Baby sleep: one of THE MOST daunting topics as a new parent. The internet is full of different opinions, studies, and stories. Ultimately, let’s lay out the facts and you can make the choice that’s best for you and your family.

When Do Babies Start Sleeping Through the Night?

This article explores sleep patterns by age, factors affecting infant sleep, and practical tips to encourage better rest for your baby, ultimately setting realistic expectations for sleeping through the night. It’s important for babies but also YOU as the parent or caregiver to get good sleep so you can be safe and effective during the day. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting sleep training around 4 months of age–but the best age to start depends on the baby’s development, your situation, and your family’s needs.

Babies don’t NEED to sleep through the night by a certain age and every baby is different. I think most parents would agree though the sooner the better. However, there are some things to be mindful of. First, your breastfed baby should still be woken up for feedings every 2-3 hours and every 3-4 if formula fed–at least for the first couple weeks of life. Once your pediatrician gives the ok based on their weight gain and development, then you can let your baby go longer stretches without waking them (if they’re sleeping longer than those times between feedings). 

You can, however, from day 1 of bringing baby home, establish a routine! Babies thrive on a routine and schedule! I also work in the NICU quite often and all the babies there are on a feeding schedule. It can be very beneficial for the caregiver because you know baby will eat and nap at the same times every day, giving you some consistency and help when planning your day. I teach in my baby sleep course that you can follow these routines day one based on baby’s developmental age (making sure their wake windows and feeding times are appropriate based on age and development). And this can actually lead to BETTER sleep at night, even that early on. 

—

What Does “Sleeping Through the Night” Mean?

In the context of infants, “sleeping through the night” typically refers to a baby sleeping for an uninterrupted stretch of six to eight hours. While this might not seem like a full night’s sleep to adults, it represents a significant milestone in an infant’s sleep development. It’s important to understand that achieving this milestone depends on several factors, including the baby’s age, feeding schedule, and developmental stages.-

Factors That Influence When Babies Sleep Through the Night

Several factors can affect a baby’s ability to sleep through the night. Understanding these can help parents create an environment conducive to better sleep:

1. Feeding Method

Breastfed babies often wake more frequently than formula-fed babies because breast milk is digested faster. This is a natural part of breastfeeding and not necessarily a sign of poor sleep habits.

2. Developmental Milestones

Events like learning to roll over, crawl, or pull up to stand can temporarily disrupt sleep. Babies may practice these new skills during the night, even if it means waking up.

3. Sleep Environment

A quiet, dark, and comfortable sleep environment is crucial. Room temperature, noise levels, and lighting all play a role in promoting restful sleep. Room temperatures of 68-72 degrees F is recommended per the AAP. I always recommend consistent sound machine noise (brown, green, or white noise–no ocean waves as this is an inconsistent sound). The AAP also supports keeping those sound machines at a noise level of 50 decibels or less (there are apps you can get to test the levels). All video monitors, sound machines, or electronics should be kept a safe distance from baby. 

4. Parental Response to Night Wakings

How parents respond to their baby’s nighttime waking can influence sleep patterns. Teaching self-soothing techniques early can help babies learn to return to sleep independently. In my baby sleep course, I talk about waiting at least a couple minutes into baby fussing before going in the room. Sometimes your baby can be fussing or crying and isn’t actually AWAKE awake, they’re just slightly aroused or irritable and going in the room can actually wake them further. So if you are comfortable with it, I suggest just waiting a little bit of time to see if they can get themselves situated in bed, find the spot they’re comfy, or self soothe and go back to sleep. It can be normal for them to grunt or cry just because they’re passing gas, which will resolve on its own without needing soothing from the parent. If you aren’t even comfortable with them crying at all, I support and understand that. You can still follow the consistent routines during the day, follow the eat/play/sleep/repeat method, and still do supported comfort at night with no crying that can still lead to potentially longer and better sleep at night. 

5. Health and Wellness

Conditions like colic, reflux, or food intolerances can interfere with sleep. Consulting a pediatrician or lactation consultant can help address these issues.

Tips to Encourage Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Here are some practical tips to support your baby’s journey to sleeping through the night:

1. Establish a Bedtime Routine

Consistent routines signal to your baby that it’s time to wind down. Activities like a warm bath, reading a story, or gentle rocking can create a relaxing pre-sleep ritual. It’s a signal to your baby that “now is the time we go to sleep.” Good sleep during the day begats good sleep at night. Even if you have to do some contact, baby carrier, or on-the-go car seat naps during the day, do not feel guilty about it! That’s just real life. 

2. Encourage Day-Night Awareness

Expose your baby to natural light during the day and keep the environment dim at night. This helps regulate their internal clock and encourages nighttime sleep.

3. Monitor Nap Lengths and Timing

Ensure daytime naps are age-appropriate in length. In my baby sleep course I have printable PDFs with wake windows and sample schedules based on age. You can also look up wake windows online if you want a rough idea of how long this should be based on their age. Avoid letting your baby nap too late in the day, as this can interfere with nighttime sleep.

4. Limit Stimuli Before Bed

Avoid overstimulation in the hour leading up to bedtime. Calming activities can help your baby transition to sleep more easily. I always suggest making the nighttime routine consistent. Usually bath, bottle (or feed), lotion, a book or song, then bed. 

5. Be Patient with Sleep Training

Sleep training takes time and consistency. Consistency is key. It takes up to 3-5 nights for a change or routine to become “established.” If you have one rough night don’t give up, stay consistent! It will pay off!

6. Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment

Invest in blackout or even just darker curtains if you can. Light can impact melatonin production so we want to get a darker environment if possible. White noise machines and a comfortable crib can help enhance your baby’s sleep environment as well. 

I also want to address the myth that sleep training is harsh or harmful. In reality, when done thoughtfully, sleep training can be a gentle process that benefits both babies and parents. I absolutely love this article by Tom Vaillant where he compiled massive amounts of research articles and internet opinions in an unbiased, factual way. 

—

Kara the Baby Nurse’s Baby Sleep Course

For parents seeking actionable solutions, I offer a sleep training course designed to help families establish healthy sleep habits. My course is grounded in evidence-based methods and a compassionate approach to parenting. With years of experience as a hospital-based mother-baby nurse and a mother of three, I combine professional expertise with relatable advice.

My course covers topics such as:

• Creating consistent bedtime routine.
• Teaching self-soothing techniques.
• Troubleshooting common sleep disruptions.
• Baby sleep techniques for REAL parents with REAL problems. 
• How to get baby back on a good routine after sickness or travel.
• How to sleep train when you have multiple kids or are on the go?

I formulated around half the course taking FAQs from real parents about what things THEY would want to see in a baby sleep course.

The “Why Didn’t I Learn this Sleep Stuff Sooner?” methods have helped countless families achieve better sleep, empowering parents to approach bedtime with confidence.