Wow! Your little one has just turned 10 months old! This can be such a busy age for babies. Many babies are doing their very best to move any way that they can. Some babies may be army crawling everywhere and other babies may be cruising furniture or taking their first steps. 10 month old babies are often getting messy in the kitchen testing out new solid foods and using their hands to explore their surroundings. It can be such a cute and sweet stage, unless your baby is keeping you up at all hours of the night!
There are two types of parents with 10 month old babies. Ones whose babies sleep great (because they were sleep trained or just fell into it.) And those who struggle daily because their 10 month old won’t sleep. Parents may be experiencing crib refusals, short naps, or crying throughout the night.
Sleep training young babies involves some guesswork and flexibility. However, sleep training 10 month old babies is more straight-forward. At 10 months old, your baby can learn to settle herself to sleep, wean off night feeds, sleep through the night and take long naps. Your 10 month old can have a predictable bedtime and naptime schedule.
You may feel like you have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do getting your baby sleeping well. But I promise, a clear plan and some dedication will get you there!
Is your 10 month old not sleeping through the night? Does your 10 month old need to be held to sleep? Is your 10 month old waking up at night for a bottle or breastmilk? Is there a 10 month old sleep regression? If you’ve turned into a walking “Mombie” or “Dadbie”, then this guide is just for you!
This post may contain affiliate links.
RELATED: Some babies hit the 11 month sleep regression early. Is this your baby? Find out here!
x
Your 10 Month Old’s Sleep: What You Can Expect
The key to ensuring that your baby sleeps well is understanding what is realistic for your baby’s age. This chart discusses realistic expectations for your 10 month old baby’s sleep!
Naps & Wake Windows
Your 10 month old baby should nap a total of 2-3 hours everyday.
This is usually divided between 2 naps.
Your baby will be ready to transition from 3 to 2 naps when she can nap longer than 1 hour.
Your baby will nap best with wake windows between 2.5 – 3.5 hours.
Bedtime
Bedtime should fall between 6:30-8 pm.
Try to keep your baby’s bedtime within a 15 minute range each night. (Super consistent bedtimes lead to the best night sleep.)
Most 10 month olds sleep between 11-12 hours per night.
Night Feeds
At 10 months old, most babies can sleep through the night without any feedings!
Your baby’s growth and weight gain will determine if he needs night feeds. Best to ask your baby’s doctor.
If your baby has been cleared for night weaning, check out my Weaning Night Feedings Guide.
Total sleep in 24 hours
13-15 hours
*There may be a rough patch during the 8-10 month sleep regression.
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!
Sleep Training Your 10 Month Old: 6 Essential Steps
If your 10 month old isn’t sleeping well during the night, I recommend following these 7 sleep training steps tips to get your 10 month old baby sleeping better at night.
Essential steps:
Step #1: Create a sleep-inducing space
Step #2: Start a relaxing bedtime routine
Step #3: Give your baby a consistent bedtime
Step #4: Remove any sleep props
Step 1: Create a sleep-inducing space
Your baby’s sleep environment will “make or break” his sleep. If your baby’s sleep space is too bright, stimulating or uncomfortable it will result in fighting bedtime, waking at night or waking early in the morning.
10 month old babies get distracted easily and sometimes it just takes adding or removing a few things to make your baby’s bedroom better suited for falling and staying asleep. This is the easiest sleep training step for your 10 month old!
I cover how to create a sleep-inducing space in my Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit! You’ll get 3 simple but effective tips you can start tonight to get your baby sleeping great. Parents reach out to me within 1-2 days telling me their baby suddenly slept through the night because of these tips!
RELATED: How to Help Your 11 Month Old Sleep Like a Champ!
Put your baby in a sleep sack
Don’t you sometimes wake at night searching for your duvet that was kicked off hours ago? Our body temperature is highest at bedtime, but drops during the night. We all cool off during the night and will wake to find a missing blanket. Your baby shouldn’t sleep with a loose blanket for two reasons.
First, it’s not safe. Loose blankets can be kicked onto your baby’s face. Although suffocation is more of a risk for young, immobile babies, it’s nothing you want keeping you up at night!
Second, I can guarantee that your baby will kick off her blanket 347 times each night, making YOU get up each time to replace.
Avoid the frustration of loose blankets by having your baby sleep in a sleep sack. Sleep sacks are wearable blankets and they’re amazing! They keep your baby warm, cosy and safe all night (and give parents peace of mind!)
Sleep sacks are safe to use long-term for babies that can roll, stand, crawl and walk.
Keep Your Baby Safe & Cosy with a Sleep Sack, find my favorites here!
Transition your baby to the crib
If your baby won’t sleep in their crib at 10 months old and instead sleeps in a DockaTot, Rock n Play or any other “lounger” it’s time to move him to the crib. At 10 months, most babies are rolling, sitting and starting to crawl or cruise. A cozy, nest-like pod may have helped your young baby sleep well, but your older baby needs space to move around and get himself into different sleep positions. Imagine if you had to sleep in one position all night! You’d wake with numb, tingling limbs!
As babies become mobile they need room to roll around and get themselves comfortable. This is vital for self-soothing (something your 10 month old baby is capable of.) Plus, the crib is the safest sleep space for little ones. So transition your baby to the crib now, where he’ll happily sleep for the next few years!
x
Here are my guides for transitioning out of the DockaTot and Rock n Play.
Step 2: Start a relaxing bedtime routine
The purpose of a bedtime routine is to calm your baby every evening, so that her body can relax and welcome sleep. In fact, research shows that a consistent bedtime routine helps children fall asleep quicker, wake less often at night and improves maternal mood. (A triple win!)
For this reason, a consistent and relaxing bedtime routine for your 10 month old is an essential sleep training step. Because your baby’s bedtime routine helps her relax and fall asleep, it’s something you want to do everyday. It can calm and settle your baby when she’s sick, teething, going through a regression and even when you travel.
My Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit walks you through the steps of creating a peaceful bedtime routine. Doing just these steps alone often helps babies sleep longer at night right away!
RELATED: My 9 Month Old Won’t Sleep!
Step 3: Give your baby a consistent bedtime
Many parents think that it doesn’t matter what time their baby goes to bed. If only this were true! But the reality is that late or inconsistent bedtimes lead to worse sleep, higher aggression and attention problems in children.
Babies really do have a “sweet spot” for bedtime and when you get your baby to sleep at the right time, she will settle easily, sleep longer stretches and sleep later in the morning. I’ve personally seen this work with thousands of babies!
Your 10 month old’s bedtime 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 15 minutes each night.
Inconsistency with your baby’s bedtime makes it harder for her to settle and fall asleep. Your baby will fight bedtime if it falls at different times each day.
Step 4: Remove any sleep props
“Sleep associations” are the props or conditions that we need in order to relax and fall asleep. If your baby is used to being rocked or nursed to sleep, then he associates these activities with falling asleep. He’s gotten used to you helping him fall asleep and removing them is how we get baby to sleep longer stretches at night.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this! It’s just that he’ll also need your help each time he wakes at night or early from a nap. If this is the case for your little one, then it’s time to teach him how to fall asleep on his own. Babies develop this skill at 5-6 months, so your 10 month old is capable of it.
When your baby can go into his crib awake and settle himself to sleep on his own, he’ll be able to resettle himself each time he stirs at night. (Most babies stir at least 4 times each night.) Adults stir often too, but we are able to put ourselves back to sleep and don’t realize it!
We always begin sleep training at bedtime. Once you get your baby falling asleep on his own at bedtime, he’ll naturally extend his nighttime sleep stretches and he’ll only wake and call out for you when he’s hungry.
So, you and your 10 month old are ready for sleep training! But where should you start? If you feel like you need support and assistance with sleep training, then I highly recommend checking out my program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet. My program will guide you step-by-step through teaching your baby to fall asleep independently. It’s a proven, step-by-step program that has several sleep training methods you can choose from and will teach you exactly how to put your 10 month old to sleep. You choose the one that feels best for your little one. We have super gentle and gradual all the way to quick and efficient. Each of the step, you get advice based on your baby’s developmental stage, energy levels, and temperament.
Step 5: Wake your baby at the same time every morning
It may sound insane to wake your baby up in the morning, especially if she doesn’t sleep well at night. But believe me, it works! It’s a simple sleep training trick that leads to more predictable days, which helps moms and babies thrive. Moms can better plan their days and know what to expect. More importantly,babies sleep better with consistent sleep times.
If your baby’s morning wake time varies by 1-2 hours everyday, then nap times and bedtime will too. This makes it hard to make plans, run errands and settle into a peaceful evening routine. So if you’re desperate for a more consistent sleep schedule for your 10 month old, do yourself a favor and set your alarm each morning.
The best time to wake your baby each morning should fall right in the middle of her typical wake times. Write down the time your baby naturally wakes in the morning for the next week. Then pick the time that falls right in the middle of this range. That’s your new wake up time!
Step 6. Keep an eye on baby’s wake windows
“Wake windows” are simply the periods of time that your baby is awake throughout the day. Recommended wake windows for your 10 month old are 2.5 – 3.5 hours.
If wake windows are too short, your baby may not be tired enough and ready to sleep. If your 10 month old’s wake windows are too long, your baby may become overtired or overstimulated, which makes it very hard to settle for sleep.
If your 10 month old has 3 short naps you’ll need shorter wake windows, like 2-3 hours. If your baby takes 2 long naps, you’ll need longer wake windows of 2.5 – 3.5 hours. Some babies can even handle being awake 4 hours before bedtime.
The majority of babies are ready to take 2 naps per day and this guide helps you transition from 3 to 2 naps. If you need help with naps check out my sleep training baby for naps course.
Here are some example 10 month old sleep schedules
If baby wakes at 6 am
6:00 Wake, milk*
7:00 Play
7:30 Solids
8:30 Morning nap*
10:00 Wake, milk*
11:00 Play
12:30 Solids
1:00 Afternoon nap
2:30 Wake, milk, snack
4:30 Set the scene for relaxation*
5:00 Dinner, bath*
5:45 Peaceful Nightly Ritual, top-up feed*
6 – 6:30 Asleep*
If baby wakes at 7 am
7:00 Wake, milk*
8:00 Solids
8:30 Play
9:30 Morning nap*
11:00 Wake, milk*
12:00 Solids
12:30 Play
2:00 Afternoon nap
3:30 – 4 Wake, milk, solids
5:30 Set the scene for relaxation*
6:00 Dinner, bath*
6:45 Peaceful Nightly Ritual, top-up feed*
7 – 7:30 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.
For a baby waking at 6:00am, I would recommend wake windows of 2.5-3-3.5 hours. This means 2.5 hours of awake time before nap 1, 3 hours of awake time before nap 2, and 3.5/4 hours of awake time before bedtime. Of course, you know your little one best in terms of nutrition. Your schedule may alter based on meals, snacks, and milk! Definitely remember to set the scene for relaxation. Babies at this age are just so busy and really need to calm down their bodies and brains in order to fall asleep peacefully.
For a baby waking at 7:00am, I would recommend wake windows of 2.5-3-3.5 hours. This means 2.5 hours of awake time before nap 1, 3 hours of awake time before nap 2, and 3.5/4 hours of awake time before bedtime. Of course, you know your little one best in terms of nutrition. Your schedule may alter based on meals, snacks, and milk! Definitely remember to set the scene for relaxation. Babies at this age are just so busy and really need to calm down their bodies and brains in order to fall asleep peacefully.
If your baby wakes at a different time in the morning, move your schedule accordingly to keep your 10 month old’s nap schedule consistent. You always want to make sure to move naps and meals. It is best to try and keep the sleep body clock and food body clock aligned! I can also help with tackling daylight savings and toddler sleep, which is much easier when your toddler is already on a consistent schedule.
Final Thoughts
It is so exhausting when our babies aren’t sleeping well! If your 10 month old isn’t taking great naps or is restless all night long, or even if your 10 month old won’t sleep unless held, I promise that you are not alone. Your 10 month old can sleep through the night and sleep training is the key! Sleep training your 10 month old doesn’t have to be big and scary. It’s all about recognizing the importance of a consistent sleep routine and trying your best to keep it up everyday. Many parents often fear that a schedule will keep them from living their lives! A consistent sleep schedule will allow your 10 month old to sleep peacefully at night and be more rested to conquer the day. Your little one CAN still be flexible during family outings or trips and we cover travel tips in my program!
The 6 sleep training steps discussed above will help your 10 month old become a champion sleeper. I can guide you through all of this in more detail in my gentle sleep training program where I have helped thousands of families just like yours.
Don’t forget to get my brand new FREE Sleep Regression Survival Guide! Click to download!
FAQs
Why won’t my 10 month old sleep?
I am sure you are exhausted with your 10 month old waking up at night! If your little one still needs your support to fall asleep (i.e. nursing to sleep, rocking to sleep), then I recommend eliminating these sleep associations and teaching your baby to fall asleep independently. This is because if your little one falls asleep by rocking, then your baby needs rocking to fall back asleep every time she wakes in the middle of the night.
Once your 10 month old can fall asleep independently, then she can sleep through the night. I know how tough it can be to teach this skill to your baby. This is the reason why I created the 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program. I wanted parents to be able to get step by step guidance to walk them through the sleep training process and take the guessing game out of what to do!
If your 10 month old knows how to fall asleep independently, but is still waking up during the night, it could be that your baby needs some schedule adjustments! Definitely check out the recommended schedules above or book a private consultation. We would be happy to chat with you about your individual child and create a customized schedule.
How to get my 10 month old to sleep through the night?
My Exhausted Mom’s Starter Kit will walk you through the bedtime routine steps that will make your evenings more peaceful. It is also important to follow the proper awake times and ensure your baby gets enough day sleep. At this age, 2-3 hours of day sleep is ideal. Being overtired can lead to an increase in night wakings. Lastly, I recommend sleep training your 10 month old! My 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program will help you teach your baby to fall asleep independently and resettle independently in the middle of the night. I promise that amazing sleep is just around the corner!
How much sleep does a 10 month old need?
Every baby is unique and has different sleep needs! The majority of 10 month old babies need between 11-12 hours of overnight sleep and 2-3 hours of daytime sleep split between 2 naps. Don’t worry if your little one is outside this range! If your little one is sleeping a little less than the average but is very happy all day long, then your baby is getting enough sleep. However, if your baby is getting less sleep and very cranky during the day or waking a ton at night, then your 10 month old could be overtired. Definitely reach out to us! We would be happy to help you and your family achieve better sleep!
Goodmorning, my 10 months old daughter is an early riser since she was 6 months old. She now wakes up every day at 5.20. Since 4 weeks we removed the third nap and expanded the wake windows a bit (2,5 hours in the morning, hence first nap at 800) , then 3 hours and 3.75 hours. But so far we do not see any result. we implement all the tips and tricks. no sleep association, she has control over her pacifier, we treat the 5.20 am as night .. actually we do all what is recommended. Should we be more patience? Or should we shuffle her schedule? Hence is her first nap too early? thank you!
Hello Irma,
Early wakings can be SO frustrating! It looks like you are using great wake windows. I would love to help you investigate further. I would recommend booking a private consultation. It can really help to chat with a consultant to figure out the root cause and create a customized plan for your daughter that will help solve these wakings.
Here are the details!
https://programs.babysleepmadesimple.com/30-minutes-private-consultation-checkout/
Looking forward to supporting your family.
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Client Support Manager
My 10mo goes down for naps so easy and takes good naps, but bedtime can take anywhere from 40 mins -1.5 hrs to get him down. From about 3-7 mo he slept through the night but when we transitioned him to the crib that all went down hill and he still hasn’t slept through the night since.
Just confused as to what could be the issue. First nap is 2.5hrs after wake and second is 3hrs after wake. We aim for bedtime 3-3.5 hrs after wake window but nothing is working.
Sorry to hear that, Madeline. Sometimes babies need a while to adjust to the crib, as well as specific support to learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep peacefully at bedtime.
We help parents do this every single day in our 21 Days to Peace & Quiet program. We would love to help you, too!
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant/
Hope to see you in there, just click the link and let’s get started!
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
I have a brest fed 10 month old who has always nursed before sleep. We have a good bedtime routine with the same bedtime each night. I try to put him down drowsy but awake. He keeps sitting up now and won’t lay down. He sleeps while sitting until he topples over and then he wakes up crying again. This started last night and went on for 2.5 hours. I switched to CIO because the gentle methods weren’t working. He still wakes up at least two times a night and I give him the boob so he goes back to sleep. Then he wakes again at 5ish, ready for the day.
Last night was the first night that I nursed him first and then did the bedtime routine without a final nursing as the last step. This is when he sat up and just wouldn’t go down. I caved after 2.5 hours and nursed him.
I’m not sure he knows how to lie back down and I don’t know what to do. Do I just keep trying this until he finally lays down? Do I go in and lay him down multiple times until he’s too tired to get back up? I’m at a loss and need him sleep trained before he starts standing and can’t get back to sleep.
Any advice?
Hi Colleen,
sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with your 10 month old’s sleep.
First of all, for sitting up in the crib, here’s a full guide on what to do:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-stands-sits-up-in-crib-wont-sleep/
As for sleep training, I hear you still struggle with early wakings, nursing to sleep, and night wakings.
We have quick hands-off methods in our sleep training program that I think could be very helpful to you. Many parents find success within a few days only!
Click here to sign up:
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/baby-sleep-consultant
Hoping to see you in the program,
Artemis, BSMS Support Team
I have a bad habit feeding my baby to sleep even if it’s sip it’s a bad haven’t for him he won’t sleep unless I give him a sip his 10 months old
Hello!
I can completely relate since I also nursed both of my daughters to sleep until they were 6 months old. I know it can seem daunting to teach your LO how to fall asleep independently, but once your LO learns this skill, he will be able to put himself to sleep AND resettle on his own in the middle of the night. It is a lifelong skill and everyone in the family will sleep better 🙂 Definitely check out our 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program if you are looking for step by step guidance to teach your LO how to fall asleep independently!
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
I have a 10month old that will sleep any where but her crib. As soon as i put her in there she wakes up and sits up. She will even start crying when in the crib. I have tried soothing her back to sleep and the tough love of leaving her for few minutes to see of she will settle but nothing is working.
Is it because she doesn’t like to be closed in? She does like to roll alot and does hit the sides heaps with head and hands.. What can i do to get her to sleep in her own cot.. please help
Hi Jessica,
if she was never used to sleep in the crib, it’s very normal for her to fight it. The best way is to teach her how to fall asleep independently in her crib since that’s the safest place and where she will have the most restorative sleep she can have. Our sleep training program can help you achieve this goal and w also have a lot of tips to help you transition her to the crib from various environments. You can find more info here https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program/
Have a nice day! Micaela BSMS Support Team
So I have a 10 month old and pretty much since the day she was born she has been held and fed to go to sleep. Well now she won’t self soothe herself to sleep, and needs a bottle to go to sleep…in the mornings my husband goes to work for 10 so me her and my husband load up in the car and head to his job and she will normally take a 10-15 min nap on the way back home and when I try to soothe her back to sleep once we get back she’s got so much energy just from the cat nap she took. How to I fix this she also sometimes does this in the evenings when I pick him up from work around 6. What should I do?
Hi Victoria, 10mo is the perfect age to sleep train your baby. I personally sleep trained my boy at 9.5mo. You can start with our FREE Exhausted Mom Survival Kit (subscribe here https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/exhausted-moms-survival-kit) or get yourself our sleep training program 21 Days to Peace and Quiet and get the sleep you need and deserve (more info here https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program/)
Micaela BSMS Support Team
Hi there.
My son wakes up 45min after I put him down.. Sometimes 30min later. I understand that this is because he needs me to put him back to sleep as have been feeding and cuddling. So I’m working on that now haha. But my question is… Do I try settle him back to sleep or just get him up? So tricky…because I feel if I settle him back to sleep then he’s using me to fall asleep again… But then I also don’t want an overtired baby either ?
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.
Thankyou.
Jenny
Hi there Jenny. Thank you for your message.
When baby wakes about soon after bedtime it means:
A.) He was too drowsy when he fell asleep at bedtime so he didn’t learn to fall asleep on his own. Make sure your baby’s eyes are still open and he’s “aware” that he’s going into her bed at bedtime.
B.) he was put to bed too late/too tired. Stick to the recommended awake times for his age. Even if baby falls asleep on his own at bedtime, if he was too tired (awake time was too long) it can cause him to wake more at night.
This IG post has more details on this –> https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvXEQcKrf5/
Try implementing these tips for a few days and let us know how things work out. Good luck. Panagiota, BSMS Support Team
This is all great and I hope to implement it. But what do you do when you have an almost 4 year old (that still takes naps) and a 2 year old?
Hello Victoria,
Thank you so much for your message. It can definitely be challenging when you have multiple kiddos napping! My best advice would be to try and get the 4 year old and 2 year old on the same nap schedule. You can also try to align the 10 month old’s afternoon nap to be around the same time as the other kiddos. Try to do the same bedtime for all 3 kids (may not be completely possible), but the wake times may look a little different in the morning! Alyssa, BSMS Support Team
Hi! I currently have a 10 month old which I have to wake around midnight to feed due to sugar issues. She currently sleeps in a doc a tot and my MIL watches her during the week. Until just recently, I found out that my
MIL was holding her through her naps and now that I am home with her bc of the virus stuff, I’m finding she won’t sleep unless I am holding her. She also is going through a sleep regression as she is almost walking. The doc a tot is in the crib and I wanted to see if you are able to help me be able to transition her out of the doc a tot and to be able to put her in her crib while she is a wake to go to sleep. As a younger baby, she had some health issues until about 7 months and I had to Rick and hold her up after feedings so she is used to being held at night to fall asleep. Thank you in advance for your help!!!
Hi Jilly,
When I had my daughter and I was in maternity leave I was able to create a schedule and kept it until she was about 3 months. I had to return to work and my mom and mother in law decided not to follow that schedule. I divided to co-sleep with her for the sake of getting some sleep since she was waking up too much during the night. At the moment she is ten months I am wondering if it is possible to create an schedule for the evening time only, when I am with her since I can’t control what happens when I am at work? Is it possible for her to sleep through the night and have a bedtime routine that will accomplish her sleeping in her crib without me. Thank you for your time !!
Best regards,
Hi there mama. Sorry to hear this. (I sure do know the struggle). Don’t worry, we’ll get you there. First, have you tried the tips from this guide? If you haven’t please try implementing these tips for a week or two.
Also, if you haven’t already, you can sign up for our free Exhausted Mom’s Survival Kit –> https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/exhausted-moms-survival-kit. It’s a step by step guide that walks you through on how to get your little one sleeping great, day & night. Let us know if you have any more questions. Good luck. Panagiota, BSMS Support Team
Hey,
So I have a 10 month old who cosleeps with her dad & I. She’s exclusively breastfed & takes solids. She normally falls asleep on the boob, but wakes several times throughout the night for a sooth feed or just to lay on me until she goes back to sleep. She was recently really sick, so I allowed her to get comfortable in this behavior until she got better. Now that she’s back in good health I’ve been trying to break these bad habits by allowing her to feed on the boob until she’s almost asleep. I then break her latch and try to get her to sooth herself to sleep. This HAS NOT been going well. She cries for literally hours until I let her lay on my chest to fall asleep. Should I allow this? Am I going about this the right way? Eventually I’d like to get her in her crib.. Dad & I just want our sleep back 🙁
Hello Brion,
nursing to sleep is natural and completely normal. It’s actually not a problem until it “becomes a problem” and you’re having to get up and feed your baby back to sleep many times at night. Once your baby reaches 5-6 months, it’s possible to teach them to self-settle to sleep. THIS will lead to long stretches of sleep and STTN when your baby is developmentally ready.
It won’t necessarily be “easy” in that your little one may get upset learning a new way of falling asleep, BUT a few days of teaching independent sleep habits will lead to YEARS of peaceful and happy sleep for everyone.
There are several ways of teaching your LO a new way of falling asleep. The best approach will depend on your LO’s temperament and your parenting preferences. This is what we help parents do every day in our program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet.
Our sleep training program has advice on moving to a crib from a variety of sleep spaces such as parents’ bed, the Rock n Play, Dock a Tot, bassinet, etc…. so you’re covered for that! The program focuses on getting babies happily and easily sleeping in the crib all night long. The crib is the safest place for babies and toddlers to sleep and also leads to the most restorative sleep.
If you wish to have a roadmap you can follow and our daily support through this journey, I would advise you to have a look at our sleep training program.
Happy to answer any other questions you have. https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program/
Micaela BSMS Support Team
We co-sleep with our 10 month old. It started once we couldn’t swaddle her anymore and she wouldn’t settle in her bassinet. Any tips on getting her to sleep in the crib?
Hi Lexi! When making big changes to your LO’s sleep routine, We prefer taking time to spread out the steps. Moving gradually leads to less resistance and tears from your baby.
? So this is an example of how you can gently and gradually transition out of co-sleeping:
① Move a few feet away from baby in your bed. Spend 1-2 nights sleeping with some distance between the two of you. This gets your baby used to NOT sleeping right next to your body. An easy way to do this is to scoot away after baby has fallen asleep.
⓶ Put baby’s crib (or a Pack n Play) next to your bed and have your LO sleep there. (You’ll probably have to place him in there already asleep.) After each night waking, once he’s fallen asleep, gently transfer him to the crib. If he can spend any amount of time sleeping in the crib the first few nights, that’s a win!
③ Move baby’s crib to her bedroom once she’s spending the majority of the night sleeping there. Most babies and parents sleep better in their own rooms, because they don’t wake each other up. Use a video monitor so you can check on your LO.
④ Begin sleep training (if needed.) Your baby is now sleeping in her crib, in his own bedroom! The way to get him easily settling herself to sleep and sleeping all night is by beginning sleep training.
My program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet, walks you through it all, step-by-step. About 40-50% of parents that join the program are co-sleeping. But we get them all happily sleeping through the night, in a way that suits their baby’s temperament and their parenting styles.
You can enroll to the program here: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
Hope these tips help! Good luck mama! / Leena, BSMS Support Team
Hi Jilly,
My 10 month boy is getting worse with his sleep. He slept through the night since he was 1 month old until 5 month when he started teething. After that he started waking up every 2-3 hours for breastfeeding and we kept doing this until he was 8 months old. After that I refused to breastfeed during the night and we gave him a bottle with water since we had hot nights and he got thirsty, but recently, the last two weeks at least he wakes up every hour, and he does not go back to sleep unless we give him water. I am exhausted and i tried to let him cry it out some nights, i tried to soothe him, nothing works. I know he can sleep the entire night without any problems but i just don’t know how to get back there. He sleeps in his own bed, by himself, even during the day naps, i just put him in, give him the pacifier and his sleep toy and he goes to sleep, but during the night he just can’t go back to sleep on his own. Any advice for me? Thank you so much!
Hi Alexandra! Thank you for your post! That sounds exhausting! Usually when sleep is suddenly off the rails but has been good before, it can be a sign of a regression. There is one often at 8 months, so it could be that it threw your previous sleep routine off and you’re still seeing the affects of it. The best thing you can do is to jump right back to your sleep training as the base is there and you KNOW that your LO can STTN and self settle. Jilly’s 10 month old guide above has many tips so follow and implement them closely for 1-2 weeks and you should see improvements. Consistency is key here!
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 1-2 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
Help…. we do try and follow the majority of the above but baby will only sleep nap or night time with assistance to fall asleep be it feeding , rocking etc.
We have taught him this bad habit how do we fix it ?
He is back to waking 4 times a night and it’s a fight to get him to sleep every night and nap x
Hi Donna,
The way to fix this is by teaching him to settle himself to sleep, both at bedtime and during the night when he wakes. When he can do this, he’ll fall asleep easily at bedtime and sleep longer stretches, because he can resettle himself during the night. He won’t need you to get up and feed or rock him anymore. It’s magic!
There are many ways to teach babies how to fall asleep on their own. That’s what I help parents do in my sleep training program, 21 Days to Peace & Quiet. It gives you all the details plus several step-by-step methods to choose from. Here are all the details: https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
All the best,
Jilly
Hi Jilly, my baby is 10 months tomorrow, she has always been exclusively breastfed but now eats ALOT of food, she only has a feed in the morning and evening, and before naps which is my issue. She is completely reliant on being fed to sleep which I am desperate to stop. I know this is really going to be down to my will power but I’m finding it extremely hard and wondered whether you have any tips?
I track awake times and once she is asleep she sleeps very well, 2 naps in the day totalling 2-3 hours and normally sleeping through the night. When we try putting her down awake she goes absolutely mental this is the same for naps and bed time. I find it extremely upsetting and normally end up giving in which I know is the wrong thing to do but I feel like my breast feeding journey needs to come to an end once she turns 1 and also feel in the long run self settle will be much better for her.
I would really appreciate any advice you could give.
Kindest regards
Helen
I am going through this right now with my 10 month old – she still wakes up 1-2 times per night to nurse. She’s always been small so I’m thinking it could potentially be to actually feed not just to nurse to sleep. During day she will refuse to sleep unless nursed – other days she just wants to go in crib and fall asleep without nursing. So confused! Wondering what you did as I want to stop breastfeeding at the 1 year mark as well so I can leave the house for more than an hour here and there!
Hello Courtney,
Thanks for your message! I would definitely chat with your LO’s pediatrician. If her doctor says she is okay for night weaning, then I would definitely go ahead and work on that. Nursing at night could be a sleep association. We cover how to break free from sleep associations step by step in our program! Definitely check out the link below if you are interested in learning more!
https://www.babysleepmadesimple.com/21-days-to-peace-quiet-program
Best,
Alyssa, BSMS Support Team