How to Make Your 6-Month Old Baby Sleep

One of the biggest challenges new parents face is sleep --- both their own and their baby's. As a baby develops, his sleep needs to evolve. Every few months new sleep patterns emerge and feeding needs change, which means parents are continually learning and adapting schedules and routines. When an infant hits six months, he begins to sleep longer, sometimes throughout the night. Still, during this age, there are health, behavioral and environmental issues that can affect the baby's ability to fall and stay asleep.

Sleep Patterns and Arrangements

• 1

  Understand normal sleeping patterns. Six-month-old babies sleep an average of 14 hours per day, 10 to 12 hours at night and 3 to 4.5 hours during the day. Your baby may sleep more or less than the average. Through daily observation, you will discover what is normal for your son or daughter.

• 2

  Keep a sleep diary. Record your baby's sleeping habits to find patterns. Keep track of the time she woke up in the morning, the time and lengths of naps during the day, what time she went to bed in the evenings and the times and lengths of waking during the night. Also include issues in settling into bed, and what worked to coax her into sleeping.

• 3

  Create a comfortable sleeping environment. At six months, many parents still choose to have the baby's crib or bassinet in their bedroom. Others use the co-sleep method, where the infant sleeps in bed with one or both parents. At this age, many babies are sleeping in their own rooms. Through trial and error you can figure out which sleeping arrangement best suits your child. Also, pay close attention to the temperature in the room. Make sure it is comfortable for the baby.

• 4

  Outfit your baby in comfortable clothes. Scratchy tags or fabric can irritate a baby, making her uncomfortable during slumber. Along with this, be sure sheets and bedding are fresh and comfortable, too.

• 5

  Change your baby before bed. Nothing is more uncomfortable than a wet diaper. Be sure your baby is feeling fresh before being put to bed for the night.

Going to Sleep and Staying Asleep

• 1

  Cut back on nighttime feedings. Even at six months, babies can become hungry again after only six hours of sleep. To prevent these late-night feedings, feed your baby more often during the day and don't nurse them to sleep; instead, rock them to sleep or carry them around the house.

• 2

  Create a bedtime routine. Get your baby used to going to bed by placing him or her in the crib while still awake. This allows for the baby to settle down and get in sleep mode. During this exercise, the baby may cry. As difficult as it can be, try to step away for a while, but console when needed. Over time, this routine will help the baby know when it is bedtime.

• 3

  Fight the urge to tend to mid-night wakings. It is normal for a six-month-old baby to wake up at least once during the night. Before responding, try to let your baby fall back asleep on her own, even if it means hearing cries. Cuddling or feeding during this time could create a trend of the baby waking specifically for this attention. However, if you feel your baby is unsafe or in distress, check in.

• 4

  Keep safe toys in the crib. Aside from issues at nighttime, six-month-old babies often rise early. Placing a few safe toys in the crib provides some playful entertainment for your child, allowing you some extra winks.

Sleep Issues in Six Month Olds

• 1

  Learn the root of sleep problems. Babies are less likely to sleep through the night if they were premature, are breast fed, co-sleep with parents, live with a stressed family or have a mom who is depressed. Causes of waking include being hungry or experiencing night terrors. Babies can also have issues sleeping due to food allergies, colic, uncomfortable pajamas, teething, discomfort, separation anxiety or environmental issues. The better you know your baby's habits, the better you can identify what may be getting in the way of sleep.

• 2

  Use a sound machine. Some parents choose to enlist the help of a sound machine, which produces soothing, natural noises to help the baby fall asleep. This can help counteract some of the issues that surround falling asleep, such as noise and separation anxiety.

• 3

  Deal with night terrors. Although more common in children, night terrors sometimes occur in infants, including those around six months old. These bouts generally occur 90 minutes into sleep. You cannot console your child during a night terror as they are usually still asleep. If your child experiences night terrors, there are several natural remedies you can use to try to relieve anxiety before bedtime.