Do Breastfed babies sleep through night? Most breastfed babies start sleeping at about 2 or 3 months of age. But some start earlier, and some take a little longer – just like their formula-fed peers.
The only absolute is that you should not expect your baby to sleep through the night until he’s old enough. There are no magic formulas you can use to tell when your baby will sleep through the night. But there are some things that you can do to make sure that your baby is ready:
Methods To Help Your Baby Sleep Through The Night
1. Encourage breastfeeding
2. Give your baby a full tummy at bedtime
3. Keep your baby in her own room, so she’ll feel secure once she goes to sleep
4. Relax and allow your baby to get enough nap time – especially when she’s in the newborn stage
5. Encourage your baby to sleep in a place where she is safe – a crib, a bassinet, or an adult bed with a firm mattress
6. Don’t let your baby sleep too close to you (more than 2 or 3 feet away) for the first 2 or 3 months, so she doesn’t get too comfortable sleeping next to you
7. Don’t start a new sleep routine or schedule when your baby is sick or when you’re sick
8. Try not to change or feed your baby right before bedtime if at all possible
9. Establish a bedtime routine so your baby knows what to expect every night
10. Have your baby wear a comfortable shirt to bed if she’s going to be in her own room
11. Don’t use a pacifier or bottle when sleeping unless you teach your baby to suck on her own.
When should I start my baby on a regular schedule?
You can start a baby on a routine at 6 months of age – or, if you’re one of those few parents who breastfeed (which is the best way to feed your baby), at 4 months. Suppose you’re one of those few who formula-feed (the best way for most babies), then the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting the routine around 3 months.
When do breastfed babies sleep through night?
Most breastfed babies start sleeping at about 2 or 3 months of age. But some start earlier, and some take a little longer – just like their formula-fed peers.
A baby averages 5 hours of sleep during daytime hours – meaning that her parents need to get her up in the middle of the night so she can sleep. So you should expect your baby to be up at least once – and possibly two or three times – each night.
The only absolute is that you should not expect your baby to sleep through the night until he’s old enough. There are no magic formulas you can use to tell when your baby will sleep through the night.
How many hours should a breastfed baby sleep?
Many parents think that a newborn – especially an exclusively breastfed newborn – should be sleeping most of the time. But it’s usually normal for babies to sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. And the time they spend sleeping goes down as they get older. By age 1, they’re typically sleeping 12 to 14 hours.
Do breastfed babies sleep through night?
No. Not unless you want them to sleep past their normal bedtime and wake up the next morning before you do. And then sleep all day long. It is common for breastfed babies to not sleep through the night for a long period. During this time, they may sleep a few nights or not sleep all night.
While your baby sleeps through the night, you won’t get to spend quality time with him. In fact, during the middle of the night, when you’re trying to catch up on some rest, your baby is probably crying or fussing and will probably keep it up for a while – maybe even all night long.
How to Get a Breastfed Baby to Sleep Through the Night?
There are some things that you can do to help your baby to sleep through the night. Some involve a little bit of hard work, while others don’t. You’ll have to decide which one works best for you:
1. Encourage breastfeeding
When you’re breastfeeding, your body releases the hormones responsible for ensuring that your baby stays full for quite some time. A full tummy means your baby won’t feel hungry enough to wake up and start breastfeeding.
2. Give your baby a full tummy at bedtime
If breastfeeding, give her a full feeding right before bed. You might even consider giving her another feeding right before you sleep so that she’ll be well-fed by the time you get up in the morning.
Keeping your baby fed is important if you want her to sleep through the night. You might have to give her a little extra food if she’s not sleeping well.
3. Keep your baby in her own room, so she’ll feel secure once she goes to sleep
If you want your baby to sleep through the night, she must have an individual sleeping area of her own, away from you and other people – especially siblings. She should even have her own bed.
Please keep her in her room while she’s sleeping so she feels safe and secure once she falls asleep.
4. Relax and allow your baby to get enough nap time
Your baby will take between 2 and 3 hours to nurse at a time during the first few weeks of her life because she needs it to grow and thrive. Let your baby sleep as long as she needs to in the first few months of her life. And don’t try to wake her up to feed her unless she’s hungry.
5. Encourage your baby to sleep in a place where she is safe – a crib, a bassinet, or an adult bed with a firm mattress
When your baby wakes up at night, she should have her own sleeping area. If she sleeps in her parents’ room, she might be tempted to crawl into bed with them and get comfortable. Bed sharing can interrupt your baby’s sleep cycle and make it impossible for her to go back to sleep at night.
When can a breastfed baby sleep through the night?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict when a breastfed baby will start sleeping through the night. She will sleep well when she is ready to sleep well.
If you want to get your baby to sleep well and avoid night waking, then you should try some of the things mentioned above – such as keeping her in her own room at night and feeding her a full tummy right before bedtime – so she’ll be comfortable while she’s sleeping.
What percentage of breastfed babies sleep through the night?
No one knows exactly how many breastfed babies sleep through the night. But it’s not uncommon for babies to wake up at night during the first few months of their lives.
A breastfed baby might sleep through the night from day one, or she might take a few months before she does so. But most exclusively breastfed babies usually sleep through the night between 5 and 8 weeks after they’re born.
It also depends on your baby’s age when you start putting her on a routine. If you have a baby taking a bottle for 3-4 months, then the odds are pretty good she’ll sleep through the night sooner rather than later.
No “magic formula” tells you when your baby will start sleeping through the night. Getting her to do so will likely take several weeks of practice. You should not expect her to sleep through the night in one evening or one week.
How many times should a breastfed baby wake up at night?
It’s normal for your breastfed baby to wake up 1-3 times every night during her first several months. This type of sleep pattern is most common during the first 3 months after your baby is born.
It’s also normal for breastfed babies to wake up 4-5 times every night. This sleep pattern is most common between 3 and 9 months old.
How long does it take to get a breastfed baby to sleep through the night?
There is no magic formula that will guarantee your baby will stop waking up at night right away. It can take several weeks to months before your baby stops waking up at night completely. Don’t worry too much if you have trouble getting your baby to sleep through the night. It’s not unusual for babies to suddenly become completely independent sleepers overnight.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell how quickly your baby will start sleeping through the night. The time it takes before she sleeps well at night can vary from baby to baby.
What if my breastfed baby doesn’t sleep through the night?
If you’re having a hard time getting your breastfed baby to sleep all night long, you should probably ask for help from a lactation consultant. A lactation consultant can help you make sure that you’re breastfeeding your baby in the right way and making sure that she gets enough nutrients.
The right approach to getting your breastfed baby to sleep through the night. If your baby isn’t sleeping well at night, you probably want to know how to get him to sleep well. Well, you should know there’s no magic cure for getting a breastfed baby to sleep through the night. It takes hard work, determination, and patience.
Final Thoughts
If you’re having trouble getting your breastfed baby to sleep through the night, you should try some of the abovementioned things.
If your baby isn’t sleeping well at night, then talk to someone who can give you some help. A lactation consultant will know how to help your breastfeeding relationship. And they’ll be able to teach you the best way to get your baby comfortable while he’s sleeping. Your local La Leche League Leader or a board-certified lactation consultant can help you with this.
I hope you found this article helpful. Please remember to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
