Navigating Your 5-Month-Old’s Sleep: A Comprehensive Guide

In her 5th month, your baby might start getting longer stretches of nighttime sleep as she forms a more predictable daily routine.

But it’s not all smiles in slumberland—you may also deal with inconsistent naps, early morning wake-ups, and the dreaded possibility of a sleep regression. Let’s look at how to manage your 5-month-old’s sleep schedule.

At 5 months old, babies typically need about 12–16 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period. 1 This sleep is usually split between:

• Nighttime sleep: Many babies start sleeping through the night for 10 to 12 hours in total, but don’t be surprised if your baby wakes a few times for feedings. 2
• Daytime naps: She’ll probably sleep between 2 and 5 hours, spread over 1 to 4 naps. 3 2

Keep in mind that these numbers are just guidelines. Some children naturally sleep more or less than others, so try not to panic if your baby seems to be sleeping too much. What’s most important is that your baby is generally content and well-rested and that you recognize when she’s sleepy.

How to recognize your baby’s sleep cues

Make sure you know how to read your baby’s cues that she’s tired. You’ll know it’s time for bed if she’s:

• Rubbing her eyes
• Yawning
• Acting fussy

If you notice these signs, be proactive and get her ready for her nap or bedtime.

What to know about wake windows

A wake window is when your baby is awake between her sleep periods. Wake windows increase with age, and at 5 months, most babies stay awake for between 1.5 and 4 hours during each window. 4 To avoid short or disrupted naps, make sure you don’t put her down too early or too late.

It’s usually nothing to worry about if your baby’s wake windows don’t match up with the averages. Still, if you’re concerned that she’s not getting enough sleep, you can always chat with your pediatrician.

Note that a longer wake window doesn’t mean your baby needs to be constantly engaged. While she’ll still be eager to explore the world around her, a little rest and relaxation can help her recharge her batteries.

As your baby gets older, her naps should become more predictable. However, it’s also common for her naps to still be a bit inconsistent at this stage. Here’s what you should know about napping at 5 months:

• Number: Most 5-month-olds take around 2 to 3 naps a day since they’re generally sleeping for longer through the night. 5
• Length: Most babies nap for between 30 minutes and 2 hours. 2
• Location: It’s best to have your baby nap in her crib as often as possible. While some on-the-go naps are unavoidable, she’ll establish a better sleep routine if she’s consistently napping in the same place.

Sample 5-month-old sleep schedule

While every baby is different, here is an example of what a day with a 3-nap schedule could look like:

How to help your baby nap

Of course, not all babies are natural nappers, so if yours is struggling, here’s how you can make it easier for her:

• Create a consistent nap routine: Just like bedtime, a predictable nap routine, such as a short song or a quiet story, lets your baby know that it’s time to sleep.
• Ensure a dark and quiet environment: Keep your baby’s room dark and quiet so she can fall and stay asleep longer. You could even try using a white noise machine to drown out any distracting sounds.
• Don’t be afraid to wake your baby: Although it may seem counterintuitive, you may need to wake your baby up from her nap so she can feed. You can do this by gently patting her, stroking her, or changing her diaper. 6

If your baby was once a sound sleeper and suddenly struggles with bedtime, a sleep regression could be the culprit. Sleep regressions are periods when your baby’s sleep patterns change for the worse.

Sleep regressions at the 4-month mark are common, but your baby could also go through a regression at 5 months.

Signs she’s going through one include:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• More frequent nighttime wakings
• Shorter naps
• Increased fussiness or irritability
• Refusing to go to bed or nap

Rest assured that sleep regressions, while frustrating, are normal and temporary, usually only lasting 2–6 weeks. 7

Other common 5-month-old sleep problems

It’s not just sleep regression that can throw your baby’s sleep schedule out of whack. Here are some other common issues that can make it hard for your baby to get some shut-eye:

• Teething: If she’s particularly cranky at night, she could be teething, even if you don’t see any teeth yet. Teething symptoms include drooling, gum swelling, and biting. 8 Offer your baby a teething ring to chew on. If she’s very uncomfortable, talk to your pediatrician about pain relief options.
• Shifting nap schedules: As your baby transitions to fewer daytime naps, she might get overtired as a result (which, oddly, can actually make it harder for her to get to sleep). Reading her sleep cues and getting her to bed early stops her from becoming overtired.
• Growth spurts: Your baby might be due for a growth spurt around this time. If so, that might add to her sleeping problems.
• Rolling over: If she’s started rolling over in the night, that could also be interfering with her sleep. Note that if she is now capable of rolling over, it’s time to start putting her to bed without a swaddle (that’s assuming you’ve been swaddling her up to this point).

If your baby wakes up in the night, the right move is usually to see if she settles back to sleep on her own. If not, try gently patting her or singing a lullaby. Avoid picking her up unless it’s absolutely necessary.

If this is a frequent occurrence, adjust her wake windows to make sure she has enough active playtime, which can help her get to sleep more easily.

Speak with your pediatrician or a certified sleep consultant if you don’t see improvements in your baby’s sleep schedule. They can identify any underlying issues and give you personalized advice and support.

If your 5-month-old is having trouble falling or staying asleep, think about sleep training her. Sleep training involves using a tried-and-tested method to teach your baby how to fall and stay asleep by herself.

Sleep training may be appropriate starting around 4–6 months, depending on your baby’s development, growth, and feeding needs. If your pediatrician gives you the go-ahead, popular sleep training methods include the: 9

• Ferber method: This involves putting your baby down when she’s drowsy but awake, then checking on her at set intervals (e.g., every 5, 10, or 15 minutes). Gradually increase the length of each interval as she learns to soothe herself to sleep.
• Chair method: This is similar to the Ferber method, but involves putting in a chair next to your baby’s crib. If she wakes up, go and sit in the chair until she’s asleep again. Each night, slowly move the chair further away until it’s out of the room.
• Cry-it-out method (CIO): This controversial method means leaving your baby to sleep by herself throughout the night without going in to check on her. Even if she cries, don’t go to her (unless you think she may actually be unwell, of course). If you go with this method, it’s a good idea to install a nanny cam in the room so you can check on your baby virtually, without any actual intervention.

Remember—the best sleep training method depends on your own parenting style and your baby’s temperament. Try out what works best for you and your baby, but don’t be shy to ask your pediatrician for advice if you’re unsure.

As mentioned, if bedtime is becoming a bad time, one of the best ways to get your baby’s sleep back on track is to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Not only does it let her know when it’s time for bed, but it can make bedtime much more enjoyable and secure for her. You could try:

• Running her a warm bath
• Putting on pajamas together
• Reading a book or singing a lullaby
• Giving her a final feeding
• Putting her baby down in her crib

However you decide to structure her bedtime routine, make sure you put her down at the same time each night so that body clock of hers can adjust.

Reevaluate “eat, play, sleep”

Many parents swear by the “eat, play, sleep” routine, where you follow the schedule of feeding your baby, playing with her, then putting her to sleep. While it might work for newborns, it may no longer be suitable for your 5-month-old baby, since she’ll be awake more often.

If sleep and your 5-month-old seem to be at odds, remember that this is a natural part of her development. Through it all, keep working hard to establish her bedtime routine, follow her cues, and speak with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.

Above all, be patient with yourself and your baby. Most sleep issues get better as your baby gets older, so don’t let her changing sleep schedule overwhelm you. You and your little one will soon be sleeping soundly once again.