When Do Babies Sleep Through the Night?

Newborn and young infants sleep is scattered and sporadic as they are growing the first few months (aka "The Fourth Trimester). As they start hitting milestones like the four month sleep regression, rolling, transitioning out of the swaddle and so on we hear how babies start naturally chunking up and elongating their night sleep and “sleeping through the night” but what does that mean for babies? Is that 4, 10, 12 hours?

Let’s break down what “sleeping through the night” really means, how babies’ sleep develops, when longer stretches are likely, and what to do if your baby seems to be missing the memo.

What Does “Sleeping Through the Night” Actually Mean?

Here’s the truth: Sleeping through the night does not mean your baby will be sleeping uninterrupted from bedtime to sunrise.

Instead, it usually means:

• Sleeping 6 to 8 hours in a row without needing a feeding or significant parental intervention.

• Babies still briefly wake between sleep cycles but can resettle on their own.

  
  

For example, a young infant goes to bed at 7:00 pm and sleeps until 1:00 am without waking for a feed, that’s technically “sleeping through the night.” Not quite the 10 to 12 hours we associate sleeping through the night, but it’s a huge step forward in infant sleep maturity.

Understanding Infant Sleep Development

To know when longer stretches are realistic, lets look at how sleep realistically progresses for our littles.

Newborn Phase (0 to 2 months)

• Newborns’ stomachs are tiny, so they typically need to eat every 2 to 4 hours

• Sleep happens in short bursts and is sporadic (sometimes they will sleep 3 hours and other times they only sleep 45 minutes).

• Their circadian rhythm (internal body clock) isn’t fully developed, so day and night feel the same (aka day and night confusion)

Early Infancy (2 to 4 months)

• Sleep cycles start to lengthen slightly

• Night sleep begins to consolidate, meaning the longest stretch of sleep often happens in the first part of the night.

• Some babies start giving a 4 to 6 hour stretch and most still need at least one or two overnight feeds.

Middle Infant Phase (4 to 6 months)

• Many babies can physiologically handle a 6 to 8 hour stretch without feeding, especially if weight gain is on track and your pediatrician has no concerns.

• Sleep cycles lengthen to 90 minutes, meaning babies have more connected sleep and can elongating/chunking up sleep.

• Sleep associations (like rocking or feeding to sleep) become more influential on how they connect sleep cycles independently. The way they fall asleep at the onset of sleep is how they many need to connect the next sleep cycle.

Older Infant Phase (6 to 12 months)

• When feeding needs met during the day and self settling skills in place, babies can start sleeping 8 to 12 hours with no night feedings.

• Separation anxiety, teething, and developmental leaps can cause temporary night wakings.  This is expected and totally normal!

  
  

When We Typically See Longer Stretches of Sleep

Every baby is different, but here’s a general timeline for when parents start to see “through the night” stretches:

Age	Typical Longest Night Stretch
0 to 2 months	2 to 4 hours
2 to 4 months	4 to 6 hours
4 to 6 months	6 to 8 hours
6 to 9 months	8 to 10 hours (typically night feeds drop ~6 months)
9 to 12 months	10 to 12 hours (most without feeds)

Common Issues That Affect “Sleeping Through the Night”

Even if baby is capable of longer stretches, a few factors can interrupt progress:

1. Hunger or Feeding Schedule

• If baby is reverse cycling (daytime calories are low), babies will make up for it at night.

• A solid and consistent daytime feeding rhythm helps ensure caloric intake to help sustain overnight

2. Overtiredness

• Skipped naps or late bedtimes affect overnight sleep. Overtired babies often wake up more at night due to the built up sleep debt which means they fall asleep with lower Melatonin levels which typically shows up as having a hard time falling asleep at night, up for longer periods at night and early morning wakes.

3. Sleep Associations

• If baby relies on rocking, feeding, or patting to fall asleep, they will need the same pattern when they wake between cycles to fall back asleep.

• Environment at the onset of sleep needs to look and feel the same for baby to connect to next cycle.

4. Developmental Leaps

• Rolling, crawling, babbling and new skills in general can temporarily disrupt sleep as they are learning it.

5. Teething

• Teething does affect sleep and typically only see if for ~5 to 7 days. If sleep has been off for a bit, there may be other contributing factors.

6. Illness

• Colds, ear infections, or reflux can impact comfort and make sleep harder to sustain.

  
  

When to Seek Help

While night waking is part of normal infant development, there are times when seeking professional support can make a world of difference:

• Persistent frequent waking (every 1 to 2 hours) after 6 months despite healthy feeding and growth.

• Baby struggles connecting sleep cycles without full parental assistance.

• Bedtime battles lasting more than 30 to 40 minutes regularly.

• Parent exhaustion is affecting daily functioning, mental health, mood, or relationships.

• Regression that doesn’t resolve within 2 to 3 weeks after illness, travel, or a developmental leap.

A sleep consultant can help identify patterns, adjust schedules, and guide you through supportive strategies that match your family’s values.

Encouraging Longer Stretches: Practical Tips

1. Prioritize Daytime Feeds

   Aim for full feeds during the day rather than frequent snacking to help meet calorie needs before bedtime.

2. Age-Appropriate Schedule

   Align wake windows and nap times to avoid overtiredness or undertiredness.

3. Consistent Bedtime Routine

   A predictable wind-down helps signal “nighttime” to your baby’s body clock.

4. Sleep Environment

   Dark room, comfortable temperature (68 to 72°F), and sounds machine can help minimize external disruptions.

5. Support Independent Settling Skills

   Gradually give your baby the chance to fall asleep without as much intervention so they can resettle during brief wakings.

   
   

“Sleeping through the night” is a milestone that’s part developmental and part learned skill and every baby hits that milestone at different points.  What I typically see is most babies are capable of 6 to 8 hour stretches between 4 to 6 months and 10 to 12 hours around the 7 to 8 month range. If baby isn’t there yet, it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong . If what is working for you family works, leave it alone!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure where to start, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a complimentary Discovery Call and let’s make a plan for better nights  for your baby and for the entire family!