When do babies start sleeping through the night?

When do babies start sleeping through the night? This is the million dollar question!

Just like any other milestone, sleep can be different for every baby. Sleeping through the night is usually reached between 4 to 6 months. Some babies may begin sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches as early as 8 to 10 weeks, while others may not find their sleep pattern until 6 to 8 months.

Things you can do to prepare your baby for bed

• Starting when your baby is 6 to 12 weeks old, soothe until he or she is drowsy. When they are on the verge of sleep, put them down and let them drift off on their own. Don’t wait until your baby is fully asleep in your arms; this behavior could become a struggle later on. This routine will teach your baby to soothe themselves to sleep, making them less dependent on being rocked. This will also help them to go back to sleep on their own when they wake during the night.
• Play active games during the day and quiet games in the evening. This can tire your baby out from the day’s activities, while keeping them from getting too excited right before bedtime.
• Set a short and simple bedtime routine. Encourage quiet time about 45 minutes before bed. Turning off the TV and calming down will help your baby relax. Start with a warm bath and then right into comfy pajamas. Finish the routine with a bedtime story or lullaby.
• Keep conditions in your baby’s bedroom consistent. If your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, the sounds and lights in the room should be the same as when they fell asleep.

¹ “A study of 405 mothers — with infants between 7 months and 36 months old — showed that babies who followed a nightly bedtime routine went to sleep easier, slept better, and cried out in the middle of the night less often.”

How to help your baby sleep through the night

Quiet, white noise can help provide a buffer between your sleeping baby and sounds that could startle them awake. Use of an indoor air purifier will provide that gentle, soothing sound, while also giving you peace of mind that the air in their nursery is healthy and clean.

If you do have to go in to settle your little one down, keep all interactions quiet. Don’t make too much eye contact, or overstimulate your baby. As much as we love that sweet smile or little baby giggle, try to resist it. You want your baby to understand that nighttime is not playtime.

The Defender Air Purifier is used in hospitals worldwide and provides better-than-HEPA filtration. Help keep your baby healthy while they sleep with fresh, purified air.

¹https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nighttime#1