When do babies sleep through the night?

Baby can't sleep through the night? Have you reached the stage where even your concealer can no longer hide your tiredness? Then it's time to read all our little tips to help baby sleep through the night?.

But when do babies generally start sleeping through the night? On average, a baby sleeps through the night between 6 and 8 months. But that's not always the case: every child is different. Some will sleep through earlier, others later.

We explain how to help baby sleep through the night with our best tips to help them sleep well.

Help baby tell day from night

Baby 1 For 9 months, baby was snug and warm in their mum's tummy, where they managed their own waking and sleeping times,

as and when they pleased. That's why, during their first 3 months, baby doesn't yet distinguish between day and night.

So, to help baby tell the two apart and manage longer nights, the first thing to do is create a different environment for naps and for the night. For naps, you can for example let them sleep in natural light, without cutting them off too much from everyday noises and the bustle around them. In the evening, on the other hand, try to have them sleep in the dark, somewhere nice and quiet.

Set up a bedtime ritual to help baby fall asleep on their own

After the first 3 months, gradually teach baby to fall asleep

in their cot rather than in your arms. Otherwise, when they wake up in the night between sleep cycles, baby will try to get back to sleep the same way they fell asleep: at the breast or in your arms, for example. If you avoid this, they will therefore not worry about your absence and can fall back asleep peacefully. That's why it's better to put baby down in their cot while they are still awake.

To make this moment easier, you can set up a bedtime ritual. On the one hand, it will help baby organise their sleep structure, and on the other, it will help them recognise that bedtime is approaching. In short, the idea is to repeat the same little gestures 30 minutes before putting baby to sleep, such as singing them a song, giving them a cuddle or playing them a lullaby.

Respect baby's sleep cycles

Baby 3 Once baby is asleep, it's very important to respect their sleep cycles. Avoid waking them as much as possible, whether to feed them or to change them. Otherwise, baby may repeat this pattern and wake up spontaneously at that same time.

At night, baby wakes up several times, and that's normal. They are probably between two sleep cycles. You should then let them fall back asleep on their own, because if you step in, they will be awake for good. It will then be much harder to get them back to sleep.

When they wake up for a feed, look after them differently from the way you do during the day. Don't switch on the light; opt for dim lighting such as a night light for example. Speak very softly and as little as possible. Then settle them back down quickly. Your little one needs to understand that night-time is for sleeping.

Good habits to help baby find their rhythm

Your child needs a routine to regulate their body clock. Their body clock is programmed to find sleep in cycles of 3 to 4 hours, at any time of the day. That's why it's best to put baby to bed at the same time and down for naps at the same time, but also to keep regular times for meals, walks and so on… This little routine will gradually bring longer and longer periods of wakefulness during the day and longer and longer stretches of sleep at night.

Put baby in a welcoming, reassuring place

In their cot, baby should feel safe. They should find reassuring things there, such as a mobile. Their cot should be a pleasant place they want to go to. At a young age, however, leave nothing inside baby's cot to avoid any danger.

You now know how to help baby sleep through the night and approach your baby's sleep calmly. The most important thing is still to listen to your little one, because every child is different.

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.