Your baby is about to celebrate their first birthday! What a whirlwind of a year it’s probably been for you. This past year has been filled with “firsts” for your 11 month old baby. First tooth, first word, first food and maybe first steps. Many of your baby’s milestones happen naturally. But other milestones, like sleeping through the night, require parental guidance.
Sleep training your 11 month old to get them sleeping through the night and taking long naps is totally possible at this age! Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have your family sleeping great by your baby’s first birthday?
This article explains the essential steps for sleep training your 11 month old. So you have all the energy and stamina you need to keep up with your soon-to-be toddler!
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Sleep training 11 month old babies
At 11 months old, your baby is a bundle of curiosity and emerging independence. It’s a unique age where they’re transitioning from babyhood to toddlerhood, and their sleep patterns are evolving too.
You may be thinking “Is 11 months too late to sleep train?’ No, it’s never too late! The perks of sleep training at 11 months are abundant, offering not only a chance for uninterrupted nights but also promoting healthy sleep habits that can last a lifetime.
At 11 months old your baby is developmentally ready to grasp the concept of self-soothing and sleep independence. They are also capable of sleeping through the night with no feeds meaning you can both get a full night’s sleep.
So let’s dive in and learn how to get your 11 month old sleeping through the night.
How to get your 11 month old to sleep through the night
Getting your 11 month old to sleep through the night is a common (and realistic) goal for many parents, and the good news is that it’s absolutely within reach.
Developmentally, your baby is at an age where sleeping through the night is now a realistic expectation.
With sleep training, it’s best to focus on one aspect of sleep at a time. If you try to fix your baby’s naps and night sleep at the same time, you’ll most likely end up with a cranky and overtired baby who refuses to sleep!
Instead, I always recommend starting with night sleep. That’s because night sleep is usually easier to “fix” than naps. Your baby’s drive to sleep is the strongest at night, so she’s more likely to comply with changes to her sleep routine. Plus, most exhausted parents are usually more desperate for a good night’s sleep!
The following nighttime sleep training tips will get your 11 month old sleeping great at night.
Step 1: Settle into a 2 nap schedule
At 11 months old your baby should be on a solid two nap schedule. This means that your baby needs a morning and afternoon nap to get the rest they need.
Some nap refusal at this age is common, but tweaking your schedule will help you keep two naps until your baby is ready for a 1 nap schedule, around 15 months old.
Get more info on your baby’s 2 nap schedule here.
Step 2: Calm the bedtime battles
Bedtimes that are late or inconsistent make babies sleep worse. One of the goals of sleep training for your 11 month old is to set your baby’s body clock to sleep at the same time each day. This is one of the best things you can do to help your 11 month old sleep consistently well.
The majority of 11 month olds will sleep well with a bedtime between 6:30-8 pm. This is the time your baby falls asleep (not the time you begin their bedtime routine.) In my sleep training program, we put a strong emphasis on your baby’s bedtime. That’s because finding the right bedtime for your baby leads to fewer night wakings and sleeping later in the morning. Every parent’s dream!
Research has shown that having a consistent bedtime routine each night helps babies sleep better.
Although your 11 month old baby is probably babbling a few words, his comprehension is still very limited. That’s why we have to use behavioral and environmental cues to help our babies understand it’s time to relax and fall asleep. A bedtime routine is your perfect opportunity to do this!
My Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit walks you through the essentials for your baby’s relaxing bedtime routine. And the best part is, you can start all the tips tonight! Trust me, it’s the absolute best seeing your baby relax on cue every night with a relaxing routine you created for them.
Step 3: Set up a sleep-friendly bedroom
This is one of the easiest things you can do to help your 11 month old sleep well. It’s hard for any of us to sleep in bright, noisy or distracting sleep environments. Your baby is no different.
My Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit will teach you exactly what you can do to create a sleep-inducing bedroom for your baby. There are 3 simple tips explained in simple and short videos, and you can start them all tonight!
Step 4: Teach your baby to self-soothe and sleep independently
If you help your baby fall asleep by rocking, nursing, or holding, then he associates these activities with falling asleep. He needs your help in order to fall asleep. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this! It only becomes a problem if your baby needs you to get out of bed and repeatedly rock, nurse or hold him back to sleep several times during the night.
Your 11 month old baby has the ability to learn to fall asleep on his own. (This develops around 5 months old.) When your baby can settle himself to sleep at bedtime, he’ll be able to resettle himself back to sleep each time he wakes at night. I promise you, he can do it! (I’ve helped thousands of babies learn this skill in my sleep training program. It’s very realistic for this age.)
Plus, the majority of 11 month olds can sleep through the night without needing to feed. This means that sleep training at 11 months old is the perfect age! Wouldn’t it be great to have the family sleeping through the night by your baby’s first birthday?! My sleep training program will get you there!
Step 5: Treat all night wakings the same.
The way that your baby falls asleep at bedtime is the way she will want to fall back to sleep each time she wakes at night. (It’s normal for babies to stir or wake several times each night.)
So, if you feed your baby to sleep at bedtime she’s going to insist you feed her with each night waking too. Even though 11 month olds can technically sleep through the night without needing to feed, your baby will have gotten used to multiple night feeds.
When your baby goes into her crib awake at bedtime, and falls asleep without your help, she’ll know exactly how to resettle herself during the night. She’ll just do exactly what she did at bedtime! But, if your baby is fed or rocked to sleep, she doesn’t know how to fall back asleep on her own.
This is why it’s critical that you start at bedtime by getting your baby to fall asleep independently. Then each time she wakes at night, you encourage her to do the same. When you treat every night waking the same, your baby will adapt quickly and start sleeping through the night.
When you handle each night waking differently (sometimes feeding your baby if she cries long enough and other times holding or rocking her) the inconsistency will confuse her and cause her to resist more. She’ll continue crying with each night waking because this eventually leads to a feeding.
A simple rule we have in my baby sleep training program is that every waking before 6 am is a “night waking.” This means that you handle each night waking in the exact same way. Babies thrive with routine and consistency. When your baby understands exactly what will happen each time she wakes at night, it reassures her and helps her adapt to her new sleep routine quickly.
Step 6: Begin nap training once your baby is sleeping through the night
Remember, we always fix night sleep first. So while you’re sleep training your 11 month old at night, avoid nap training at the same time. Instead, do your best to stick to a 2 nap schedule.
Once your 11 month old is sleeping through the night, it’s time to fix naps! Nap training can sometimes be tricky. (We have a dedicated sleep training for naps program here.)
That’s because your baby’s drive to sleep comes and goes during the day. If you miss your baby’s sleepy window, no matter what you do to help her nap, it just won’t work! Plus, we have more obligations and distractions during the day. This can make sticking to a consistent sleep schedule more difficult.
Once you begin nap training, have your baby nap at home in the crib as often as possible. Motionless sleep away from the distractions of the day leads to the best quality sleep.
If your baby gets used to napping in the stroller or your arms everyday, this will become the only way she knows how to nap! Although at times it can be nice to have your baby nap on-the-go, it can quickly become a burden if you have to leave the house twice a day for your baby to nap. (Or if you’re trapped under a napping baby on the couch!)
Use the same sleep-friendly space you use for night sleep. Follow my tips in the Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit, and you’ll be set. And if your baby goes to daycare, just do the best you can! Ask daycare to follow wake windows, if possible.
Step 7: Keep a consistent routine
Remember, a critical aspect of sleep training your 11 month old is setting the body clock to sleep at the same times each day.
When your baby’s naps and bedtime occur “by the clock” sleep will come easier. It’s a losing battle trying to get your baby to sleep at different times each day. Her body won’t be ready for sleep, so she’ll fight it. Once you have your 11 month old sleeping through the night and napping well, try to stick to a consistent daily routine. For example sleep schedules check out my 2 nap schedule blog post.
How to teach your 11 month old to self-soothe
Self-soothing is a skill that involves babies learning to calm themselves and fall asleep independently without relying on external aids like needing to be fed or rocked.
The ability to self-soothe is essential to sleep training your 11 month old and establishing healthy sleep habits. Babies who can self-soothe are able to navigate night wakings and settle themselves back to sleep without parental intervention. This leads to more restful nights for you and your baby.
It’s common to encounter challenges when introducing self-soothing techniques. You may even feel that your baby is unable to learn to self-soothe. Maybe you’ve tried but your baby just cried when they weren’t fed or held to sleep.
Every baby is unique and takes to self-soothing at their own pace. That’s why my baby sleep training program offers a range of methods for teaching babies to self-soothe and sleep through the night. Some babies do best with quick, hands off methods and others respond better to slow and gradual. It all depends on your baby’s age and personality and we can help you pick the best method for your child.
If you’re worried that teaching self-soothing means leaving your baby to cry it out, rest assured that you don’t have to use cry it out sleep training to get your baby sleeping well.
Check out this blog post “Is Sleep Training Bad for Babies?”. It addresses common parent worries, debunks myths, and provides insights into the positive impact of sleep training when approached with warmth and responsiveness.
Tips for sleep training 11 month old breastfed babies
Breastfed babies can be sleep trained and learn to sleep through the night without compromising breastfeeding. It’s all about finding a balance that works for both babies and parents.
I’m a Lactation Consultant, so my sleep training program includes personalized guidance and support in protecting moms’ milk supplies while teaching babies to reduce night feeds and sleep longer at night. My team and I have all breastfed our babies through sleep training without sacrificing our milk supply or breastfeeding bond.
Encouraging your baby to fall asleep without relying on feeding doesn’t mean you have to stop breastfeeding! This can be achieved by feeding them before their bedtime routine or making nursing the first step in the routine rather than the last. It’s all about separating feeding and falling asleep. Your baby learns to fall asleep on their own, and continues to breastfeed as often as they need during awake time.
If you and your pediatrician prefer, you can continue with a night feed if you want. My sleep training program provides guidance on how to strike a balance between night feeds and encouraging longer sleep stretches.
For those opting to eliminate night feeds, my baby sleep program offers practical advice on maintaining a healthy milk supply during the transition, ensuring that both baby and mom are comfortable, healthy and able to continue breastfeeding as long as they wish.
What’s the best sleep training method for 11 month olds?
Selecting the best sleep training method for 11 month old babies isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s about finding an approach that aligns with your baby’s unique personality, energy levels, and your parenting style. Consistency is key, so choosing a method that resonates with you and suits your baby’s temperament is critical for success.
My sleep training program stands out because it offers a diverse range of methods, recognizing that every baby is different. Why? Because what works wonders for one baby may not be the perfect fit for another. This diversity ensures that parents can choose a method aligned with their beliefs and tailored to their baby’s individual needs.
By offering several step-by-step methods, my program allows parents to customize sleep training based on their baby’s personality, sleep habits, and their own comfort levels. This customization is the secret sauce to achieving better sleep training results.
Whether your 11 month old is spirited, highly sensitive, or loves to breastfeed all night long my program helps match them with the most effective sleep training method for their specific needs.
It’s not just about a method; it’s about creating an approach that works for your family, with the flexibility to adapt as your baby grows and their needs change. My program is a unique blend of flexibility, customization, and dedicated support, ensuring that you find the best sleep training method for your 11-month-old.
So our 11 month old has been such a good sleeper and we’ve been pretty consistent with a routine since birth, 8-830 is settle down, get ready for bed, read and she takes a bottle and falls asleep, yet lately has been waking and is either hard to settle or signs for milk, how can we adjust nighttime routine when we give her a bottle before bed and she falls asleep to where we can get her to not rely or associate the bottle with needing to fall asleep and help with night wakinga
Hello Caleb,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us. This is a great question! It is okay to feed. your LO after putting on pajamas, but then I would introduce reading a book right after. Give your little one 10 minutes of reading time. This helps to separate the feed with sleep. If your LO is struggling to eliminate this feed to sleep association, then definitely reach out to us! We cover this step by step in our program. As soon as your sweet girl learns how to fall asleep on her own at bedtime, then you will see those night wakings disappear too. At her age and if her weight is good, she can definitely sleep 11-12 hours at night.
CLICK HERE to learn more–> https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
We would love to support you and your family!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Client Support Manager
Hello i am i first time mom, i have an 11 month old who has a routine every night but still continues to wake up around 4:30 every morning thinking its play time, theres times he even wakes up more than once but he always wakes up at 4:30 and doesnt fall back to sleep until almost 2 hours later, ive tried different routines and nothing seems to help. I could use any advice that you have..
Hi Shakoda,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us! I’m sorry that you’re LO is waking up so early! This is such a common problem for babies all the way up to late toddlerhood.
My first thought is to move bedtime earlier. It seems counter-intuative but babies work a little differently than adults when it comes to sleep. We need to set up their body clocks to their ideal bedtime. Here is a free guide on Early Wakings:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/toddler-keeps-waking-up-at-5-am
There is also a chance that this is due to a sleep regression. Here is a free guide on 11 month sleep regression:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/11-month-sleep-regression/
If you are interested in learning more, I would recommend that you look int our sleep training program: 21 Days to Peace & Quiet
In this program we offer 4 step-by-step sleep training methods. You choose the one that feels best for your LO. We have super gentle & gradual all the way to quick & efficient. Each step of the way you get advice based on your baby’s developmental stage, energy levels, and temperament.
Two of our package options include personalized support and I find this to be so beneficial during the sleep training journey! Jilly and members of our support team answer questions 7 days a week in our private FB group and we host 2-3 Zoom calls per week! You will always feel like you have the support you need every step of the way.
You can find out more info on the program here: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
When you are 100% consistent in following the steps of the program, your baby will be sleeping amazingly within 1-3 weeks. It depends on the method you choose as well as your baby’s adaptability, but we cover all of this in the program!
Happy to answer any questions you have. We hope we get the chance to help you and your LO on this sleep journey!
Have a great day!
Becca, BSMS Support Team
Hi Jilly, I am a first time mom and have an 11 month old little. My brother and his wife had huge success sleep training with Baby Wise so I bought the book and tried it but didn’t have the same success. I also purchased Little Ones on line and it was a waste of money as even their trouble shooting tips didn’t work. I was so exhausted and just could not wait for my kid to sleep that I started nursing to bed when he went through his 4 month sleep regression. It is my biggest regret. My husband and I have tried to let him cry it out and set a timer for 5 minutes when we put him down, have tried touch to soothe, always have white noise, blackout room, comfy cot… he simply protests sleep and wails crying until he hyperventilates, and only settles on the boob. I don’t know what to do and I don’t want to keep spending money on programmes that don’t seem to work. The only thing that gives me some piece of mind is that someday it will end, and that I will never have another child. Any advise would be greatly appreciated….
Hi Robin and thanks for your message!
If you go to our website and look at the top pink menu, you’ll find our age-specific sleep guides. Just choose your LO’s age to get specific tips to improve their sleep. You can find us at: babysleepmadesimple.com
Your age-specific guide helps you understand your LO’s current developmental stage and any effects it may have on sleep. And it has specific steps you can take to improve your LO’s sleep right away. If you prefer more details and a step-by-step guide to get your LO sleeping through the night, then I highly recommend our program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet. In this program we offer 4 step-by-step sleep training methods. You choose the one that feels best for your LO. We have super gentle & gradual all the way to quick & efficient. Each step of the way you get advice based on your baby’s developmental stage, energy levels, and temperament. I had joined the program when my daughter was 6 months old because I was nursing and rocking to sleep and we had to break these sleep associations. It was amazing but she was sleeping through the night within 5 days and has been ever since (21 months now). I also bought baby wise (didn’t work for me either), but this program and the videos and guides were exactly what I needed. You get personalized advice from Jilly and you gain access to our private FB group with hundreds of moms. We are a true community and help support one another.
You can find out more info on the program here: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
When you are 100% consistent in following the steps of the program, your baby will be sleeping amazingly within 1-3 weeks. It depends on the method you choose as well as your baby’s adaptability. But we cover all of this in the program! I totally understand not wanting to spend more money on programs that don’t work! The best thing is that we offer a 30 day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy, so I would give it a shot!
Happy to answer any questions you have.
Have a great day! / Alyssa, BSMS Support Team