When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night? By Age (0-12 Months Guide)
Written by:
Nicky Barker
Pediatric Sleep Science Expert
Reviewed by:
Amanda Snedden
Specialist in Pediatric Sleep Patterns
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 isn’t there yet, that doesn’t mean anything is wrong, many babies take longer to reach this milestone.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what “sleeping through the night” 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 baby’s 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?
- What Does “Sleeping Through the Night” Mean?
- When do Babies Sleep Through the Night (by age)?
- How Long Babies can Sleep without Feeding
- What Helps Babies Sleep Through the Night?
- 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
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How many hours is “Sleeping through the Night” for a baby?
Sleeping through the night typically means a continuous stretch of 6–8 hours, not a full 12 hours without waking.
What Does “Sleeping Through the Night” 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 6–8 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)
Here’s what’s realistic based on development:
Newborn (0–8 weeks)
- Wake every 2–4 hours for feeds
- Sleep driven by hunger, not routine
Not expected to sleep through the night
2–3 Months
- Day and night rhythms begin
- Some babies sleep 5–7 hour stretches
Longer stretches possible, not consistent
4–6 Months
- Sleep cycles mature
- Some babies sleep 6–8 hours
This is when “sleeping through” can begin
6–9 Months
- Physically capable of long stretches
- Night feeds have reduced
Many babies sleep through here
9–12 Months
- Sleep becomes predictable
- 10–12 hour nights more common
Most babies sleep through consistently
How Long Can Babies Sleep Without Feeding?
- Newborns: 2–4 hours
- 2–3 months: 4–6 hours
- 4–6 months: 6–8 hours
- 6+ months: 8–12 hours
If your baby:
- is gaining weight well
- feeds well during the day
You usually don’t need to wake them overnight unless advised.
What Helps Babies Sleep Through the Night?
There’s no single fix, but these are the biggest levers:
1. Enough Feeding During the Day
Babies who don’t 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 → overtired, poor sleep
- Too much → less sleep pressure at night
This is where wake windows matter and our 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.
3. A Consistent Sleep Environment
- Dark room
- White noise
- 18–20°C temperature
Consistency helps babies link sleep cycles.
4. Independent Sleep Skills
From around 4 months: Babies wake between every sleep cycle.
If they rely on:
- feeding
- rocking
- patting
they’ll need that same help overnight.
Does this sound familiar?Your baby wakes several times each night, you’re constantly resettling, nights feel unpredictable and exhausting, you’re not sure what’s normal anymore... Babies wake frequently when their naps, wake windows and settling approach don’t 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 isn’t 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. Night waking is completely normal, especially in the first year.
Even babies who “sleep through”:
- 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 = 6–8 hour stretch
- Starts for some babies at 3–6 months
- More consistent at 6–12 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, you’re 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.
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FAQs about Sleeping Through the Night
When do babies sleep 12 hours overnight?
Usually between 6–12 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 1–2 hours?
Often linked to sleep cycles or sleep associations.
Bibliography:
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Zisapel, N. (2018). New perspectives on the role of melatonin in human sleep, circadian rhythms and their regulation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 175(16), 3190–3199.
Thach, B. T., & Kemp, J. S. (2022). Sudden infant death syndrome and the sleep environment. In Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, Article 816136.
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), 712–716.
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.
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.
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), 324–329.
