Learn how to set up a happy and healthy sleep schedule for a 7-month-old
At 7 months old, your baby is experiencing all kinds of new and exciting developments! They may be sitting on their own, moving objects from one hand to the other, they may even be reaching for you! Your 7-month-old is also likely responding to their own name and seem excited by playtime. When it comes to your 7-month-old seep schedule, chances are they’re sleeping less during the day, and may even be down to just 2 daytime naps. Creating a sleep schedule is an important part of your baby’s healthy sleep routine. Keep reading for some more FAQs on creating a 7-month-old baby sleep schedule.
Why is a sleep schedule important for a 7-month-old?
A sleep schedule is important for your 7-month-old for a variety of reasons. Routines help everyone feel safe in their environment. Consider your own day and nighttime routines, you have some! It provides comfort and consistency, and higher performance all around. Routines offer a sense of stability knowing when something happens and in a specific order.
So, when it comes to a sleep schedule for 7-month-old, whatever routines have been established early on, i.e.: dimmed lights, hushed voices, quiet music, begets a more relaxed state, which ultimately helps with better sleep. Routine also helps to create a habit which will help your baby understand what is daytime activity (play), and what is a nighttime activity (sleep).
What is the average sleep schedule for a 7-month-old?
Every baby is different and so is their sleep schedule. By 7 months old, most babies are averaging around between 12-16 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period, with around 2-3 naps during the day.
According to the website What To Expect, below is considered a typical schedule given the average sleep cycle of a 7 month old who naps twice a day:
- 7 a.m.- Awake
- 9:30 a.m.- Nap #1
- 11:30 a.m.- Awake
- 2 p.m.- Nap #2
- 4 p.m.- Awake
- 7 p.m.- Bedtime routine
Of course, this is just a guideline as each baby is unique and will develop their own sleep routine according to their lifestyle.
What is the best way to get a 7-month-old on a sleep schedule?
When it comes to teaching a baby to sleep through the night, it really comes down to routine, routine, routine! By now you’ve probably established certain sleep cues like the following:
- Warm bath
- Darken the sleep space (close the curtains, soften the lights)
- Read a book
- Play soft music
- Feed
- Snuggle
- Put baby in their crib tired but awake
Doing the same thing every night, at the same time every night, encourages better sleep for your baby, ideally for longer stretches of time. If you haven’t yet tried sleep training, at 7 months old your baby is developmentally ready for it. There are a lot of different sleep training methods to try, but once you choose one, stick with it! Most sleep training takes place over the course of several days and can be quite effective in teaching your baby to sleep through the night. It’s important to do your research, talk to friends, and/or your pediatrician, to find the sleep training method for your 7-month-old that will work best for you, your lifestyle, and your baby’s temperament.
Sleep cues are also an important part of sleep training as they signal to your baby that it’s time for bed. The Dreamland Baby Weighted sleep sack can be important part of their sleep routine. Just by putting it on at night – (you can even pair it with our adorable Dreamland Baby Pajamas!) - it will signal to your 7-month-old that it’s time to drift off to dreamland.
What time should a 7-month-old go to bed?
When determining what time your 7-month-old should go to bed, some parents work backwards, meaning bedtime occurs depending on what time your 7-month-old wakes up in the morning. It can also vary depending on what time they wake from their last nap.
That said, most babies are put down for bed around 7pm. This is a great time to start the nighttime routine of bath… reading… feeding… snuggling… dimming the lights and playing some soft music.
What is a good nap schedule for a 7-month-old?
See the above schedule to get a general sense of a sleep schedule for your 7-month-old. By now, they are likely napping between 2-3 hours of sleep during the day divided between 2-3 naps.
What happens in the next stage of sleep?
If you’ve explored sleep training, it’s possible that your baby, and you(!), are finally getting longer stretches of sleep at night. Perhaps your baby has learned to self-soothe and has fewer middle of the night sleep interruptions. But every baby is different and because your 7-month-old is still growing, and experiencing so many developmental changes, it’s hard to predict how your baby’s sleep patterns may change, other to note that they likely will change… and change again… don’t worry! Sticking to your routine and schedule will help.
Tips for 7-month-old sleep schedule:
- Play it out: your 7-month-old has a lot of energy! Make sure they’re active during waking hours so when it comes time for bed, they’re tired!
- Consistency: routine, routine, routine will help establish important sleep cues, so your baby knows when it’s time for sleep
- Sleep Training: teaching your baby to self-soothe is an important step in getting quality sleep
- Get Help: parenting is hard! Sleep (or lack thereof) can be stressful. When needed, talk to your pediatrician, join a parent group, or ask for help.
Remember that your baby is unique and will hit certain milestones like sleeping through the night in their own time. The Dreamland Baby line of products have been designed with your infant’s sleep in mind. From our weighted sleep swaddle, to the weighted sleep sack and weighted blanket, there are adorable prints and colors to choose from. All of which makes a great gift or addition to any baby registry. Our products are designed to help baby feel calm, fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer which results in a better night’s sleep for everyone!
