Once my baby turned 6 months, many people told me that her sleep schedule would become more predictable and that she would sleep more, so I could finally get some rest.
But that was not the case for me.
With both of my babies, I noticed that their sleep patterns were different. In this article, I mainly share the routine and experiences I had with my younger baby, along with a few things I noticed with both of them.
Initially, I thought babies would go to bed at the same time every day and, once they started solids, would sleep longer and have more continuous sleep at night.
But I learned that this is not always true. Starting solids did not automatically make my babies sleep through the night, and their sleep patterns continued to change as they grew.
That is why, in this guide, I want to share what actually worked for us between 6 and 12 months, rather than suggesting that there is one perfect sleep schedule that works for every baby.
If you are trying to figure out meals for this age, my Baby Feeding Schedule by Age: 6–12 Months guide can help you put the two routines together and create a daily routine that works for both feeding and sleep.
What I Learned About Baby Sleep Between 6 and 12 Months
From around 6 months, my baby sometimes had three daytime naps. The first two naps were usually around 1–1.5 hours each, while the third nap was around 30 minutes. At night, she usually went to bed around 8:00 pm.
But it was not like this every day.
Some days, she would fight her morning nap and sleep for only 20–30 minutes in the afternoon. By the evening, she became very cranky and tired, and bedtime became harder than ever.
After a while, I decided to stop trying to create a perfect baby sleep schedule.
Instead of trying to make every day follow the same schedule, I started paying attention to my baby’s sleep patterns and making small changes that made our days much easier.
The schedule that worked when my baby was 6 months old was completely different a few months later.
Teething, poor naps, and other developmental milestones sometimes made our whole sleep routine go out the window. Those days were stressful for all of us.
So, if you ever find yourself thinking, “Why doesn’t my baby follow the sleep schedule I made?” trust me, you are not alone.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), babies aged 4–12 months should generally get 12–16 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including naps. This is a general guideline, and my babies did not sleep exactly the same amount every day.
For me, the most important thing was not looking only at the clock. I also paid attention to how my baby was doing after waking up. Was she happy? Did she have enough energy to manage the rest of the day? These things helped me understand whether her sleep was working for her, rather than trying to make her fit into a perfect schedule.
My Baby’s 6-Month Sleep Routine
As I mentioned above, my baby usually had three daytime naps, although some days she had only two.
Initially, I tried to make her naps happen at the same time every day. But sometimes I felt that following the same timings every day was more stressful for both of us.
When she woke up a little early in the morning, her first nap would also be earlier. If she woke up late, her first morning nap would naturally become later.
I also noticed that when her first nap was very short, she became more cranky before her next sleep. So I started looking at when she woke up and how tired she seemed.
My baby’s typical day might look something like this:
Morning: Wake up, breastfeed, play for some time, and have breakfast.
Late morning: First nap, sometimes after breastfeeding.
Afternoon: Lunch, playtime, and second nap.
Late afternoon: A very short third nap if needed.
Evening: Dinner, stroller walk, bath, and bedtime.
This routine changed depending on what time she woke up in the morning.
Some days were smooth, while other days the whole routine was completely different.
I found that having a rough routine was helpful, but trying to make every nap happen at exactly the same time only made me more stressed.
At 7 Months, the Routine Started Changing
By 7 months, my baby’s sleep pattern started to change. She could stay awake a little longer than before, and I noticed that the third nap in the late afternoon or evening was starting to make bedtime more difficult.
So instead of trying to make her take that third nap, I started skipping it when she was able to stay awake comfortably. On those days, I simply put her to bed a little earlier.
This worked better for us than trying to force a late nap just because it was part of her earlier routine.
8 Months: Two Naps Became Easier
By 8 months, two naps became easier for my baby. Her typical day sometimes looked like this:
- 7:00 am: Wake up and breastfeed
- 9:30 am: Morning nap — around 45 minutes to 1 hour
- 1:30 pm: Afternoon nap — around 1.5 to 2 hours on some days, especially when she had eaten a good lunch.
- 8:00 pm: Bedtime
Of course, it did not look exactly like this every day.
If her afternoon nap was only around 40 minutes, I sometimes moved her bedtime a little earlier. On some days, if she became very cranky or had woken up early from her afternoon nap, I let her have a short nap around 4:00 pm if she seemed to need it.
I learned that keeping a tired baby awake just because the clock said bedtime was still two hours away did not always work for us. Sometimes, following her sleep cues made the rest of the evening much easier.
9 Months: Suddenly, Everything Becomes Interesting
The 9-month stage can be such a funny and exciting time. At this age, my little one seemed to have so much to do—crawling, pulling herself up, standing, exploring everything around her, and, of course, grabbing my hair whenever she got the chance! With so many new milestones happening at once, I noticed that her sleep was affected too.
Even when she was clearly tired, she simply did not want to stop practicing her new skills. When she was almost asleep, she would suddenly start rolling around, trying to stand, babbling, or moving around in her crib. It was as if her brain was saying, “I need to practice this one more time!”
It was simply a developmental phase. She was so excited about her new skills that sometimes she seemed more interested in practising them than going to sleep. For me, bedtime sometimes felt like a little battle between sleep and her determination to practise every new skill she had learned that day.
10–11 Months: The Two-Nap Routine
Both of my babies continued to take two daytime naps at this stage. Our days became more predictable, although they still varied from day to day.
Some days, they took longer naps, while on other days, their naps were shorter. When the naps were short, I usually moved bedtime a little earlier rather than trying to keep them awake until the usual time.
12 Months: Don’t Rush the One-Nap Transition
Turning 12 months does not mean your baby has to switch to one nap immediately. In fact, many babies continue taking two naps for a while after their first birthday.
My second baby started refusing one of the naps on some days, while on other days she still needed two naps. I simply followed their cues rather than forcing a transition before they were ready.
The Biggest Mistake I Made With Sleep
With my first baby, I used to watch the clock and think, “It’s 9:30 am, so it’s time for her first nap.” But sometimes, it simply didn’t work that way.
Some days, she would nap exactly at 9:30 am, while on other days, she might fall asleep around 10:00 am or even as early as 9:00 am.
I learned that a difficult night could change the entire daytime sleep schedule.
Instead of following the clock strictly, I started paying more attention to her sleep cues and adjusting the schedule based on how she had slept the night before.
How to Recognise When Your Baby Is Tired
Instead of depending only on the clock, you can also look for cues that your baby is getting sleepy.
Some signs are quite obvious:
- Rubbing her eyes
- Yawning
- Becoming cranky or fussy
- Wanting to be carried
- Losing interest in playing
- Suddenly becoming very quiet
Over time, you may start recognising your baby’s individual sleep cues and learn when they are ready for a nap or bedtime.
What About Short Naps?
Some days, I spent a lot of time trying to settle my baby for a nap, only for her to wake up after just 15–20 minutes.
One short nap did not necessarily mean that something was wrong. If she woke up happy and managed the rest of the day well, I did not always try to fix the nap or make her sleep longer.
I learned that sometimes, making small adjustments to the timing was enough to make a surprisingly big difference to her sleep.
Bedtime Routine
Having the same bedtime routine each day was definitely useful for us. Our bedtime routine usually included dinner, a bath, dim lights, quiet time, cuddles, and feeding if she wanted it, followed by sleep.
I tried to follow the same pattern each day, even if the exact time was not always the same. Sometimes bedtime was later than usual, and that was okay. I did not feel the need to make the timing perfect every night.
What helped most was keeping the general order the same. Over time, my babies seemed to recognise the routine and understand that the busy part of the day was coming to an end and it was time to settle down for sleep.
What If Your Baby Suddenly Stops Sleeping Well?
When my baby was sick, especially when she had a cold, her daytime routine was often disturbed, and she also woke up more frequently at night. That was something I noticed whenever she was unwell.
Before assuming that something was wrong with her sleep, I tried to think about what might have changed:
- Was she teething?
- Was her nose blocked?
- Were her naps shorter than usual?
- Was she going through a developmental change?
- Was she unwell?
Sometimes, there was a simple reason for the change, and her sleep improved once she felt better or the phase passed.
How My Babies’ Sleep Pattern Changed From 6–12 Months
This is roughly how my babies nap patterns changed. I wouldn’t treat these as strict age-based rules, because babies can transition between naps at different times.
- 6 months: Often 2–3 naps
- 7 months: Often 2–3 naps, gradually moving toward 2
- 8–11 months: Around 2 naps
- 12 months: May still need 2 naps or may gradually move toward 1
This was simply the pattern I noticed with my babies. Your baby may transition earlier or later, and that is okay. I would use these ages as a rough reference rather than trying to make your baby follow the exact same pattern.
When to Speak to Your Pediatrician
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing babies on their backs for every sleep, on a firm, flat, non-inclined sleep surface, with no loose blankets, pillows, or other soft objects in the sleep area.
If you are concerned about your baby’s sleep environment, notice breathing difficulties during sleep, or have other concerns about your baby’s sleep, speak with your pediatrician.
Final Thoughts
With my first baby, I worried too much about following the clock. Over time, I realised that being flexible worked much better for us. A routine was helpful, but I didn’t need to make every nap or bedtime perfect.
My advice is to focus on creating a sleep routine that works for your baby and your family. As your baby grows, their sleep needs and patterns will change. Some weeks may be easier, while others may be more challenging.
Most importantly, never force your baby to sleep. Safe sleep should always come first.
I hope this information was helpful to you. If you have any questions or experiences to share, feel free to leave a comment.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Bhavana, a mom of two and the creator behind Happy Mama Ideas. Through my own experiences raising two children, I’ve learned that baby routines do not always go exactly as planned. I share practical pregnancy, baby care, feeding, sleep, and motherhood tips based on my personal experiences, along with information from trusted health sources, to help expecting and new moms feel more confident during their journey.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is based partly on my personal experiences as a mother. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Every baby is different, and sleep patterns can vary from one child to another. If you have concerns about your baby’s sleep, breathing, feeding, development, or overall health, speak with your paediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional.
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