When can your baby sleep through the night?

When it comes to the topic of baby sleep, one of the most common questions parents ask is, “When can I expect my baby to sleep through the night?” In this mini-masterclass episode, I break down the truth about this much-debated issue.

We look at the differing definitions of “sleeping through the night.” While some may consider it as getting a solid 8 to 12 hours of sleep, others may define it as getting a stretch of 5 consecutive hours. However,  it’s important for parents to understand that all humans, including babies, naturally wake up during the night, typically between 2 to 10 times. Therefore, the focus should not solely be on uninterrupted sleep but rather on a baby’s ability to return to sleep independently. I compare the developmental milestone of sleeping through the night to other milestones like crawling, highlighting that every child progresses at their own pace. Some babies may naturally require fewer night feeds and develop self-soothing skills earlier, while others may need more time and support to reach that stage. Hunger can be a significant factor in night wake-ups, and it’s perfectly normal for babies to continue needing feeds during the night at different ages.

The key takeaway from the mini-masterclass is that there’s no universal timeline for when babies will sleep through the night. Instead, it’s about observing and supporting each child’s individual sleep needs and developmental journey.