So, at five months you might hear some fellow moms marveling that their kids are sleeping through the night. Listen, if your munchkin isn’t one of those babies, don’t worry one bit. Know that many babies don’t sleep through the night at this age (or have a consistent schedule), at least not without you teaching them how to do it. Parents who want to sleep train often start around this time (check in with your ped first), or at least they start exploring the various sleep training methods to see what might feel like a fit. The good news is that research shows that all the methods can work, so long as parents are consistent. Show
No matter where you fall on the sleep training spectrum, 5 months is a great time to prime baby for healthy sleep habits by teaching her to self-soothe and fall asleep independently. The key to that is to break disruptive sleep associations, like:
That’s right, all those handy tools you have in your toolkit are going to have to go. Sorry! But think of it this way: once baby learns this skill, it will all be so worth it because she’ll be able to fall asleep independently at bedtime and whenever she wakes during the night. This is the foundation for full sleep training. Focus on Building Your Evening RoutineAt 5 months, those late afternoon/evening fussies are probably behind you, and now the name of the game is creating a reliable, predictable evening routine so you can help your baby learn some sleep habits. Bedtime is earlier now — usually somewhere in the 7-8pm range — and add a wind-down routine prior that might include a warm bath, baby massage, books, a song. Whatever works for your family, just keep it consistent. At 5 months, you’re probably also:
Your daily scheduleIt will vary, obviously, depending on whether you have an older child, whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, whether you’re feeding on demand or in more of a schedule, and, of course, whether you’re working (from home or an office) or not. But here is an example of what an average day with a 5-month-old might look like: 7:00a- wake and feed 8:00a- playtime: books, tummy time, swing, bouncer seat, watch mom get dressed, etc. 9:00a- nap #1 10:00a- wake and feed 10:30a- playtime 12:00p- nap #2 1:30p- wake and feed 2:00p -playtime. Note: this will likely be baby’s longest alert time of the day, so it’s a great time for errands, a park outing, etc. 4:00p – nap #3 4:45-5:00p wake and feed 5:00p- playtime 6:30-7:00p- start bedtime routine: bath, books, massage, song, etc. 7:30 or 8:00p – nighty night! try not to let baby fall asleep on the boob, in your arms or in her swing (11:00p- dreamfeed, if that’s your style) At five months old, your sweet baby is staying awake more during the day and learning new skills. I want to share with you questions I get about five month old sleep schedules, wake windows, nap schedules, and more. What are wake windows for a 5 month old?A five month old’s wake window ranges from 2 to 3 hours. I tend to see wake windows shorter in the morning but start to increase as the day progresses and babies get older. You may also find your baby cannot handle a 3-hour wake window at the end of the day until she’s closer to 6 months old. Here's a general routine for wake windows at this age: About 2 hours after Wake Time = Nap 1 About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 1 = Nap 2 About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 2 = Nap 3 About 2.5 - 3 hours after the end of Nap 3 = Bedtime Can we still use the EASY schedule at 5 months old?I typically don't recommend holding to an EASY schedule for babies at this age. As babies get older and wake windows get longer, it may be difficult to follow an “eat, awake, sleep” routine while making sure they get enough calories during the day. I always want you to feed your baby according to their hunger cues, so continue to offer breast or bottle feedings every 2.5 to 3.5 hours throughout your baby’s first year. Here's where that "eat, awake, sleep" routine can get a bit tricky: If your five month old has been awake for 2.5 hours and is ready for a nap, you may need to offer a feeding so he doesn’t wake early from hunger. On the other hand, your five month old may do just fine waiting until after his nap for a feeding. Watch how your baby responds in order to decide whether to offer a feeding before or after the nap. A few things to keep in mind:
What is a sample sleep and feeding schedule for a 5 month old?Here is a sample feeding and sleep schedule for five month olds. Keep in mind, schedules don’t need to be followed to the minute. We're always balancing your baby's hunger cues and wake windows in order to meet them where they are developmentally. 5 Month Old Sample Schedule
Please note: This is just a sample. Remember, a baby’s hunger cues and nap lengths are vital in determining whether to feed before a nap or waiting until after the nap. Be sure to watch your baby and be responsive to their unique needs. What are 5 month old milestones?Each new week and month brings more exciting milestones your baby is ready to show you. Just remember, milestones are based on ranges, and some babies will meet them early while others will need more time. So if your five month old isn’t experiencing all of these milestones, know those moments could be right around the corner. At five months old, most babies start to:
If you have any concerns about your baby meeting their milestones, make sure to speak to your pediatrician. What are some activities for a 5 month old?Five months old are noticing so much around them and are starting to become quite interactive. Here is a list of ideas for activities you can do with your five month old:
How many naps are best for a 5 month old?We’re aiming for 3 naps a day at five months old. If your baby is taking more than 3 naps a day because naps are short, this is a great time to check those wake windows. We want to make sure your five month old is tired enough, but not overtired, heading into a nap. I have a great free resource, 5 Daytime Tips for Better Nights (and Naps!), that can help. How long should a 5 month old nap?Our goal for daytime sleep is 3-4 hours total, divided over 3 naps. How will this look? It can vary from baby to baby and from day to day. One day, it could be a 2-hour nap, a 1-hour nap, and a 30-minute nap. The next day, it could be two naps lasting 1.5 hours each and a 45 minute nap later in the afternoon. The way the naps divide is less important than the total napping hours and those age-appropriate wake windows. If you're wondering how anyone gets to 3 napping hours in a day, I can help! Start by reading my blog on short naps and know that my Conquering Naps class provides step-by-step, detailed guidance on all things daytime sleep. We do want to keep the total daytime sleep under 4 hours. I would also encourage you to cap any one nap at 2 hours. Yes, this means you may have to wake a sleeping baby! As a baby sleep expert, I’m letting you know this is okay and sometimes necessary. Why is this necessary?
Expert Tip: You may notice that third nap seems to be shorter than the others, often 30-45 minutes. Don’t let this stress you out. Even this shorter nap helps your baby make it to bedtime without becoming overtired. How much sleep does a 5 month old need?At five months old, 3-4 hours of daytime sleep and 10-12 hours of night sleep is our goal. Keep in mind:
When is bedtime for a 5 month old?An ideal bedtime for a five month old is between 7:00 and 8:00 pm. Remember, your baby will need 2.5-3 hours of awake time before bed, so keep that in mind as you think about your baby’s nap schedule. I often find that babies who go to sleep after about 8:00 pm tend to experience more false start bedtimes, fight sleep, and even have more night wakings or early morning wakings. Is there a 5 month old sleep regression?Not exactly. However, if you're seeing sleep struggles, here are some things to keep in mind:
No matter the reason for your five month sleep struggle, a consistent plan for sleep is the best path to having a great little sleeper. Why is my 5 month old fighting sleep?Often babies at this age fight sleep because they're either too tired or not tired enough. Check those wake windows and make sure your baby has enough active awake time. If bedtime is still a struggle, make sure you're using a consistent bedtime routine with your baby. This can help minimize bedtime struggles by helping prepare your baby's body for sleep. How do I sleep train my 5 month old?At five months old, you may decide that formal sleep training is the best option if your baby isn’t sleeping through the night. I can help! My 5–24 Month Collection includes a completely customizable and holistic sleep training plan to help your baby sleep independently for 10–12 hours each night. These classes will hand you the tools to have a great little sleeper through the first two years of life for days, nights, and every bump along the way. Should a 5According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , most babies need to eat at least every 2–3 hours, which is about five to six times per day. At 5 months, some babies sleep through the night. Others still wake to feed. Parents and caregivers who follow a schedule should try to remain flexible.
What is a good nap schedule for a 5Your 5-month-old should sleep around 12 to 15 hours a day. That includes about 10 to 11 hours of solid nighttime snoozing (though he might still wake up a few times) and three naps that last 30 minutes to two hours each.
Should I wake 5You should wake up your newborn to ensure she's feeding every few hours, says Tracey Bridger, a paediatric endocrinologist in St. John's. Regular feedings are important, at least until your baby has regained her birth weight.
How often should a 5During this time, babies need an average of 14 hours of sleep daily. At 4 months, they can go eight hours at night without feeding; by 5 months, they can sleep for 10 or 11 hours straight. Both 4-month-olds and 5-month-olds will sleep four to five hours during the day, spread out over three naps.
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5 month old nap and feeding schedule
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