when do babies start sleeping through the night ~~

February 12, 2026

Most babies start to consistently “sleep through the night” somewhere between about 6 and 9 months, but there is a huge range of normal and plenty of healthy babies do it earlier or later.

First, what does “sleeping through the night” even mean?

When experts say a baby is “sleeping through the night,” they usually mean:

A long stretch of about 6–8 hours in a row without needing a feed or help from a caregiver.

The baby may still briefly wake between sleep cycles but can settle back to sleep without fully signaling or crying for you.

So if your baby does a 6–7 hour stretch, wakes to feed once, and then goes back to sleep, many pediatric sleep folks would still count that as “sleeping through.”

Typical timeline by age (rough guide)

Every baby is different, but this is a common pattern:

0–3 months (newborn phase)
- Sleep is in short chunks, often 2–4 hours at a time, day and night.

* They _need_ frequent night feeds because their stomachs are tiny and they’re growing fast.

* It’s very normal not to have any long stretches yet.

Around 3 months
- Some babies start doing one longer stretch of 5–6 hours at night, but many still wake multiple times.

* Parents often _hear_ about the magical 3‑month sleeper because those stories get repeated, but they’re not the norm.

Around 4–6 months
- Many babies are able to go 6–8 hours without a feed and may be physiologically capable of sleeping through the night.

* One large review found most babies weren’t reliably sleeping through until around 6 months, and even then a significant chunk still woke.

Around 6–9 months
- This is when a lot of babies start to sleep longer, more consistently, with fewer feeds.

* Some sources describe 8–9 months as the point when many babies finally give parents more predictable long stretches.

9–12 months and beyond
- Night sleep usually becomes more stable, but teething, illness, developmental leaps, and travel can all temporarily disrupt sleep.

* Even toddlers and adults wake during the night; the difference is that older sleepers usually just roll over and go back to sleep.

Why it varies so much

A few big factors shape when your baby sleeps through:

Temperament and biology
- Some babies are just naturally easier sleepers; others are more sensitive or alert.
- Even siblings with the same parents and routines can have totally different sleep patterns.
Feeding patterns
- Babies who can take in enough calories during the day are often better able to go longer at night without feeds (whether breastfed or formula‑fed).

* Premature babies or those with slower weight gain may need night feeds for longer; this is something to discuss with your pediatrician.

Sleep habits and environment
- A consistent bedtime routine, a dark quiet room, and a regular schedule help baby link cues (“bath, feed, cuddle, song”) with sleep.

* Babies who are gently supported to settle in their own sleep space sometimes connect sleep cycles more easily.

Developmental leaps
- Rolling, crawling, pulling up, separation awareness, and teething can cause temporary regressions, even in babies who were sleeping through.

Practical tips to encourage longer stretches

You can’t force a milestone, but you can stack the deck in your favor:

Focus on full feeds in the day
- Try to encourage good, full feeds when baby is awake, instead of many tiny “snacks,” so they’re less likely to “reverse cycle” and eat all night.

Create a predictable bedtime routine
- 15–30 minutes of the same sequence each night (e.g., bath → pajamas → feed → book → song → bed) signals that sleep is coming.

Watch wake windows and sleepy cues
- Overtired babies often sleep worse , waking more and crying more. Aim to get them down before they’re past their sleepy sweet spot.
Set up a sleep‑friendly environment
- Dark room, comfortable temperature, white noise, and a safe crib or bassinet can help them string sleep cycles together.

Consider gentle sleep teaching if it feels right
- Some families use gentle, responsive methods (like gradual checking or pick‑up/put‑down) after about 4–6 months once the pediatrician says night feeds can be reduced.

 * It’s not mandatory; many babies sleep through naturally, just later.

Forum-style reality check: what parents often report

If you scroll through parenting forums and Reddit threads on “when do babies really sleep through the night,” you’ll see a wide spread:

Some parents say their baby did 8‑hour stretches at 8 weeks.
Many say their babies didn’t reliably sleep through until 9–12 months.
Quite a few say their toddlers still wake once in a while, and everyone in the comments is just surviving together.

A common theme in those discussions is:

“I wish someone had told me that waking at night at 6, 9, even 12 months can still be totally normal.”

Knowing this can take a bit of the pressure off and help you measure progress in gradual improvements (one longer stretch, one less feed, faster resettling) instead of an all‑or‑nothing “sleeps through or doesn’t” standard.

When to check in with a doctor

Reach out to your pediatrician or family doctor if:

Your baby’s sleep suddenly changes a lot and they seem very uncomfortable, in pain, or unwell.
You’re worried about weight gain, feeding, or breathing during sleep (snoring, pauses, very noisy breathing).
Lack of sleep is seriously affecting your own physical or mental health.

They can help make sure there isn’t a medical issue (like reflux, allergies, or sleep‑disordered breathing) and give personalized guidance.

Quick TL;DR

“Sleeping through the night” usually means a 6–8 hour stretch without needing you, not 12 perfect hours.

Some babies start doing this around 4–6 months, but for many it’s closer to 6–9 months or later, and that’s still normal.

Routines, full daytime feeds, and a good sleep environment help, but you can’t fully control the timing.
If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep or your own exhaustion, talking with your pediatrician or a qualified infant sleep professional is absolutely worth it.