The short answer: Most babies can sleep 6-8 hour stretches by 4-6 months old. But "sleeping through the night" doesn't mean 12 uninterrupted hours until much later.
Quick Answer by Age
2-4 hour stretches. Night feedings are biologically necessary.
4-6 hour stretches possible. Sleep regression common around 4 months.
6-8 hours typical. Many babies drop night feeds.
8-12 hours possible. Some still wake once for comfort/habit.
What "Sleeping Through the Night" Actually Means
Pediatric sleep researchers define "sleeping through the night" as a 6-8 hour stretch without needing parental intervention - not the 8pm to 7am marathon many parents expect.
A baby who sleeps from 10pm to 5am is technically sleeping through the night, even though that's not always what exhausted parents have in mind.
Why Some Babies Take Longer
Several factors influence when your specific baby will sleep longer stretches:
- Birth weight: Smaller babies may need more frequent feeds
- Feeding method: Breastfed babies often wake more frequently (breast milk digests faster)
- Temperament: Some babies are naturally lighter sleepers
- Sleep associations: Babies who fall asleep nursing or rocking may need help reconnecting sleep cycles
- Development: Growth spurts and milestones temporarily disrupt sleep
What Actually Helps
Evidence-Based Tips
- ✓ Consistent bedtime routine (bath, book, song)
- ✓ Put baby down drowsy but awake (when developmentally ready)
- ✓ Dark room, white noise, cool temperature (68-72°F)
- ✓ Appropriate wake windows during the day
- ✓ Full feeds during the day so baby isn't making up calories at night
Get the Sleep Training Guide & Log
Our toolkit includes a complete sleep training guide comparing 4 methods, plus a 14-night tracking log. Part of 29 tools for $19.
Get the Toolkit — $19When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Most sleep variations are normal, but mention these to your doctor:
- Baby over 6 months still waking every 2 hours
- Difficulty breathing, snoring, or gasping during sleep
- Extreme difficulty falling asleep despite tiredness
- Your own exhaustion affecting daily functioning
The Bottom Line
By 6 months, about 60-70% of babies can sleep 6+ hour stretches. By 12 months, most babies are capable of sleeping through the night - though many still wake occasionally for comfort or out of habit.
If your baby isn't there yet, you're not doing anything wrong. Sleep development, like all milestones, happens on a range.
Related Tools
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, National Sleep Foundation, Mindell et al. (2006) "Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems"