Sleep routines for babies from 0 to 12 months: month-by-month guide
During the first year of life, a baby's sleep evolves significantly. Establishing healthy routines not only favors the rest of the baby, but also that of the whole family. Below, we explore how sleep changes at each stage and what routines you can implement from birth to 12 months, based on scientific and pediatric recommendations.
Why are sleep routines important in babies?
Newborns do not distinguish between day and night, but as they mature, their biological clock (circadian rhythm) adjusts. Sleep routines help regulate this process, provide security, and reduce nighttime awakenings.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), establishing a consistent bedtime routine can improve both the quantity and quality of children's sleep.
Baby sleep month by month: what to expect?
Every baby is unique, but these guidelines can help you understand the typical changes during the first year.
0 to 2 months
At this stage, babies sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day, distributed between day and night. They do not have regular schedules. Naps are frequent and brief, and they wake up often to feed.
Recommended routine:
- Create a calm and subdued environment at night.
- Exposing the baby to natural light during the day.
- Start establishing gentle signals such as a warm bath or lullaby before bed.
3 to 4 months
Periods of nighttime sleep begin to consolidate. Some babies can already sleep 5 or 6 hours at a time.
Recommended routine:
- Establish a fixed routine: bath, massage, story or song.
- Put the baby to bed drowsy but awake so that he learns to fall asleep on his own.
- Keep the bedroom dark and quiet at night.
5 to 6 months
Nighttime sleep stabilizes, although awakenings due to hunger or attachment may appear. Naps are usually 3 to 4 hours spread over two or three moments.
Recommended routine:
- Continue with your regular sleep routine.
- Begin to clearly differentiate between day (activity, light) and night (calm, darkness).
- Introducing a safe transitional object (such as a blanket, if approved by your pediatrician).
7 to 9 months
You may wake up with separation anxiety. Naps are consolidated in two (morning and afternoon).
Recommended routine:
- Be consistent with routine, even if there are protests.
- Short and safe goodbyes before bedtime.
- Do not introduce new negative associations such as falling asleep in your arms every night, if this was not the case before.
10 to 12 months
Many babies already sleep 10 to 12 hours a night, with 1 or 2 naps. If they do wake up, they can usually go back to sleep on their own.
Recommended routine:
- Stick with predictable schedules.
- Avoid screens and intense stimuli an hour before sleeping.
- Encourage autonomy to fall asleep safely.
A calm environment supports healthy sleep routines.
General tips to improve baby's sleep
Beyond age, these tips can be applied at almost all stages of the first year:
- Create a consistent and calm routine before bed.
- Make sure the baby sleeps on their back, in their crib and free of dangerous objects, as recommended by the WHO to reduce the risk of sudden death
- Adjust the bedroom environment: noiseless, dark and at the right temperature.
- Don't compare your baby's sleep with that of others: each child has their own rhythm.
"Sleep is not just a physiological need: it is a developmental process that is learned with accompaniment and love."
Guidance information