
Baby Sleep at 3 Months: What to Expect and How to Support Healthy Sleep Habits
At three months old, your baby is going through a big developmental shift. Sleep patterns are evolving, day and night are becoming more distinct, and your little one is likely starting to stay awake for longer periods. While some babies may begin sleeping longer stretches at night, others may start becoming more unsettled. Understanding what’s happening with your 3-month-old’s sleep, and how to support it, is key to helping them - and you - get better rest.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about baby sleep at 3 months, including how much sleep your baby needs, ideal awake windows, nap routines, sleep regressions, and settling tips.
How Much Sleep Does a 3-Month-Old Baby Need?
At 3 months, babies need around 15 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. This includes about 3 to 4 hours of daytime sleep spread across three naps, and around 11 to 12 hours of nighttime sleep (with feeds overnight still being normal).
Awake Windows for 3-Month-Olds
Awake windows are the periods of time your baby can stay awake between sleeps without becoming overtired. For a 3-month-old, awake windows typically range from 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes.
These windows gradually lengthen through the day. For example:
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Morning: 2 hours
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Midday: 2 hours
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Late afternoon: 2 hours 15 minutes
Keeping to age-appropriate awake windows is one of the most effective ways to ensure your baby settles well and naps for a good length of time. When babies are overtired, they become harder to settle and are more likely to wake early from naps or cry more at bedtime, equally if they're not awake for long enough between naps, they will be under-tired and nap poorly as a result.
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Ideal Bedtime Routine for a 3-Month-Old Baby
At 3 months, you can definitely implement a consistent bedtime routine. Babies thrive on rhythm and predictability, so a repeated sequence of events before sleep can help your baby understand what’s coming next.
Here’s an example of a gentle pre-sleep routine:
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Feed and burp
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Quiet cuddle or short story
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Swaddle or sleep sack (if baby is not yet rolling)
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White noise and darkened room
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Place baby in their sleep space drowsy but still awake
Doing this consistently before naps and bedtime helps your baby learn to settle and fall asleep more easily over time. It also lays the groundwork for self-settling as their sleep matures.
Typical Nap Schedule for a 3-Month-Old
A 3-month-old’s day usually includes three naps:
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Morning Nap: Short (30–45 minutes)
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Midday Nap: The longest and most restorative (2 hours)
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Afternoon Nap: Shorter again (30–45 minutes)
This nap structure supports a full night’s sleep by spacing out rest during the day. If your baby naps too long in the morning or afternoon, it can throw off bedtime. It’s helpful to gently wake your baby if any nap is going too long, especially if it’s impacting the next sleep window.
The 3-Month Developmental Leap and Sleep Disruption
Around this age, babies begin going through their third major developmental leap. This leap can cause increased fussiness, clinginess, and changes in sleep. Your baby may begin waking more during naps or find it harder to settle, even if you’ve had a good routine.
These changes are usually temporary and linked to your baby’s growing brain. They are starting to become more aware of their environment and may need extra support during this time.
The early signs of the 4-month sleep regression may also appear around now. Sleep cycles begin to change, and your baby may start waking more fully between cycles. This is a normal developmental shift, not a step backward, but have a read here about how this regression will affect your baby's sleep in the month to come.
Tips for Settling a 3-Month-Old
Settling at 3 months is a blend of support and gentle independence. Here are a few tips that can make sleep transitions smoother:
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Follow age-appropriate awake windows to avoid overtiredness
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Use consistent sleep cues (swaddle, white noise, dark room)
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Put baby down drowsy but awake to begin encouraging self-settling
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Avoid feeding to sleep every time so your baby doesn’t rely solely on feeding to fall asleep
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Offer comfort if needed - at this age, babies still need lots of support, and that’s okay
A calm, consistent approach is best. Babies learn through repetition, and what feels challenging now often becomes second nature with time.
Final Thoughts: Setting the Stage for Better Sleep
Three months is a time of rapid growth and change. Your baby is beginning to develop more predictable sleep rhythms and is becoming more responsive to routines. While there may be regressions or unsettled phases, your consistency will make a big difference.
Focus on:
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Respecting awake windows (we can't emphasise enough how important this is)
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Protecting the midday nap
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Using a simple, repeated wind-down routine
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Supporting your baby through leaps and changes
With the right foundation now, your baby will be better prepared for the upcoming milestones - including the 4-month sleep regression and beyond.
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