A baby's sleep at 6 to 8 months
The sound of a little child sleeping soundly is a wonderful thing. Your child is growing and can now go for longer without eating. Hopefully, this means your child will sleep better at night. Here are a few tips.
Hopefully now your child is sleeping for more consecutive hours per night. It is normal at this age to sleep for 10 to 12 hours a night, plus two naps a day after mealtimes. Your child will gradually have less and less need to eat at night.
After the age of 6 months, it is not necessary from a nutritional point of view for a child to eat at night if its weight is increasing normally. However, your baby might want to continue its night-time feeds, since they don't only provide nutrition but also security and bonding. If your infant has started eating solid foods, and especially if it is eating more formula than breast milk, it might sleep longer at night.
Your baby needs more security at times when it is developing rapidly
Around 8 months, your baby might start sleeping less soundly. A lot is happening in the baby's life at this time, which can affect its sleep. Your baby has so many experiences and changes to get used to that the days are not long enough. It is important for the parents to provide security at this time.
Gentle sleep training
At 6 months, it might be time to teach your baby not to associate sleep with food. If your child can go to sleep without eating first, you will usually get more sleep.
You can start gently training your infant not to associate sleep with food by putting them to bed with their teddy bear and telling them it's time to go to sleep.
You can help your baby settle down by stroking its back, comforting it and staying close. Your baby might protest, but try creating familiar routines that make him or her feel secure at bedtime. It's important to your baby that you are constantly there as a reassuring presence.
More about sleep
When your child is in harmony and sleeping well, it's good for everyone. Here are some more tips and advice.
Short videos:
Putting your baby to bed
Comforting your baby
Articles:
Better sleep for your baby
Good sleep habits
Create routines for your baby
Helping your baby to sleep soundly
Baby's sleep, 3–6 months
SIDS/cot death
