Your 9 month old baby has a lot going on! Milestones, developments, 9 month sleep regression, following wake windows and sleep schedules, teeth popping out, discovering the world of food- it’s no wonder your 9 month old won’t sleep! She’s too busy and distracted!
Nine months old is an age of rapid development and change. It’s easy for your baby’s sleep to get off track. But if there’s anything I want parents to know it’s this: There Is Always Hope!
This article walks you through what you can expect from your baby’s sleep and gives you detailed 9 month old sleep training tips to get your baby sleeping great, day and night.
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Your 9 Month Old Baby’s Sleep: What You Can Expect
Naps & Wake Windows for your 9 Month Old
- Your baby should nap a total of 2-3 hours everyday.
- This is usually divided between 2-3 naps.
- Most babies transition from 3 to 2 naps at this age
- Your baby will nap best with wake windows of 2.5 – 3.5 hours.
Bedtime for your 9 Month Old
- Bedtime for your 9 month old should fall between 6:30-8 pm.
Night Sleep for your 9 Month Old
- Most 9 month olds need 10-12 hours sleep at night.
Night Feedings for your 9 Month Old
- Most 9 month olds can sleep all night without waking to feed! This includes breastfed babies.
- Your baby’s growth and weight gain will determine if he needs night feeds. It’s best to ask your baby’s doctor if he still needs night feeds. And check out my Weaning Night Feedings Guide.
Total sleep in 24 hours for your 9 Month Old
- 13-15 hours. Make sure your baby is sleeping at least 13 hours total each day.
*Expect a rough patch during the 8-10 month sleep regression.
What To Do When Your 9 Month Old Won’t Sleep
Sadly, I hear from parents every day that their 9 month old baby is fighting or refusing naps, won’t sleep unless held, is waking up every hour at night (and therefore not sleeping through the night) or won’t sleep alone.
Not to worry, Mom and Dad. The following tips will show you exactly how to improve your baby’s sleep.
Tip #1: Start a consistent daily schedule
Day and night sleep work hand-in-hand. Sleep problems like waking up at night and fighting naps are often caused by an inconsistent daily schedule.
Routines are essential for helping babies sleep well. A consistent sleep schedule sets your baby’s block clock to sleep at predictable times, making it easier for her to settle for naps and at bedtime. It’s essential that your baby naps often and enough everyday.
Your 9 month old needs 2-3 hours sleep during the day. This is the combination of all naps.
If your baby sleeps less than 2 hours during the day, over-tiredness might make her hard to settle, fight bedtime or wake up more at night.
If your baby sleeps more than 3 hours during the day, she may not be tired enough to sleep through the night. She may toss and turn all night. Too much daytime sleep can also push bedtime late or make your baby wake early in the morning.
Your 9 month old’s wake windows should be 2.5 – 3.5 hours.
Babies can’t handle being awake for long periods. Some babies show signs that they’re sleepy like rubbing their eyes, yawning or “zoning out.” This makes it easy for parents to know it’s time for a nap.
Other babies give their parents no sleepy signs! They can go all day without appearing to need a nap. Don’t be fooled, mama! These babies need to nap just as much as other babies.
So make sure your 9 month old naps often (every 2.5 – 3.5 hours) and enough (a total of 2-3 hours.) If your baby goes to daycare, ask them to follow awake times too.
If you haven’t yet started a sleep schedule for your 9 month old baby, this sample daily schedule will help you create one.
9 month old sleep and nap schedules
If your 9 month old takes 3 naps a day, my recommended wake windows are 2-3 hours. This means that your baby should be awake for 2-3 hours between sleep periods. Sticking to these wake windows helps babies nap longer and sleep longer stretches at night.
This 3-nap schedule allows for your 9 month old to sleep 11 hours at night and nap for 3 hours. It shows you how to follow the recommended wake windows and ensure your baby sleeps enough everyday.
If your 9 month old baby takes 2 naps a day, my recommended wake windows are 2.5-3.5 hours. The fewer naps your baby takes, the longer their wake windows need to be.
This 2-nap schedule allows for your 9 month old to sleep 12 hours at night and nap for 3 hours. It shows you how you can follow recommended wake windows, plan your day and ensure your baby sleeps enough.
Of course, all babies are different so try not to worry if your baby’s naps or bedtime are a bit different. What’s most important is that they sleep enough everyday and are happy during the day.
If baby takes 3 naps a day
7:00 Wake & Milk
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Morning Nap
10:00 Snack / Milk
11:30 Lunch
12:30 Afternoon Nap
2:00 Snack / Milk
4:30 Cat Nap
5:00 Snack / Milk
6:00 Set the scene for relaxation *
6:30 Dinner *
7:00 Bath*
7:30 Start bedtime routine *
7:50 Lights out (baby takes 10-15 mins to fall asleep) *
If baby takes 2 naps a day
7:00 Wake & Milk
8:30-9 Breakfast
9:30 Morning Nap
11:00 Snack / Milk
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Afternoon Nap
3:30 Snack / Milk
5:00 Set the scene for relaxation *
5:45 Dinner *
6:15 Bath*
6:30 Start bedtime routine *
6:50 Lights out (baby takes 10-15 mins to fall asleep) *
* These are by-the-clock events, so try to keep them on a fixed schedule. This sets your baby’s body clock, making sleep come easier over time.
If your baby wakes at a different time in the morning, move your schedule accordingly.
Craving some routine, mama?
Want to get several example daily schedules that you can download & save? Ones that meet all of your baby’s sleep, feeding & playtime needs?
My Daily Schedules guide covers 5 months – 4 years old!
Tip #2: Create a relaxing bedtime routine
The purpose of a bedtime routine is to calm your baby in the evening, so that her body can relax and welcome sleep. Certain activities have been proven to relax babies, and when done in the right order, it sets your baby up for sleeping longer at night.
Every baby will benefit from a calming and peaceful bedtime routine each evening. Plus, research has shown that including Dad in baby’s bedtime routine decreases paternal stress and helps him bond with baby.
It’s never too late to start a relaxing bedtime routine. It’s something that will soothe your 9 month old when she’s sick, teething, going through a regression or when traveling. So make sure to keep up with it every night.
My Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit walks you through the steps of starting a relaxing and peaceful bedtime routine for your baby. You can start all tips tonight!
RELATED: How to get your baby to sleep in the crib after co sleeping
Tip #3: Keep a consistent bedtime
Many parents think that it doesn’t matter what time their baby goes to bed. I really wish this were true! But research has shown that late or inconsistent bedtimes lead to worse sleep in children, higher aggression and attention problems.
Babies really do have a “sweet spot” for bedtime and when you get your baby to sleep at the right time he will settle easily, sleep longer stretches and sleep later in the morning. I’ve seen this works with hundreds of babies!
The ideal bedtime for 9 month olds should fall between 6:30-8 pm. This is the range for bedtime. But make sure your baby’s bedtime doesn’t vary by more than 20 minutes each night.
Inconsistency with your baby’s bedtime makes it harder for him to settle and fall asleep. Your baby will fight bedtime if it falls at different times each day.
RELATED: Sleep Training Your 10 Month Old – 6 Easy Steps
My 9 month old won’t nap
There are several reasons why your 9 month old baby is fighting or refusing naps. The most common reasons are that wake windows aren’t right, your baby doesn’t have a nap-friendly space, or your baby needs to drop a nap. Here’s another guide on how to get your baby to nap longer.
Nap Tip #1: Watch your baby’s awake times
Nap Tip #1: Watch your 9 month old’s wake windows
Remember, your baby needs to nap every 2.5 – 3.5 hours. Napping this often works with your baby’s innate body clock and helps your little one not fight naps.
If your baby is overtired in general, aim for 2.5 hour awake times. Once your baby starts sleeping better, you can extend to 3 – 3.5 hours.
Make sure to check out my naps program for baby to help with specific schedules
Nap Tip #2: Give your baby a nap-friendly space
When possible, your baby should nap at home in the crib. This leads to the best quality sleep. If your baby goes to daycare, make sure they nap in a crib or portable crib like the Pack n Play.
Start a calming pre-nap routine to help your baby wind down and fall asleep easily. Do a mini version of your bedtime routine to give your 9 month old the cue that it’s time to sleep.
It’s ok if baby’s third nap (usually a short cat nap) happens on-the-go. You’ll be dropping this nap soon. Also, if your baby is caught in a short napping pattern, motion can help extend naps. Let baby nap in the stroller (lying flat, not upright) or while baby wearing. Just make sure to supervise all naps outside of the crib.
Nap Tip #3: Know when to drop the third nap
Your 9 month old will be ready for 2 naps a day when she sleeps well at night and can take naps that are one hour or longer. Until then, it’s ok if your baby takes 3-4 short naps. Napping often is more important than the number of naps each day.
If your 9 month old suddenly starts fighting naps, refusing naps until later, resisting bedtime or waking early in the morning, she could be ready to transition from 3 to 2 naps.
This article explains when it’s time to drop the 3rd nap, and how to do it!
My 9 Month Old Is Not Sleeping Through the Night
The reasons why your baby isn’t sleeping through the night can seem endless! It could be due to the 9 month old sleep regression, separation anxiety, teething, developmental milestones or simply that he hasn’t yet learned how to.
Let’s discuss each of these below.
Reason #1: The 9 month sleep regression
Reason #1: The 9 month sleep regression
Sleep regressions are temporary disruptions in your baby’s sleep caused by developmental milestones. When your baby is mastering a new skill (like crawling or pulling to stand) it’s normal for sleep to temporarily regress.
Most babies experience a rough patch in sleep sometime between 8-10 months. Truth be told, this regression can be one of the worst. But remember, it’s temporary and usually passes within 1-2 weeks.
My brand new ‘Sleep Regression Survival Guide’ explains exactly what to do to help your baby sleep well during a regression.
It has proven tips that help each sleep regression pass as quickly as possible. It also explains the best ways to ease your little one’s separation anxiety and tells you what to do when your baby is standing or sitting up in the crib, instead of sleeping!
It’s totally free and you can get it here.
Reason #2: Separation anxiety
Around 9 months old your baby goes through two big developments. First, he’s able to distinguish one person from another. And second, he starts to understand the concept of object permanence. These two developments can lead to separation anxiety.
Also, in times of big change (like starting daycare or mom returning to work) separation anxiety can increase. Your baby will look to you for comfort and stability, and may not be able to sleep without your help.
Separation anxiety can make your 9 month old unsettled when you’re not present. It’s a normal phase of development and not a sign that something is wrong. The intensity varies from child to child.
My brand new, totally free Sleep Regression Survival Guide has amazing tips on how to deal with separation anxiety. Download it here!
Reason #3: Teething
Some babies sleep right through teething, without any apparent discomfort. And others seem to really suffer. If you baby appears to be in pain from teething, there are remedies you can use to reduce discomfort.
Teething pain remedies:
- Soak a washcloth in chamomile tea, then freeze it. Let your baby suck on the frozen washcloth to reduce swelling and pain in her gums.
- Breastmilk popsicles
- Teething toys
- Teething pacifier
- Teething necklace
- Pain reliever like baby Tylenol or Motrin (speak to your doctor about the appropriate dosage)
Reason #4: “My baby stands up in her crib”
There’s a lot of change and activity happening in your baby’s brain right now! Understandably, this makes it harder for her to settle down and sleep long stretches.
Most babies will go through a phase of wanting to sit, stand or crawl around the crib rather than sleep. This is totally normal!
If you want to know exactly what to do in order to get your baby sleeping in her crib, instead of sitting, standing or crawling – download my brand new, totally free Sleep Regression Survival Guide here.
Reason #5: Your baby has never slept through the night
By 9 months old, most babies have the ability to sleep all night without feeding. But I’ve found that the majority of babies don’t naturally fall into sleeping through the night. They have to be taught how!
Even if your baby still needs one night feed, you can get him sleeping 6-8 hour stretches overnight.
The best way to set your baby up to sleep all night is to follow all the tips from this guide! Specifically, start a consistent daily schedule, create a relaxing bedtime routine and keep a consistent bedtime.
One other essential step to sleeping through the night is getting your baby settling himself to sleep. When your baby can go into his crib awake and fall asleep on his own, he’ll be able to resettle himself each time he stirs at night.
If your baby is nursed, rocked or helped to sleep, he’ll continue to need your help falling back asleep during the night. By 5-6 months old, we know babies have the ability to learn to settle themselves to sleep. We parents just have to show them how!
This is what I help parents do everyday in my proven sleep training program. Although it may feel overwhelming, stressful or sometimes impossible, it’s totally possible to get your 9 month old sleeping all night.
(If your baby is close to 10 months old, see my guide on sleep training your 10 month old baby.)
Final Thoughts
It’s common for 9 month old babies to have issues or problems with their sleep. Your baby is developing at the fastest pace of their life! So it makes sense that they would hit rough patches with their sleep.
After helping more than 80,000 families around the world improve their babies’ sleep, I’ve seen that the advice I give in this blog post works! The more you stick to it everyday, the better your baby will sleep.
If you’d like more guidance on improving your 9 month old’s sleep and the exact steps to get them falling asleep on their own and sleeping through the night, my gentle sleep program for babies is the solution! You can sign up for it here.
Good luck! Let me know how you go in the comments.
What is the 9-month sleep regression?
The 9-month sleep regression is a disruption in the sleep habits of babies at 9 months old. It occurs when their sleeping patterns drastically change and they start to fight sleep or wake frequently throughout the night.
The 9-month regression is caused by a surge in your baby’s development and growth, which requires more energy and nutrients. Also, your baby is becoming more aware of their surroundings, which can lead to frequent wakings during the night.
This can lead to sleepless nights for both parents and babies, leaving them feeling exhausted the following day. While this transition can be tough, it is temporary.
Why does my 9 month old wake up crying?
Your 9 month old baby might wake up crying because they’re hungry, uncomfortable, overtired or needing help to fall back asleep.
If your baby is used to feeding at night, they may wake up crying because they are hungry. Most 9 month olds can be weaned down to 0-1 night feeds. Best to ask your baby’s doctor and follow our night weaning recommendations in our baby sleep training program called 21 Days to Peace and Quiet.
To prevent your baby waking up crying because they are uncomfortable, try these tips. Dress your baby in cotton pajamas and a sleep sack to keep them comfortable and warm all night. And use an overnight diaper to prevent leaks.
Some babies wake up crying because they’re overtired. This can make transitioning to a new sleep cycle more disrupted for them. To help prevent this, follow recommended wake windows for your baby’s age and make sure they get enough sleep everyday.
Teaching your baby to self-soothe to sleep will lead to them sleeping longer stretches at night and not wake up crying. Babies sleep easier and better when they are able to fall asleep on their own and resettle independently at night.
How much night sleep does a 9 month old need?
9 month old babies should get 10-12 hours of sleep at night and nap 2-3 hours everyday. If your baby isn’t sleeping this much, the best way to help them sleep more everyday is to follow our recommended wake windows and make sure bedtime is between 6:30 – 8 pm.
What are 3 essential tips on how to get your baby sleeping great?
To ensure that your baby sleeps great everyday, follow these tips: ✅ Start a consistent daily schedule. ✅ Create a relaxing bedtime routine. ✅ Keep a consistent bedtime.
This blog post gives you lots of details and advice for implementing these 3 tips.
I’m a first time mom & my 9 month old is having trouble to sleep through the night before he would sleep through the night up till he turned 9 months he got a cold and is better now. But there’s time he sleeps 2-3 hours during the day. Per example after his shower around 11 last night he was relaxing and fell asleep like 12ish but then he woke up around an hour and half later (1:20am) fed him around 2 as we was playing for a bit till he got hungry (2am) burped him, changed diaper, but still didn’t get any sleep he has been up since then up till almost 8am(today) where he finally slept after a bottle. We did discover he has two baby teeth growing. we asked pediatrician what to do only advice they gave just to keep him up during the day. If he goes in car rides he would be awake but usually would fall asleep lol
Any tips would be helpful! 🙂
Hi!
My baby just turned 9 months and what used to be so easy to get him to bed has turned into a daily nightmare. It’s been months since he’s been able to just peacefully fall asleep in his bed. Now, I put him to bed and he kicks and screams and cries and carries on until someone goes in to be with him, but once someone walks in, all he wants to do is play! He usually wakes at 730 if he falls asleep around 8 the night before, and takes a nap after 2/2.5 of being up. It’s the only nap he takes as he doesn’t seem to get tired after that. Lately, if we let him stay up until he’s tired, he’ll stay up until 11PM! I have another baby on the way and can’t do this much longer without it disrupting everybody’s sleep. Please help! I’ve been searching for answers for so long. I don’t know what to do anymore.
Hi! Thanks for your message 🙂 Congrats on your pregnancy; that’s awesome! It’s really tough when LOs are not sleeping through the night and struggling with naps. I would definitely recommend our 21 Days Program. It is such a lifesaver when it comes to teaching your baby how to sleep and getting them on track so that you can also get some rest. Here is the link: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
Please let us know if you have any additional questions; you can email us at Support@babysleepmadesimple.com
Best,
Ingrid, BSMS Support Team
My little guy is 9 months old and I’ve been trying to get him to sleep since we came home from the hospital my little one doesn’t nap well if I’m lucky he might take a 30 min to hr nap but that’s not guaranteed some days he doesn’t nap at all and he wakes up basically ever hr once he’s down for the night can someone help me please
Hello Brittney,
Thank you for your post! I remember when my girls were up this much at night-SO exhausting! I hope your little one is feeling better and that everything is okay.
We can definitely help you get your LO’s sleep on track and get your entire family sleeping better! We can provide the best support to your family in our 21 Days to Peace & Quiet program.
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.
One 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 5 days a week in our private Slack group and we host 2 Zoom calls per week! You will always feel like you have the support you need every step of the way.
Program Link: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
I used the program with both of my girls and it was a lifesaver for our family. Happy to answer any questions you may have!
Sincerely,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
How do you keep bedtime consistent when naps aren’t always the same length?
My 9 month old is on 2 naps but I can’t seem to get her on a consistent bedtime. Each nap starts at roughly the same time every day but they very in length. Usually they’re about 1-2 hours but I never know for sure how long I’m going to get. Her last wake window is 3.5 hours, and just depending on how naps went that day, typically this means bedtime ranges anywhere from 7:00-8:00. How can I get her on a more consistent schedule?
Hello Maegan,
Thank you so much for your post! Is your daughter falling asleep independently for naps and bedtime?
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
My guy is 9 months old and has been sleeping horribly for the last 2 months. He had surgery at 7 months (fully recovered and healthy) and his sleep has never recovered. We starting bed sharing as he was waking every 10 minutes those first few days after surgery and now have to bring him into bed every night or he won’t sleep. For the last week or so he usually wakes 1-4x after his bedtime (around 7) until between 10 and midnight when we usually bring him into our bed. Then he wakes at 4 and about every 20-40 minutes until he’s up for good between 6:15 and 6:40. We hold/rock him to sleep and can’t be settled without picking him up. We’ve tried letting him cry for a few minutes but he just cries harder and harder until he gets violent hiccups. We’ve tried putting him down awake to which he’ll usually always immediately cry. Unsure where to even begin to help him settle in his crib much less fall asleep on his own.
Hi Bri,
So happy to hear your little guy is fully recovered & healthy.
We can definitely get him sleeping through the night at this age. We just need to do it slowly & gently in a way that fits his personality & your parenting style! That’s what our program is all about.
Please join here and get started sleep training with us, we’ll walk you through the whole thing:
https://programs.babysleepmadesimple.com/30-minutes-private-consultation-checkout/
Just make sure your baby’s doctor has cleared him for sleep training. FYI – we are NOT cry it out. 🙂
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Hi my 9 month old (nearly 10 on the 9th feb) has never been the best sleeper but it has been worse the past month.
He sleeps so well for naps, goes down awake and sleeps for 1-2hours at a time. In fact I need to wake him some days but at night he has started to fuss going down at night and then wakes 1-2 times in the night for milk! I think he has a sleep association with the bottle during the night as he is instantly looking for milk when he wakes and can have a couple oz and goes straight back down but I’m starting to wean this out. It’s the unsettled going to bed that’s a problem, sometimes takes an hour before bed.
I do try to track WW and it usually goes 2.5/3/3.5 but wake up for the day can be anything from 6-7 and same for bedtime anything from 6-7, it varies. Do I need to be more strict with this?
Hello Kim,
We definitely suggest waking up your LO at the same time everyday because this allows your naps to become more consistent which then results in a consistent bedtime. The more consistent, the better! If you need any help with getting your LO to break free of that sleep association, definitely check out our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program. Falling asleep independently (without associations) is the best way to ensure a peaceful 11-12 hours of overnight sleep!
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.
One 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.
Program Link: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
I used the program with both of my daughters and it was a lifesaver for our family. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi
My little boy is 9.5 months old, he previously slept through from 5weeks old (I know lucky me) I’ve always had a consistent bed time routine but since 8months hes hit what I’m assuming is a regression! he will not settle off to sleep, wakes in the night, he’s having 2 to 3 naps a day, I follow the 2.5-3 hour window. He was previously in bed for 6pm as he couldn’t stay awake however he goes to bed nearer 7pm ajd it can take a good hour for him to settle and fall asleep! This was never an issue before, he would have a bath, his milk and go in the cot drowsy and settle himself, he has been thar demanding that I have put the travel cot in my bedroom and he has slept in that this week, I feel I probably should if persevered an kept him in his own room but I’m exhausted and felt like I was in and out all night . Any advice please ?or do you think he will get any better? he’s 10 months on 12.
12.21 thank you
Hi Laura,
So sorry to hear you’re exhausted.
I think a little sleep training tune-up is necessary. You can easily do this through our program:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
You can sign up with support so we can give you detailed advice and keep daily contact with you to make sure you guys get the sleep you need ASAP.
Hoping to see you in the program soon,
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
my 9 month grandson and daughter live with me, he has NEVER slept through the night, longest he has every gone is 4 hours! we are exhausted. naps for 1&1/2 hours in the morning about 9.30/10am and again about 4pm for half an hour. he’s happy during the day and lovely but its hell at night. he has just started crawling this week and pulls himself to standing at the sofa. he eats really well and happy with his formula. he has tea about 5/5.15, bath at 6.15/6.30 and story, 180ml formula and bed at 7/7.15pm. what should we do different please
Hello, I’m sorry to hear your grandson has never slept through the night. That’s rough!
With a 7pm bedtime, he should wake up at 7am in the morning, nap at 9:30-10 as he is, and then keep 2.5-3.5 hr awake times. That means that his next nap would be at 1:30-2 (which means he should be fully asleep by this time). Sounds like that second awake time is too long for him. Try to change that and see how it works.
The best way, however, for us to help you is in the 21 Days to Peace and Quiet Program. This is a sleep training program in which we can help you adjust everything to fit your baby’s age, personality and your resolve. We have several sleep training methods to choose from, and all the steps of sleep training are laid out for you in easy-to-follow guides.
Here is the link to the program:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
We hope to see you sign up soon!
/Artemis, BSMS Support Team
Thank you Becca! Yes, I was worried it could be split nights as well and since nothing else seems to be working, I figured it could be too much total sleep. Regarding pushing bedtime back, do you recommend I adjust all the wake windows, or just the last wake window to accomodate the later bedtime? She usually wakes from her last nap around 3pm, so I’m afraid if we extend to a 4.5 hour wake window before bed that it might cause overtiredness. On the other hand, if we cap naps and her last one ends at 2, I fear that the the shorter naps plus pushing bedtime would make her overtired. I suppose it is worth a shot, but wondering which scenario you think I should try. She is at daycare during the day, so this doesn’t help.
Hey Beth! I would move to more of a clock schedule to make things a little easier and extend each awake time just a little so that bedtime can be scooted back. So look at your ideal wake time and make that their wake time everyday. Then choose your nap times based off of that and assuming a 1.5 hour nap. Typically your bedtime would be 12 hours after your wake time but for you we are going to try about 13 hours after your awake time and see how that goes. I would recommend capping both naps at 1.5 hours. So right now we are just scooting bedtime back to decrease the amount of total sleep time and see if that helps. You mentioned that you tried sleep training and it did not work. I highly encourage you to look into our very unique and customizable sleep training programs. Here is the link to our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program/
We offer options with lots of personalized support to help you with any particular issues and struggles. Sometimes it takes finding the right method, with the right support and making sure it matches what your particular baby needs and our program provides that.
We also have a package that you can buy that includes all of our schedules and developmental activities. This would help with your situation you are dealing with now. The schedules have been so super helpful for me throughout all of my kids different ages and changes. Check them out here: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/daily-schedule-developmental-activities-baby-toddler-2/
I hope this helps! Becca, BSMS Support Team
Hi. My 9 month old daughter has never slept through the night despite attempted sleep training in the past. For the last 2 months, she consistently wakes up once or twice overnight and is wake for 1-2 hours (sometimes more) just crying. We have tried whatever we can to help her go back to sleep, such as rocking or patting her back, or even letting her cry, and nothing seems to help. On paper, her wake times, naps, etc are perfect. Her wake windows are 2.5/3/3.5-4, she takes 2 naps a day totaling 2-3 hours (typically 1-1.5 hour each), wakes around 6:30am and bed around 6:30pm. She puts herself to sleep wonderfully for all naps and bedtime. It is just the overnight wakes that have become a problem and she cannot seem to put herself back to sleep. Going on two months, I would have suspected this to get better, but nothing seems to help. What do you suggest this could be or that we can do?
Hmm. This is a hard one. I am so sorry you have been dealing with this for 2 months!! It does sound like you are doing everything right. Our main advice for night wakings is to do everything exactly as you would at bedtime. It would depend on the method you used for sleep training. What method did you use for sleep training? WHatever it is, you will utilize this method for all wakings. If you are already doing this, it might be a schedule issue. Some babies just need a little tweek to the schedule and everything falls into place. You mentioned that you are going off of awake times for her schedule. I might suggest going to a more by the clock schedule. This is what I would recommend: 6:30am wake, 9:00am nap (wake her after 90 minutes), afternoon nap 1:30 and then asleep between 6:30 and 7:00pm. Another thing to look into is sleep associations. Is there anything that you are utilizing right before she goes into the crib or while she is in the crib for bedtime and naps? (bottle, rocking, nursing, a song, a sound machine that turns off during the night, etc) Anything that could be different for her in the middle of the night than when she falls asleep. She may be looking for this association when she wakes up in the middle of the night. See if any of these things help and let us know how it goes and if you need more suggestions. I can always go to the team and see if they have had another client with a similar situation. Our email is: support@babysleepmadesimple.com so feel free to send us an email and we can work on finding what is causing these wake ups!!
Becca, BSMS Support Team
Hey Beth! I have one more suggestion that might help with these night wakings. So some babies just need less sleep than others. The recommended sleep per 24 period at this age is 13-15 hours. If she is napping 2-3 hours per day and getting 12 hours to sleep at night then she would be getting between 14 and 15 hours total. Since she is waking up and staying awake for 1-2 hours then she probably needs 1-2 hours less total sleep. You could try capping her naps at 1 hour or moving bedtime back to 7:30 or 8:00 and see how that changes things. Try to get her total sleep time to 13 hours and see if that helps. Let us know how it goes. I feel like I have been seeing this whole split nights thing a lot so I want to get some case studies on what is working and what is not. Thank you!!
Becca, BSMS Support Team
Email us at: support@babysleepmadesimple.com to give us an update!
Hi, we are about to adopt a 9 month old baby girl. We are currently going through introductions and what has become apparent is that there is little to no sleep routine. Currently the baby naps in her bouncer or sometimes in her baby gym standing up or in a car seat or pram. There is no set nap times. At night she apparently goes to sleep at 8pm but from what we have seen she falls asleep in her travel cot and then it’s moved to the bedroom.
We have had her at home for some time this week and can see already that she doesn’t like to be put down in a crib and fights it so it looks like we need to create a routine from scratch but it’s difficult to k ow where to start and would value some advice.
Many Thanks
Hello Louise,
Congratulations on your newest addition! I would join our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program. We will walk you step by step through building a peaceful nightly ritual, getting bedtime sorted out and then naps. Your LO is capable of sleeping 11-12 hours at night independently and napping 2-3 hours a day in her crib, but she just needs some assistance getting there!!
We can definitely help you get your LO’s sleep on track and get your entire family sleeping better! We can provide the best support to your family in our 21 Days to Peace & Quiet program.
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 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!
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi, my wife and I have an almost 10 month old daughter who we try to put to sleep at 9pm every night but sometimes she won’t fall asleep until after 11pm after many attempts at walking her to sleep. We have decided not to sleep train her. She also wakes up at least 5 times a night for middle of the night feedings and sometimes wakes up crying. She hasn’t slept through the night since she was 3 months. Please help.
Hello Josh,
It is SO hard when our LO’s aren’t sleeping. May I ask why you don’t want to sleep train? Check out this article to learn about sleep training. The phrase sleep training can sometimes have a negative vibe to it, but really you are just teaching your LO how to fall asleep independently and self-soothe in the night. In our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program, we offer 4 methods to choose from! 3 of the methods, you never have to leave your child’s room or side. When you teach your daughter how to fall asleep independently, she won’t need your assistance anymore to sleep and babies really want less support as they get older vs. when they were babies.
Please let me know if I can answer any more questions about our program. I used it with both of my daughters and it was a lifesaver for our entire family (especially them)!
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/is-sleep-training-bad/
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi! Thank you for the advice! I am at a total loss of what to do — our 9 month old daughter has been sleep trained for 5 months now. She takes two, one hour long naps a day and puts herself to sleep for those. She was sleeping through the night consistently until about 3 weeks ago and she has started to wake up once per night. When she wakes up, I let her fuss for a bit before going in to help her. But if I go in it turns into a minimum of 3 hours trying to get her to go back to sleep. She ends up only being able to sleep after she has cried so much she is exhausted and if we are holding her for at least an hour before trying to set her down. I am at a total loss of what to do — we have tried not touching her, singing to her, letting her cry it out for an hour…nothing works. She refuses to nurse to sleep anymore — I am at home with her all day and spend our entire nighttime routine focused on her. Please help!
Hello Taylor,
I am sorry to hear that things have been tough! So for a 9 month old, I would aim for 11-12 hours of overnight sleep and 2.5-3 hours of day sleep. 2 naps are perfect! I would see if you could lengthen those naps though to 75 minutes each. Aim for 2.5 hours of awake time before nap 1, 3 hours of awake time before nap 2 and 3.5 hours before bedtime. I hope this can help after a week or so!!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
My baby has teething theses days. Whenever he feels sleepy, he just bumped around in his crib. Without Tylenol he suffered alot. He never want to sleep. Please I need suggestions his head. He never comes in lap or sleep for a second in his crib when being fussy. Can I give him tylenol everyday
Hello!
I would consult with your LO’s doctor about the Tylenol. Check out this helpful video for teething relief recommendations! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdjE1TAgMn0&t=235s
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
My 9mo is a great sleeper for the most part, but we are really struggling with early morning rises. He is up between 430 and 5am everyday. We have no light coming into the room, he sleeps with a sound machine, takes 2 solid naps a day, his last ending around 3pm. Bedtime is usually around 7pm depending on how tired he is. We have a night time routine and he falls asleep on his own…but without fail when 5am comes around he wakes up. We have tried leaving him in the crib until 6am and just going in and soothing him, but after 2 weeks with no change we gave up. He eats great and doesn’t have night feedings, and if he wakes up in the middle of the night he will go back to sleep on his own.. Not sure what else we can do to get him to sleep longer but we are desperate for help!
Hello! Those early mornings can be really tough. I would try a couple things. 1) I would move your bedtime up to 6:30pm. You really only want 3.5 hours of awake time before bed and that means asleep at the 3.5 hour mark. Don’t be scared of an early bedtime–it can usually get kiddos sleeping in later! Also, make sure to limit any screen time and sugars (fruits and yogurt) before bed. I would stay consistent with no fun before 6am!
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Thank you for the survival kit!! It’s just amazing. I’ve been doing PNR for about 2 weeks now and it has made such a massive difference from the very first 3 days. My 9 month old already has made so much progress not only sleeping wise but with her milestones as well. It’s like she is developing her skills overnight. Only problem I need help with is she falls asleep during the feeding time and we never make it to reading/cuddle part. However, I’ve watched her through the baby monitor and I’ve seen her get up in a sitting position and gone back to sleep by herself. Many times she made little cries, turn over and gone back to sleep again. She only wakes up crying when she needs feeding, which I still have to do 2 3 times per night. I really don’t mind doing as it took me a long time to exclusively breastfeed her so I’m not ready to give it up yet as she is on 3 solid meal plus one snack during the day. Is still ok to breastfeed her to sleep if there is not problems at other times during her sleep, or should I stop it.
Hello Murielle, if you are all happy with your overall situation, there is no need to change it 😉
Yes, usually at 9mo old babies can be night weaned and this improves their night sleep but this is your decision to make. Maybe talk to your doctor about it to see if he has any tips or requests based on your Lo growth.
Have a nice day!
Micaela BSMS Support Team
Hello, I have a question about my 9 month old daughter. She was always breastfed to sleep and has never STTN, but in the last week or two I have tried to break the habit of breastfeeding to sleep and it has been working slowly. The problem is that she will fall asleep on her own (with me in the room) but when she wakes up she rolls to her tummy and screams. When I try to roll her back to her back it just makes things worst. In the last couple of days she started to fall asleep on her tummy (which she has never done before) and that makes her wake up after only half an hour. So I don’t know what to do, should I let her roll to her tummy and then try to learn how to sleep on her stomach or should I roll her back to her back even though it makes her more upset? She can roll from tummy to back, she just doesn’t want to.
Hello!
As soon as your Lo is strong enough to roll onto her tummy, it is okay to leave her in that position. (Just always place her on her back). It is normal for babies to get frustrated with this at first, but I would let her work it out on her own and in just a few days, she will figure out how to get comfortable on her own!
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hello! My daughter has slept great we worked her into a sleep schedule as early as 3 months. We would start her bedtime routine around 6-6:30 and she would be in bed by 7-7:30 at the latest. She would sleep through the whole night work days till we woke her up at 5am and non work days she would sleep 12+ hours straight. Even got to a point she would go down without a fuss. She is going to be 9 monthes in September and the last week has been HORRIBLE! She is refusing to go to sleep in her crib, we rock her and she’s out then as soon as she gets laid down she is awake screaming. And she has a cold so she is so horse and stuffy that he scares me her continuous screaming. Her 7 pm sleep has turned into midnight -1am fighting sleep and then wakes continuously throughout the night. I don’t even know what to do now. I’ve done everything I know and how we sleep trained her but it’s just not working!
Hi there Kirstyn. Thank you for your message. Sorry to hear you’re struggling.
Since your baby had been sleeping great, this is probably a regression. So the key to get through this is being consistent with your schedule and what you’ve been doing before.
Please, also try implementing the tips from this guide and let us know how things work out. Things will get better. Good luck. Panagiota, BSMS Support Team
I am at a loss here with my son. He is 9 months old next week. He has been up until midnight almost every night for the last 2 weeks. He really doesn’t have a consistent sleep schedule, he still wakes up once or twice for a bottle. we still co sleep. He is teething and just learned how to stand up. I feel like I should have nipped this in the bud way sooner but what’s done is done. How do I go about implementing a routine now?
Hi Sonia! I feel you completely, it sounds tough. The good news is that it is never too late and blaming yourself for what you should or shouldn’t have done doesn’t help. The important thing is that you are getting help now. Teething can certainly add to your LO’s discomfort, but the underlining issue seems to be, that your LO doesn’t know how to self settle yet. Teaching him this skills will lead to STTN and thus better sleep for your entire family! This guide that you commented on, is certainly a good place to start as it lets you manage your expectations and tackle sleep disturbances on a general level. If you implement the tips consistently for 1-2 weeks, you should see improvement. If you’d like detailed assistance, I would also recommend our program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet. We offer 4 different step-by-step methods for you to choose from (from super gentle & gradual to quick & efficient.) Each step of the way you get advice based on your baby’s developmental stage, energy levels, and temperament.
You enroll on this page: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
The program costs $197 now, but you should know that in just a few weeks’ time Jilly’s updated program will be out and it will have a $97 DIY option.
Jilly is currently on maternity leave. As of October 1st she will be answering questions in our private Facebook group 2 times per week. (In the DIY option you do it all yourself. There’s no messaging option or Facebook group. BUT you get all the same information and resources and can definitely get your baby sleeping great.)
In general, when you are 100% consistent in following the steps of the program, your baby will be sleeping great at night 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 hope this isn’t too confusing. Happy to answer any questions you have about the program.
Have a great day! / Leena, BSMS Support Team
Hello, my 9 month old twins won’t sleep at all! They are girls and I don’t know if that has anything to do with it or not, but I’ve heard it might. Anyways, they have never slept good at night, but it’s never been this bad. My wife and I are literally up all night until we have to get ready for work in the mornings. Yes, you heard me correctly 12 straight hours every night we are up. My wife is a school teacher and I’m a maintenance man who works with heavy machinery so sleep is kind of important. What can we do to help this problem and maybe get 4-5 hours of sleep per night?
Hello Shane,
Thank you so much for your message! This sounds completely exhausting. We would really love to help you. First, I recommend signing up for our FREE Exhausted Mom’s Survival Kit. It will provide you with a ton of helpful tips. Also, I highly recommend looking into our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program. We have several parents that joined to help get their twins sleeping through the night. At 9 months, your twins can certainly sleep 11-12 hours!! These parents have found success and I know we can help you and your wife find success too. I am attaching information below for both resources. Please let me know if you have ANY questions!
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/exhausted-moms-survival-kit
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
My 9 month old goes to sleep at 9 and gets up at 6. He wakes a minimum of 2 times a night, sometimes 5 or 6. He has suddenly only fallen asleep when being held or walked around the room and will only stay asleep if he sleeps with us.
Hi! That is really tough and exhausting. I completely understand the struggle!
Since you mention that these changes are recent, I suspect it’s the 8-10 month sleep regression that’s worsened your baby’s sleep. You can still follow the tips from this guide, they can help your LO through this restless, rough patch.
Also, I think your LO and your ENTIRE family could benefit from teaching your LO how to fall asleep independently. The reason why this is important is that it allows your baby to be happy sleeping on his own in the crib AND leads to long sleep stretches overnight.
At this age your LO can 100% do this. This will lead to STTN and give you a bit more freedom and down time.
If you’d like more support and detailed guidance, our program 21 Days to Peace & Quiet walks you through the entire process. I’d be happy to answer any questions about the program! Here is the link:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
Best of luck mama!/ Leena, BSMS Support Team