Normal Infant Sleep: 12 Weeks to Six Months

Understanding normal infant sleep up to six months old.

After three months, your baby is no longer considered a newborn but an infant. In our last article Normal Newborn Sleep, we spoke about normal newborn sleep and what to expect in the early weeks. Here, we’ll look at what you can expect from your baby’s sleep from 12 weeks up to six months. Remember, this is just a general guide. It’s important to know that every pēpi is different and there’s a wide range of what’s ‘normal’ when it comes to babies – especially in terms of sleep!

WHAT’S NORMAL

Some babies may be sleeping through the night already – and if that’s the case with your little one, lucky you! The majority of babies will consistently wake to feed at least once during the night though. They may be doing longer stretches than when they were a newborn, however this can vary greatly between babies. It’s also common for some babies to be waking every couple of hours. To maintain a good milk supply and ensure your baby is getting what they need nutritionally, it’s best to continue feeding on demand overnight.

DAY NAPS

From 3-6 months old, your baby may be somewhat more predictable with their naps and having around three sleeps per day. If your baby catnaps, they may be having more than three sleeps per day that are shorter in length – this is typical of the four-month sleep regression. At 3-6 months old, most babies get around 15-16 hours of sleep over a 24 hour period.