Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News & Trends
  • Raising the Future
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • Podcasts
  • Kindred
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      Do you struggle to put your kiddo to bed—or keep them there? Read on to find out how to sleep train toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT
    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant, During Every Phase of Your Cycle

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant, During Every Phase of Your Cycle

    When sex coincides with your most fertile days, your chances of getting pregnant increase. Get to know each phase of your cycle to help you conceive (or avoid) a pregnancy.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY
    9 Signs That Labor Is Approaching

    9 Signs That Labor Is Approaching

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the signs of approaching labor, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES
    These Baby Names Are Predicted to Be Popular in 2022

    These Baby Names Are Predicted to Be Popular in 2022

    From Bridgerton to travel destinations, learn what's inspiring the baby name trends of 2022.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY
    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID
    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN
    17 Budget-Friendly Kids' Birthday Party Ideas

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids' Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn't need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids' birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH
    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING
    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
    • Moms Run the World
    • The Stay at Home Guide
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY
    44 Fun Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids, Preschoolers, and Toddlers

    44 Fun Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids, Preschoolers, and Toddlers

    Spend an afternoon making these Valentine's Day cards, decorations, and edible projects. Bonus: Each one can double as a homemade gift for someone special!
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News & Trends
  • Raising the Future
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • Podcasts

    Podcasts

    • We Are Family Podcast
    • That New Mom Life Podcast
    • Pregnancy Confidential Podcast
  • Kindred
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • #ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Babies
  3. Sleep
  4. Sleep Basics
  5. Baby Sleep Schedule: What to Expect Between 7 and 12 Months

Baby Sleep Schedule: What to Expect Between 7 and 12 Months

By Linda DiProperzio Updated April 16, 2021
Skip gallery slides
Pin
An image of a baby sleeping.
Credit: Getty Images.

As your baby approaches their first year, you'll notice some changes in their sleeping habits. These expert tips will help you handle them with ease.

Start Slideshow

1 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How Much Will Baby Sleep?

baby sleeping on dad
Credit: Jaren Jai Wicklund/Shutterstock 

From 6 to 8 months, a baby should get an average of 11 uninterrupted hours of sleep each night, as well as 3.5 hours each day spread out over two or three naps (a morning, afternoon, and late-afternoon nap). 

From nine to 12 months, they should still get 11 hours of nightly snoozing. However, your baby will only need three hours of sleep during the day, with the number of naps dropping to two (the short late-afternoon nap will be eliminated).

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bond With Baby

An image of a mother playing with her son.
Credit: Getty Images.

If you have an established bedtime, you'll find that putting your little one to sleep is a great bonding experience. "As your baby grows, bedtime can be fun as you begin to share quiet songs and games and create family rituals," says Kim West, aka "The Sleep Lady" and author of The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight. Focus on activities that will calm your baby and prepare them for sleep, and avoid anything that might overstimulate them, such as loud music, toys, or TV.

  • The Best Baby Sleep Tips Ever

2 of 9

3 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Babyproof the Bedroom

Baby Crying In Crib Arm Reaching Out
Credit: Igor Sokolov (breeze)/Shutterstock

As your baby becomes more mobile, you'll need to reevaluate their sleeping environment. Look around the room for any potential hazards. For example, a baby can easily stand or climb on their crib's bumpers, and they can injure themselves on wall hangings, pictures, curtains, and window blinds cords. If you'd like a little help, consider hiring a babyproofing specialist.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Set Some Boundaries

baby sleeping on back with arms spread
Credit: NChoochat/Shutterstock

"It's important that the crib is used only for sleeping so the baby associates it with bedtime and naptime," says Nadav Traeger, M.D. director of pediatric sleep medicine at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. "There shouldn't be any playing or eating, and just some light reading, in the crib or bed when the child gets older." 

Keeping that in mind, always put your baby to sleep in their crib—not in the stroller, car seat, or play pen. Of course, there will be times when they doze off during a walk or car ride. That's fine, Dr. Traeger says, as long as the bulk of their sleep takes place in the crib.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Combat Night Terrors

Adults attribute masculine and feminine traits to babies' cries as early as three months old, gender stereotyping babies
Credit: Shutterstock

Around 12 months, some babies start experiencing night terrors, which make them scream or cry uncontrollably around the same time every night. The baby is actually asleep during the entire ordeal and isn't aware of what's happening. What can a parent do? Set your alarm clock for 30 minutes before your child usually wakes up screaming, then go in and gently wake them up. You don't need to get them out of bed; simply wake them so that you abort the sleep stage that leads to the night terrors. If you do this for two or three nights, the night terrors should go away completely.

 

  • How to Sleep Train Your Baby (In Just 7 Days)

5 of 9

6 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Prepare for Protests

Baby Boy Sleeping On Mothers Chest
Credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

As your baby approaches their first birthday, they might fight against their bedtime. After all, they'd much rather be hanging out with Mama and Dada than getting some much-needed shut-eye. "This is when Baby starts asserting more independence, but don't give too many allowances when it comes to bedtime," says Dr. Traeger. "If parents change the routine too much, it will in turn change their baby's sleep patterns for the worse." Remember, consistency is key.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Separate Sleeping and Eating

baby bottlefeeding
Credit: VGstockstudio/Shutterstock

According to West, many sleep problems involve associations with sleeping and eating. "You don't want her falling asleep at the breast or with a bottle in her mouth because it interferes with sleep independence, and it's terrible for those little teeth that are going to be bursting out any day," West says. She suggests setting recognizable mealtimes so your baby isn't eating all day, which is an incentive to snack all night.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Understand Napping Problems

sleeping baby ferber method cry it out
Credit: ucchie79/Shutterstock 

Sometimes your baby will have difficulty napping, and certain events—like holidays, trips, illnesses—can negatively impact their routine. "Over many weeks or months, your child develops 'cumulative sleepiness' until he hits a wall and becomes way overtired," says Marc Weissbluth, M.D., a pediatrician and author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. "In this state, it's difficult for him to nap because his body is geared up to fight the fatigue." If you run into problems with napping, temporarily try a super early bedtime to help them wake up rested. "Often, the early bedtime will help erase his sleep debt so he is more able to relax and take a nap," Dr. Weissbluth says.

  • How to Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night

8 of 9

9 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Evaluate Their Sleep Schedule

working mom with baby boy
Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

If your baby wakes up before 6 a.m., they're probably overly tired. "Overtired children don't sleep as well, or as long, as well-rested ones," West says. Think about your 7-month-old to 12-month-old sleep schedule and decide if they're:

  • Going to bed too late
  • Not napping enough
  • Staying up too long between the end of their afternoon nap and bedtime (try not to let it exceed four hours)
  • Going to bed when they're past the "drowsy but awake" mark. "If he's too drowsy, he won't know how to get himself back to sleep when he's more alert—even at 5 a.m.," West says.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Linda DiProperzio

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 How Much Will Baby Sleep?
    2 of 9 Bond With Baby
    3 of 9 Babyproof the Bedroom
    4 of 9 Set Some Boundaries
    5 of 9 Combat Night Terrors
    6 of 9 Prepare for Protests
    7 of 9 Separate Sleeping and Eating
    8 of 9 Understand Napping Problems
    9 of 9 Evaluate Their Sleep Schedule

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Parents

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithParents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Parents. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Baby Sleep Schedule: What to Expect Between 7 and 12 Months
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.