Baby sleep at 6 months
from three naps to two
At 6 months, many babies go from three naps to two, solids are well under way, and nights still vary a lot from one child to another.
The ranges at 6 months
| Range | At 6 months |
|---|---|
| Total sleep over 24 h | 12 to 16 hours |
| Naps per day | 2, sometimes 3 |
| Wake window | 2 h 30 min to 3 h 30 min |
From three naps to two
The third nap most often disappears between 6 and 8 months. The signs: your baby refuses it several days in a row, or falls asleep so late that bedtime gets pushed back. During the transition, moving bedtime a little earlier can avoid an overlong end of the day.
Night waking is still common
Between 6 and 12 months, nearly 8 in 10 babies still wake at least once a night (British study of 715 families). It is neither a failure nor a sign of a bad habit: the real skill is not never waking, but falling back asleep.
What about their own room?
The HAS recommends having your baby sleep in the parents' room, in their own cot, ideally for their first 6 months. After that, the timing is up to you.
Meals
After 6 full months, milk alone is no longer enough to meet their needs (Santé publique France). All food groups can be offered, including foods that can cause allergies. The guide to starting solids.
Safe sleep
France's National Authority for Health (HAS, February 2020) recommends putting your baby to sleep:
- always on their back, on a firm mattress, in a cot with bars;
- in a suitable baby sleeping bag, with no pillow, duvet or blanket;
- with no cot bumper, positioner, soft toy or comforter in the cot;
- in a room at 18 to 20 °C, free of tobacco smoke;
- ideally in the parents' room for the first 6 months, in their own cot: no bed sharing.
When to talk to a doctor
See a doctor if your baby consistently sleeps much less than these ranges, is hard to wake or drowsy all the time, or if their sleep comes with loud snoring, pauses in breathing or a drop in their growth curve.