.5hr nap in the morning and a 1.5/2hr nap in the afternoon- and many cannot achieve this at 6-8mo). All babies take the time they need with the 3-2 nap transition. We never like to force it too soon.

Also note that your baby might sleep longer at night, and less in the day. An example of this is a baby who sleeps 12hrs at night and 2.5-3hrs in the day.

Babies are learning to roll over from back to front and front to back, sit up, maybe even stand while holding on to something. Many can scoot or crawl, and the first teeth are coming through- ouch!

You may see some signs of separation anxiety, and it increases when they are overtired. They may resist being left alone in their crib at night, and may start waking up at night more often to see you.

With the tips in this section, you are going to work on nighttime security, develop a sleep friendly schedule, and introduce an appropriate wind-down before all sleeps. Bedtime can be relaxing and enjoyable as you share quiet songs, and create family rituals.

Getting ready to take a nap

At this stage, sleepy cues can be masked in bright, fun areas of the house, so dedicating 10 min of wind down time, plus another 5-10 min to help the baby to sleep is key to getting them to sleep at the right moment.

Here’s a sample nap routine:

• If time for a feed, offer a feeding in the living room (25-30min before they are meant to be asleep)

• Move into wind down time: Go into your child’s bedroom, draw the shades, turn on a dim lamp (15-20 min before meant to be asleep)

  • You might hang out on the floor for a little bit with them with a non-flashy toy.

  • Read a story or two (you might put on the sleep sack before books, or after)

  • One last thing (last song or prayer)

  • Turn on the sound machine, turn off the lights and say good night

• Help your child to sleep or coach them to sleep depending on what you are working on for that nap (5-10min before meant to be asleep)

Getting your child into the routine at the right time will help to avoid overfatigue, and it will also make for a better/longer nap!

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What’s got to do with sleep?

There are so many reasons why a child may not be sleeping. It is your special role as your child’s parent to have a strong attachment to your child, connect with their huge emotional reality and needs, and comfort them when they need you. Sleep is the final common pathway to many, many factors:

• The birth mom’s healing and maternal mental health

• The partner’s experience of new parenting

• How the parents are getting along

• How you both were raised/parented

• How long the sleep habits have already been happening

• How high your expectations are for a child this young

• Any possible sensory processing culprits

• The presence of a supportive village

• Food sensitivities and/or daytime diet

• Environmental factors

• Reflux or other medical issues

• The stress of going back to work

• Low ferritin levels (stores drop after 6mo if not getting enough iron)

The sleep environment

What’s sleep hygiene? It’s the factors that support your baby in falling to sleep and staying asleep - the environment, any surroundings, the events leading up to sleep, and any possible distractions. Think about anything inside (or outside) their bedroom that could be a distraction or too stimulating. Is it dark enough in the room during naps and at bedtime? Does the dog bark all day? You might have been told your baby will get used to the dog or the doorbell- mmm maybe not true.

Sleep improves when we pay attention to sleepy cues, wake windows and sleep hygiene. In addition, your baby is who your baby is, so no need to compare them to the neighbor’s baby. Their temperament is unique. Get to know your baby, accept where they are, and at the same time work with the tips here to support better sleep as best you can.

A tranquil sleep environment in your home has:

• soft colors in the nursery

• a dimmer light for reading a book and feeding

• room darkening shades

• a room temp 68-72*

• a white noise machine

As babies grow, they do well with consistency in their sleep surroundings. This means that having it sometimes bright and other times very dark in the bedroom as you hold them to sleep might be confusing and stimulating. When things are familiar, there is less stress for everyone. As they wake through partial arousals during a nap or at night, they will sense the familiar environment and that might translate to them going back to sleep on their own or that they go back to sleep again in your arms more easily. Both ways of getting back to sleep are normal.

The lovey

Introducing a lovey helps your child cope with nighttime separation, making them feel safe and connected to a sleepy time friend. You might choose one for them or take them to the store to pick one out- run any concerns by your pediatrician. Let them hold it during their sleep routine while you read a book. Wedge it between you while you feed during the sleep routine. Tuck it in their arms while they nap, and when they wake in the night. Incorporate the lovey with a game like peekaboo when you are getting ready for books. It can take a couple of weeks for your child to show interest- but don’t give up if you’d like for your child to have a little friend to help keep them cozy and happy in their bed.

Talk to your Pediatrician about introducing a lovey before 12mo of age.

Balancing routine with flexibility

Children need regular nap times, a regular bedtime, and regular mealtimes. Their bodies need the routine to regulate day and night hormone cycles, and to keep them in sync with their internal clocks. Their little hearts and minds need certainty and predictability to feel secure. But we also believe in some flexibility. The flexible sample schedule below is a really good guideline. It allows you to work with appropriate wake windows, yet avoids you going too far off track.

You may also have to play with the schedule a bit to accommodate the needs of your other children. Sleep times are averages. Some kids sleep more, some sleep less, but the variations are a lot less than many parents think. If your child is napping and sleeping poorly, chances are you are underestimating how much sleep they need.

Watch their daytime behavior. If your child is easy and content, they are probably on a pretty good schedule. If they are fussy and demanding, they may need longer naps, an earlier bedtime, a later wake-up time—or all of the above.

The clock and the cues

Children will go to sleep easier and sleep longer, when they go down at the right time. This means that you catch them before they get overtired.

Remember many children mask their drowsy cues, so you are mostly watching the clock. And remember you’ll see sleepy cues once the routine has begun most times.

As a general rule, a child is becoming drowsy when:

• there is decreased activity and slower motion

• they are less vocal

• their sucking gets weaker when feeding

• they get quieter and calmer

• they appear uninterested in their surroundings

• there’s a glazed look in their eyes

• they are starting to yawn or thumb suck

• they ask to nurse, feed, or for a paci

• redness around eyes or eyebrows

• rooting and sucking on fists or fingers

• frowning or grimacing face

• grunting noises or breathing changes

• staring off into space

• complaining noises

• avoiding eye contact

• jittery or jerky movements

• pulling ears or hair

• clingy or just more cuddly

• stretching or arching back

• nuzzling face and rubbing face into your shoulder

• changing in behavior from an alert happy state

Baby is becoming overtired when they are:

• already rubbing their eyes

• yawning

• irritable and fussing

• cranky and fussy, even after the feeding

• scratching face or head more

• giddy, overactive, or busy

• needing vestibular stimulation, rocking or bouncing more

• irritable and cranky

• unsettled and frantically feeding or searching for support to feel better

• harder to soothe

• crying

Again, children tend to mask their sleepy cues when in very distracting and over-stimulating environments. So don’t assume they are not going to nap because they seem happily playing, or because you went out to brunch.

When going out for a while, plan their naps around your outings. Babies want to sleep. Bring the baby carrier along, plan for stroller and car rides at the start of a nap, and know you can prioritize your baby’s sleep and still have a nice time out and about.

Tips for Success

Devote time to sleep. You'll be scheduling tasks, errands & activities around your baby’s naps. You can still go out and enjoy, but remember that a happy baby is a well rested baby.

Get help. Does it feel overwhelming? You were not meant to do it all alone, all the time. Ask a friend, your partner, or another caregiver to support you at home as needed, and even on-the-go if possible!

Babies thrive on predictability. A baby will become fussy, overtired, and overstimulated when a wake window is too long, the nap was too short, and the bedtime is too late, etc. Stay predictable with the consistent 11.5hr average night, predictable nap times (examples coming soon), and you will see results.

Reading cues is key. If the baby shows signs of sleepiness earlier than you planned, follow their lead. They go through growth spurts and sometimes will just need to go down sooner, or sleep longer.

Make sure there’s a lot of daytime floor time. Babies need to be on the floor more so than a fancy baby seat. The more they are on the floor moving about in the daytime, the more they are “in” their bodies, exploring the way their bodies work. This way when they wake in the night, they may not cry out so soon if they roll over and suddenly awaken- they are instead confident and may not need your help to get back to sleep.

Feed your baby in a quiet, dim place to avoid feeding distractions. Avoid phone calls, TV, etc. Many babies can move down to 0-2 nighttime feeds at this stage, but they need to be feeding well in the daytime.

Teach your baby pacifier mastery. It’s important to stop the paci-popping at this stage. We want the baby to be able to find a paci on their own and place it into their mouth with ease- so you don’t need to do this all night long anymore ;-)

How To Support Your 4 Month + Baby In The Daytime With Pacifier Mastery

During the day, make sure the baby is getting an opportunity to grab the pacifier on their own and is practicing placing it in their mouth.

One scenario is that they are on the floor at tummy time. You can place a pacifier in front of them on the floor mat. If they struggle to reach it, you can push it closer to them. If they still struggle to grab it:

• Place your hand gently over their hand

• Move their hand slowly to help them to reach it and grab it

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What are the Baby Steps?

• Acclimating to the Crib*

• Transferring Baby to the Crib with More Ease

• Knowing Sleepy Cues vs Overtired Cues to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

• Filling the Daytime Sleep Tank to Allow for Easier Bedtime*

• Having a Consistent Bedtime Routine

• Moving from Feeding to Sleep to Holding to Sleep

• Reducing Nighttime Feeds*

• Supporting your Baby During Night Wakings*

In this article I will discuss the four topics above (*) that are not mentioned in previous articles. Follow the links above to access those articles.

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My Baby Wakes Bothered On Their Tummy

Some babies are not happy when they wake up on their tummy in the middle of the night or during a nap. They are sleepy and groggy and might forget that they can roll over again to their side or back, and/or they don’t know yet that a tummy can be a cozy place to be.

Once the doctor has given the green light for belly sleep, you may find that your baby needs your help to get cozy on their tummy, and/or some support rolling again to their back. Remember this won’t last forever- stay patient and help your baby adjust either way.

At night, sometimes a baby can find their way to their back if we give them a moment, but if you know they are struggling, here’s what to do:

• Go over to your baby and instead of flipping them over right away and super quickly, begin to slowly start the work of helping them to roll over to their back, with the intention of them doing MOST and the rest of the work. IF they really are stuck in a strange way in the corner of the crib, slide them back to the center of the crib first.

• Once your baby is on their back again, hopefully with some shh-ing & your hand on heart they can calmly fall asleep again. If that’s not the case, pick them up and walk them simply to sleep just like you did at bedtime.

• Offer lots of opportunities for daytime practice! Babies need lots of floor time in the day to practice the skills that we expect them to have in the night.

• Remember as they grow and mature, this will get easier for them at night. They are tired! And it can feel scary for them to feel stuck.

• If you’ve seen them flip themselves back over before, give them a moment to do it on their own, but it’s normal for even the intermediate level rollers to need some help at night when they are this young.

• Remember your baby learns independence at bedtime to start, so until you work on sleep coaching at bedtime, please know it’s normal to help them back to sleep for night wakings, in the same way you did at bedtime (holding/walking). So many parents come to me wishing their babies would fall back to sleep on their own at night, and it’s just not to be expected with most babies who are helped to sleep at bedtime.

When can my baby self soothe?

Many parents want to know when their baby can self soothe. Science shows us that babies are more able to handle the fuss that comes along with independent sleep coaching, closer to 6 months of age. The research that we have on teaching independent sleep under 6 months tells us that if they learn this skill then, it can wear off quickly. The “Why’s” on this are not clear but we can take a very educated guess and connect it to the INCREDIBLE neurological development happening before 6 months. And from experience I have too many families who come to me for the first time at 3-5 months telling me their baby could fall asleep in the SNOO “on their own” or in a regular bassinet on their own (sleep sack or swaddle) and now suddenly the baby is crying and needs lots of support and parents are now holding to sleep more often than before. There is nothing abnormal about this shift because the baby is changing and the brain is on fire, and the baby just won’t have it! I tell these parents to work on sleep shaping skills for now and to lean into independent sleep closer to 5/6mo. It’s normal, I repeat, it is normal.

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Should is a strong wrong. You are the parent- let your own wisdom guide you, it’s very natural to feed a baby to sleep.

You might however feel ready to stop feeding your baby to sleep because you

• are the only person who can get (feed) the baby to sleep for bedtime and/or naps

• or your nights are very challenging, with the baby only being soothed on the breast, even though they latch just 30 seconds before falling back to sleep.

• or your family might be ready for independent sleep coaching, so it’s time to work on the baby step of holding to sleep, in preparation for that upcoming coaching work.

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What’s the 4 month sleep regression?

This is often one of the trickiest times for parents and one of the most common times that parents will reach out for sleep support. You’re not alone.

The cause of this (what I like to call a progression) is the combination of four changes:

1. It may have to do with supply -If you are breastfeeding, and your baby has been going much longer stretches at night up until this point, your supply can be impacted. Before the 6-8 week mark your supply was hormonally driven (meaning it does not matter how many times your baby empties the breast, your supply will remain the same). Around the 6-8 week mark, if your baby doesn't empty the breast for a long period of time, your supply may be impacted and this can show up around the 3-4 month mark. Babies will then do their job of being up at night to feed in order to increase your supply. In other words, they are steering the milk production train! This is brilliant for your body and baby, but also confusing and tiresome for parents.

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When do I stop swaddling?

There isn’t a universal time for ditching the swaddle; instead, you’ll want to stop swaddling when it’s developmentally appropriate for your baby. You’ll stop swaddling if your baby rolls from back to tummy, or you have a gut instinct they are about to start rolling from back to tummy. This typically happens anywhere between 3-5 months of age.

You can also stop swaddling if it’s not working for you anymore (you are getting up every twenty minutes to redo the swaddle), or your little one is fighting against it and trying to break free, then it might be time to move on to some new strategies.

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Temperament & Sleep: Understanding Your Baby’s Unique Needs (4–5 Months and Beyond)

By around 4–5 months, signs of your baby’s unique temperament begin to emerge more clearly. Understanding temperament can help you better support your baby’s sleep and respond with more empathy and effectiveness.

1. Energy Level

• High: Always on the move, short sleep windows, may resist feedings, hates to miss out.

  • Sleep Tips:

    • Establish consistent bedtime/naptime routines.

    • Offer physical and mental stimulation during the day.

    • If feeding is difficult during the day, offer small, frequent feeds to reduce night wakings.

• Low: Enjoys sitting quietly, happy to observe.

  • Sleep Tips: Often easier to wind down. Gentle pacing of the day works well.

2. Sensitivity

• High: Easily disturbed by stimuli—wet diapers, lights, sounds, smells, temperature shifts; highly in tune with caregiver emotions.

  • Sleep Tips:

    • Keep sleep space quiet, dark, and calm.

    • Regulate your own stress before bed.

    • Offer extra cuddles and soothing; slow down the bedtime routine.

    • Consider consulting an OT if sensory issues persist.

• Low: Less bothered by physical sensations and disruptions.

  • Sleep Tips: Teething and environment changes minimally affect sleep

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Month 5 development

At five months old, big shifts are still happening in your baby’s brain. Here are some of the developmental milestones you can look out for this month:

• Rolls over from front to back

• Sits with support. Your baby may even start pushing up to a sitting position on their own later on this month.

• Bears weight on legs

• Reaches for and holds a rattle

• Holds up head and chest on their own

• Pushes to elbows from stomach

• Actively attempts to reach objects that they spot

• Follows objects with eyes

• Chews on their hands

• Smiles at people and recognizes familiar faces

• Enjoys playing

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Month 4 Development

At the 4 month mark there are big shifts happening. New skills are emerging, and big changes are happening in the brain:

• There is a huge burst in cognitive awareness and increase in motor development

• Babies are learning to roll over, back to front, and front to back

• Depth perception is evolving: they are learning to grasp things with their hands and to bring things to their mouth.

• Babies are pushing up on their elbows, holding their head up in tummy time, kicking and pushing their feet

• They start babbling, laughing and cooing

• They are Little Explorers, using their hands to explore toys

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