5-7 month old

What to expect at 5-7 months

• Sleep patterns:
  Many babies in this age range might begin to sleep longer stretches at night and might start consolidating their naps during the day. However, there might be occasional disruptions due to development or teething. 
  
• Longer nights without feeding: By six months, most babies can sleep 10 to 12 hours overnight without needing a feeding. However, some babies may still benefit from a night feeding. It’s important to discuss your baby’s specific feeding needs with your pediatrician to determine the best approach for your child.
• Sleep disruptions due to Development:
  When babies are learning new skills, it can cause sleep disruptions. At this age, they might roll in their sleep and wake themselves up. Once they demonstrate the ability to roll onto their tummy, it’s time to stop swaddling and opt for sleep sacks, since they need their hands free to lift themselves from the mattress. Check out our guide to transition out of the swaddle.
  
• Teething:
  The emergence of the first teeth can be uncomfortable and may cause more night wakings or difficulty settling. Check our guide on teething signs and how to help your baby.
• Frequent night wakes:
  Around 6 months, some babies experience another sleep regression, where previously established sleep patterns can change, often leading to more night wakings or shorter naps. Check our guide on how to improve frequent night wakes. Your baby could be experiencing sickness or teething, or simply ready for increased wake windows.
• Early morning wakings:
  Between 4:00 and 6:00 am, sleep pressure is lower, increasing the chances of waking up. If your baby is waking up between 4:00 and 6:00 am, our guide on early morning wakings can help you to identify the possible cause and suggest some strategies to improve it.
• Short Naps:
  Some babies at this age might still have trouble consolidating their naps, leading to short and fragmented sleep sessions during the day. Check out our guide on short naps and gentle strategies for lengthening it.
• Resisting Sleep:
  Often, at this age, babies resist sleep due to being either overtired or under-tired. Monitor their wake windows to ensure they have enough active awake time, but without exceeding their age-appropriate awake window to avoid overtiredness. If bedtime is still challenging, establish a consistent bedtime routine. This helps prepare your baby's body for sleep and can minimize bedtime struggles.
• Separation anxiety: can begin to develop around this age, making it harder for babies to be put down to sleep without their primary caregiver, leading to potential disruptions during nap and bedtime routines. Engaging in activities during awake time can help your baby to sleep better. Here some ideas for engaging activities for 5-7 month-old babies.
• The transition from 3 to 2 Naps:
  Around this age, some babies might show signs of needing to drop a nap, which can cause temporary disruptions in sleep. Check out our guide on transitioning from 3 to 2 naps.
• Struggle to connect sleep cycles: At this age, sleep associations can get stronger, leaving baby to search for these associations to fall back asleep between sleep cycles. Gradually and gently teaching your baby to fall asleep independently can help navigate through this, if you find it challenging.
  
• Distractions:
  Heightened awareness means babies can be easily distracted by noises and lights. This can affect various aspects of their daily routine, including feeding and sleeping.
  
  Distracted feedings can lead to reverse cycling, where the baby starts snacking during the day, and needing more feeding through the night. Creating a quiet, calm, and comfortable feeding environment can help minimize distractions and encourage more focused feeding sessions.
  
  A consistent sleep routine, a conducive sleep environment that’s cool and very dark, and using a white noise machine can help mitigate sleep disturbances caused by distractions. White noise masks sudden noises, helping babies sleep deeper, wake less often, and fall asleep 80% faster.

Guidelines for better sleep

• Wake-up time: between 6:00-7:00 a.m, typical circadian rhythm
  
• Average Number of Naps: 2-3. 
• Ideal single nap length: 50 mins to 2 hrs. For babies taking 3 naps, the last nap of the day tends to be shorter.
• Wake Windows: 2-3 hours for 3 naps, and 2.5-3.5 hours for 2 naps
• Last nap to end: 5:00-5:30 p.m., considering a 7-8 pm bedtime.

• Total Daytime Sleep: 3-4 hours 

• Bedtime: 7-8 pm, the sweet spot

• Total night sleep: 10-12 hours 

• Daytime feedings: Every 2.5 -3.5 hours based on hunger cues.

Daily Routines:

For 3 naps:

• Nap 1: About 2-2.5 hours after wake time
• Nap 2: About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 1
• Nap 3: About 2.5 hours after the end of Nap 2
• Bedtime: About 2.5-3 hours after the end of Nap 3

🚨 Side note about the 3rd nap for a 5-month-old:
This nap is typically short, lasting 30-45 minutes. The purpose of the third nap is to help baby make it until bedtime. Sometimes, the third nap of the day is very difficult! It’s ok to get this nap on the stroller, wear the baby… The goal is to get the nap done so baby isn’t overtired at bedtime.

For 2 naps:

• Nap 1: About 2.5–3 hours after Wake Time
• Nap 2: About 3 hours after the end of Nap 1
• Bedtime:  About 3-3.5 hours after the end of Nap

🚨 Bedtime may need to be pushed a bit earlier, depending on the last nap of the day.

🚦 Signs it’s time to drop the third nap - usually around 6.5-8 months:

• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at nap time (when this wasn't a problem previously)
• 3rd nap is getting so late it's interfering with bedtime
• Early morning wakings begin to manifest (because the baby is getting too much daytime sleep)
• Baby just doesn't seem tired at nap time- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

• For most babies, falling asleep for naps and nights can take between 5-20 minutes. If it takes less than 5 minutes, they might be overtired. If it takes more than 20 minutes, they might be undertired. Adjust your wake windows as needed based on this, and you will learn your baby's rhythm over time.
• Limit daytime naps to 2 hours in order to prevent disruptions to daytime feeding, total time awake, and to nighttime sleep. It's ok to wake baby up when you need to, to ensure they get enough calories and awake time.
• Establishing a bedtime routine and naptime routine can pave the way for better sleep. 
• Consider starting your day at a consistent time every morning (say 8:00 am, no more than around 12 hours after bedtime). This sets a consistent time to help regulate their rhythm, improves their chance of exposure to daylight, and encourages daytime activity & longer night sleep stretches. 
• Every baby is unique. Learn about your baby's temperament to help them with sleep struggles.
  

Does My Baby Need to Eat During the Night?

By six months, most babies can sleep 10 to 12 hours overnight without needing a feeding. However, some babies may still benefit from a night feeding. It’s important to discuss your baby’s specific feeding needs with your pediatrician to determine the best approach for your child.

Should I Use a Sleep Sack?

I highly recommend sleep sacks. A sleep sack is a sleeveless zip-up bag that your baby can wear at night instead of using a blanket. They are safe, help maintain a comfortable temperature for your baby, and serve as a cue to the brain that it’s time for sleep.

A perfect time to start using a wearable blanket is when your baby begins showing signs of rolling and it's time to move away from the swaddle. If your baby has already transitioned out of the swaddle but isn’t using a sleep sack yet, don’t worry! You can introduce one now.

Can I sleep train my 5-7-month-old?

Some babies might be ready as early as four months. However, most will be ready only when closer to 6 months. It’s important to follow your baby’s development and growth to determine when the time is right. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to when to sleep train for naps and nights. Check out our guide to assess when to sleep train. 

Developmental milestones

Physical Development:
Rolling Over: Many can roll in both directions.
Sitting Up: By 7 months, most can sit unaided for brief periods.
Teething: The first tooth might emerge.

Motor Skills:
Grasping: Babies reach for and grab objects, transferring them between hands.
Mobility: Some may start crawling or use other forms like rolling.

Sensory Development:
Improved Vision: Better depth perception emerges.
Sound Recognition: They can identify familiar voices and sounds.

Social and Emotional Development:
Stranger Awareness: Some show unease around unfamiliar people.
Interaction: Increased interest in games and mirror fascination.

​Cognitive Development:
Exploration: Mouth becomes a primary exploration tool.
Babbling: Sounds like "ba-ba" or "ma-ma" appear, with mimicking attempts.

👉🏻 Remember, these milestones are general guidelines, and every child develops at their own pace.

Activities and playtime ideas

Engage your 5-7 month old baby with these fun and developmentally supportive activities:

• Tummy Time: Encourage rolling and reaching by placing toys just out of reach.
• Sitting Up: Support your baby in a seated position with pillows to develop core strength and balance.
• Peekaboo: Play to help them understand object permanence and enjoy face-to-face interaction.
• Texture Exploration: Offer toys with different textures to enhance tactile development.
• Talking and Singing: Regularly sing and talk to your baby to build their vocabulary and language skills.

For more detailed activities and playtime ideas, check out our complete guide on activities for 5-7 month olds.

Recommended readings

Nap Foundation & Daytime Sleep
A Guide to Establishing a Pre-Nap Routine
Improve baby sleep - Wake window by age
Transitioning Away from Swaddling: When and How to Do It
When to Sleep Train for Naps and Nights

👉🏻 If you need personalized advice, please email us at hello@mellow.kids. We are always happy to offer further guidance.