5 month old sleep schedule and tips
You survived the newborn period and you may still be struggling with the after-effects of the 4 month regression and wondering what you can expect with your 5 month old’s sleep. When will your baby settle into a predictable and reliable schedule? What is the ideal schedule for a 5 month old? How do you know if your baby is getting enough sleep? Can a 5 month old sleep through the night? This post shares everything you need to know about your 5 month old’s sleep.
Where should a 5 month old baby sleep?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “parents [should] sleep in the same room – but not in the same bed as a baby - preferably for at least the first six months.” So if room-sharing with your baby isn’t working for your family at this point, it’s ok to move them into the nursery so you’re not waking up with every little noise they make all night…or your baby is waking up from noise from you! If you have questions, always consult with your pediatrician.
Babies need to sleep on a firm, flat surface with a fitted sheet covering the mattress. That can be a bassinet or a crib, but if your baby is still in a bassinet, transition to the crib once your baby starts rolling.
There shouldn’t be any pillows, blankets - even the decorative one hanging over the edge of the crib! - toys or bumpers in the crib.
If you choose to use a baby monitor, make sure that the cord is not loose within 3 feet of the crib.
What should a 5 month old baby sleep in?
Most 5 month olds are able to roll, so if you are still hanging on too the swaddle (even with arms out) it’s time to transition them into a sleep sack. If your baby’s arms are still inside a swaddle and your baby rolls over, it would be a suffocation hazard being face down without arms free. If you’re still swaddling with one or both arms free, then it’s time to get rid of that tight-fitting wrap around their lower body.
There are lightweight cotton and heavier weight fleece options for sleep sacks. Weighted sleep sacks are not recommended by the AAP. Your baby is dressed appropriately when the core (not extremities) is a good temperature. If your baby has really red cheeks or his neck or back is sweaty when you pick him up after a nap or when he wakes up in the morning, then either he’s wearing too many layers or the temperature in the room is too warm.
What is the ideal 5 month sleep schedule?
At 5 months, they still aren’t yet on a set schedule - that’s something you can look forward to between 6-7 months!
You’ll follow a routine according to awake time which is the time from when you pick baby up after sleep to the time you lay your baby back in the crib for the next nap or bedtime.
Goals to aim for at 5 months:
11-12 hours of sleep overnight (with up to one night feed, if needed)
3 naps per day equaling 3.5 hours of total nap sleep
Each nap should be an hour or longer - we want short naps to be lengthening at this point
The awake window for 5 month olds is 2-2.5 hours. Just keep cycling though awake windows and the 3 naps throughout the day until it's time for bed!
Bedtime (in the crib, lights out) between 6-7:30pm (or up to 8pm for daycare/working parents), being consistent with that bedtime +/- 30 minute most nights.
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How to know if my 5 month old getting enough sleep?
If your baby is close to getting between 11-12 hours of sleep overnight and ~3.5 hours of nap time during the day, then your baby is on track with the amount of sleep for her growth and development.
Signs your baby is getting enough sleep and well-rested include being alert, happy, not showing signs of overtiredness during their awake time and waking up from naps on their own.
If your baby still wakes up frequently in the middle of the night or takes short naps, he may be crabbier during his awake time and harder to to get to sleep for naps and bedtime because of overtiredness. Remember that overtiredness makes it harder to fall asleep for naps and bedtime and stay asleep overnight (or at naptime) - so an overtired baby will get even less sleep, just perpetuating the cycle. If you find yourself in that situation, make sure to follow the the awake times (and if your baby is really overtired, decreasing awake time by ~10-15 minutes to help take the edge off) and make sure you’re not feeding, rocking, or bouncing your little one to sleep or drowsy (that incoudes relying on motion like the stroller or carseat for naps!).
Can a 5 month old sleep on his stomach?
Check out this blog post on tummy sleep and when is it ok for babies to sleep on their stomach which discusses when it’s safe for a baby to sleep on her stomach and what to do (and not do) as your baby gets closer to being able to sleep on his stomach.
How to get your 5 month old to sleep through the night?
If your 5 month old isn’t sleeping through the night yet, you’re getting really close to the time when that can happen! There are two questions to ask yourself:
is your baby ready to sleep through the night and
what does your baby need to be able to do before sleeping through the night
There’s no set age that babies should start sleeping through the night. It’s always a good idea to talk with your pediatrician about recommendations for your child. I will share that in my experience as a sleep consultant for 12+ years, babies over 14 pounds that are 4 months old or older and healthy (ie no reflux or it’s being managed, gaining weight well, etc.) are able to sleep 11-12 hours overnight. So many of the 5 month olds I work with can sleep 11-12 hours overnight.
The reason most 5 month olds aren’t yet sleeping through the night is because they still need a parent to feed or rock them to sleep, only want to nap in the car, stroller, or baby carrier or needs the pacifier to be repeatedly popped in during the night. Your child needs to be able to fall asleep independently without these sleep props in order to be able to put herself back to sleep on her own in the middle of the night. However your baby fell asleep at bedtime (and naps during the day) is how she’ll fall back asleep in the middle of the night. You want her to putself to sleep at bedtime and for naps on her own so that she can easily transition from one sleep cycle to the next in the middle of the night without fully waking up!
Need a step-by-step plan to teach your 5 month old how to fall asleep without help from you rocking or feeding to sleep (or drowsy), sleep in the crib (instead of on you or in the car or stroller), and start taking hour long naps, as well as learn how to determine whether your baby is ready to wean from night feeds and get those 11-12 hours of continuous sleep? Check out my baby sleep course! (That link will give you a 25% off discount for a limited-time!)
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This post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you, your child and/or your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your child’s physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.