When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? By Age (0-12 Months Guide)
If you're wondering when babies sleep through the night, you're not alone. This is one of the most searched questions by parents, and one of the biggest sleep milestones everyone hopes for.
At what age do babies sleep through the night?
Most babies begin sleeping 6-8 hour stretches between 3-6 months, with more consistent full nights developing between 6-12 months.
That said, every baby is different, and night waking is completely normal in the first year. If your baby isnโt there yet, that doesnโt mean anything is wrong, many babies take longer to reach this milestone.
In this guide, weโll break down exactly what โsleeping through the nightโ means, when it typically happens by age, and what helps babies get there.
Because sleep changes so much as babies grow, the best guidance will always depend on your babyโs age and stage. Our smart sleep app removes all the guesswork and handles your baby's daily sleep rhythm automatically to effortlessly manage naps and reduce night wakes.
In This Article:
- How Many Hours is "Sleeping Through the Night" for a Baby?ย
- What Does โSleeping Through the Nightโ Mean?
- When do Babies Sleep Through the Night (by age)?
- How Long Babies can Sleep without Feeding
- What Helps Babies Sleep Through the Night?ย
- Reasons Babies Wake Overnight
- Is it Normal for Babies to Wake at Night?
- Key Takeaways for Sleeping Through the Night
- FAQs about Sleeping Through the Night
Sleepless nights are exhausting.
Whether it's newborn witching hour, baby regressions or toddler bedtime battles, our smart sleep app is the trusted guidance you need right now. Join over 1 Million families worldwide who are enjoying excellent sleep, every night.
Start Sleeping Again
How many hours is โSleeping through the Nightโ for a baby?
Sleeping through the night typically means a continuous stretch of 6โ8 hours, not a full 12 hours without waking.
What Does โSleeping Through the Nightโ Actually Mean?
Many parents assume sleeping through the night means going from bedtime to morning without waking.
In reality: Sleeping through the night = a continuous 6โ8 hour stretch
So if your baby:
- sleeps 7 hours without feeding
- or has one long stretch overnight
They are already technically sleeping through the night.
Even adults wake between sleep cycles, babies just need to learn how to connect them.
When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? (By Age)
Hereโs whatโs realistic based on development:
Newborn (0โ8 weeks)
- Wake every 2โ4 hours for feeds
- Sleep driven by hunger, not routine
Not expected to sleep through the night
2โ3 Months
- Day and night rhythms begin
- Some babies sleep 5โ7 hour stretches
Longer stretches possible, not consistent
4โ6 Months
- Sleep cycles mature
- Some babies sleep 6โ8 hours
This is when โsleeping throughโ can begin
6โ9 Months
- Physically capable of long stretches
- Night feeds have reduced
Many babies sleep through here
9โ12 Months
- Sleep becomes predictable
- 10โ12 hour nights more common
Most babies sleep through consistently
How Long Can Babies Sleep Without Feeding?
- Newborns: 2โ4 hours
- 2โ3 months: 4โ6 hours
- 4โ6 months: 6โ8 hours
- 6+ months: 8โ12 hours
If your baby:
- is gaining weight well
- feeds well during the day
You usually donโt need to wake them overnight unless advised.
What Helps Babies Sleep Through the Night?
Thereโs no single fix, but these are the biggest levers:
1. Enough Feeding During the Day
Babies who donโt get enough calories in the day will wake at night.
- Prioritise full feeds
- Avoid replacing feeds with naps
- Add a Dream Feed
Day feeding directly impacts night sleep.
2. The Right Amount of Day Sleep
- Too little โ overtired, poor sleep
- Too much โ less sleep pressure at night
This is whereย wake windows matter and ourย sleep app does the thinking for you, with age-appropriate patterns, adaptive schedules customised to your unique baby and easy ways to adjust when things shift, so that daytime sleep supports the circadian rhythm and peaceful nights.ย
3. A Consistent Sleep Environment
- Dark room
- White noise
- 18โ20ยฐC temperature
Consistency helps babies link sleep cycles.
4. Independent Sleep Skills
From around 4 months:ย Babies wake between every sleep cycle.
If they rely on:
- feeding
- rocking
- patting
theyโll need that same help overnight.ย
Does this sound familiar?Your baby wakes several times each night, youโre constantly resettling, nights feel unpredictable and exhausting, youโre not sure whatโs normal anymore... Babies wake frequently when their naps, wake windows and settling approach donโt match their age and stage.
Our Sleep App works it all out for you
5. Swaddling and Sleepwear
For younger babies:
- Swaddling reduces startle reflex
- Helps longer stretches
Once rolling:
Reasons Your Baby Might Be Waking at Night
If your baby isnโt sleeping through yet, these are the most common causes:
- Hunger
- Overtiredness
- Too much daytime sleep
- Sleep associations
- Discomfort (temperature, wind, nappies)
- Developmental changes
- Illness or reflux
Is It Normal for Babies to Wake at Night?
Yes.ย Night waking is completely normal, especially in the first year.
Even babies who โsleep throughโ:
- wake briefly
- resettle independently
The goal is longer, more settled stretches, not zero wakes. If you'd like to give your baby the best chance at sleeping through the night, you'll need our Baby Sleep App which perfectly aligns your little one's naps, feeds and sleep balance to lead to excellent overnight sleep, without the hard work or the guesswork.
Key Takeaways for Sleeping Through the Night
- Sleeping through = 6โ8 hour stretch
- Starts for some babies at 3โ6 months
- More consistent at 6โ12 months
- Feeding, naps and sleep habits matter most
- Night waking is normal
Ready for longer stretches of sleep?If your baby is waking regularly overnight, youโre not alone. With the right daytime structure and settling approach, most babies begin linking their sleep cycles and sleeping longer. Our smart sleep app takes you through exactly what to do, without the guesswork.
Get Started on Better Sleep
FAQs about Sleeping Through the Night
When do babies sleep 12 hours overnight?
Usually between 6โ12 months, though some still wake briefly.
Can a newborn sleep too long at night?
If weight gain is a concern, yes. Otherwise, healthy babies wake when hungry.
Do formula-fed babies sleep longer?
Not necessarily. Sleep depends more on total intake and routine.
Why does my baby wake every 1โ2 hours?
Often linked to sleep cycles or sleep associations.
ย
Bibliography:
Perkin, M. R., Logan, K., Tseng, A., Ayis, S., Peacock, J., Venter, C., ... & Lack, G. (2018). Association of early introduction of solids with infant sleep:ย JAMA Pediatrics, 172(8), e180739.ย
Zisapel, N. (2018). New perspectives on the role of melatonin in human sleep, circadian rhythms and their regulation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 175(16), 3190โ3199.ย
Thach, B. T., & Kemp, J. S. (2022). Sudden infant death syndrome and the sleep environment. In Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, Article 816136.ย
Auger, N., Fraser, W. D., Smargiassi, A., Kosatsky, T., & Fournier, M. (2015). Ambient temperature and sudden infant death: A case-crossover study spanning 30 years in Montreal, Canada. Environmental Health Perspectives, 123(7), 712โ716.ย
Pease, A., Fleming, P. J., Hauck, F. R., Moon, R. Y., & Blair, P. S. (2022). Swaddling and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, Article 1000180.ย
Paul, I. M., Savage, J. S., Anzman-Frasca, S., Marini, M. E., Beiler, J. S., Hess, L. B., & Birch, L. L. (2016). INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention and infant sleep. Pediatrics, 138(1), e20160762.ย
St James-Roberts, I., Roberts, M., Hovish, K., & Owen, C. (2015). Video evidence that infants can resettle themselves back to sleep after waking in the night, as well as sleep for long periods, by 3 months of age. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 36(5), 324โ329.ย
ย
