At 10 months, your baby has most likely settled into a regular sleeping schedule, meaning it's a fantastic age to begin committing to an everyday sleep regimen. But then still, the vast majority of parents are confused about nappy times, waking windows, nocturnal sleep, and whether they should correct interrupted sleep. All these topics will be discussed thoroughly so you will have all the knowledge for a 10-month-old sleep schedule, getting both you and your little baby into better sleep.
With milestone progress at full pace—crawling and cruising replaced by first steps—the sleeping habits of your 10-month-old might be affected by their new and exciting skills. Being aware of their sleep needs during this time is crucial to aid their development and ensure they get sufficient rest.
How Much Sleep Does a 10 Month Old Need?
As per sleep specialists, a 10-month-old infant would generally require around 13.5 hours of total sleep per day. This usually gets broken into 11-12 hours of nighttime sleep and 2-3 hours of daytime sleep broken up into two naps.
Sleep requirements can be different from one baby to another, so listen more to your own child's rhythms and levels of energy than to following these numbers rigidly. These figures are only a guideline, but your baby's mood and behavior are also good indicators of whether they are well-rested.
Here's a quick overview of sleep expectations at 10 months:
- Average total sleep: 13.5 hours
- Number of naps: 2
- Goal daytime sleep: 2-3 hours
- Wake windows: 3-3.75 hours
Sample 10 Month Old Sleep Schedule
This sample schedule can be adapted to fit your family's needs and your baby's natural rhythm:
- Morning rise: 6:00 AM
- First nap: 9:00 - 10:15 AM (1.25 hour nap after 3 hours awake)
- Second nap: 1:45 - 3:00 PM (1.25 hour nap after 3.5 hours awake)
- Bedtime routine starts: 6:00 PM
- Asleep by: 6:45 PM (after 3.75 hours awake)
Naptime Schedule for a 10 Month Old
How Long Should a 10 Month Old Nap?
A 10-month-old's nap schedule should allow 2-3 hours of daytime sleep. Ideally, each nap will last between 60-120 minutes. Most babies at this age need 3-3.75 hours of awake time between sleep periods.
How Many Naps Does a 10 Month Old Need?
Most 10-month-olds take two naps daily. By this age, most babies have naturally transitioned from three naps to two. The morning nap typically occurs about 3 hours after waking up, while the afternoon nap follows approximately 3.5 hours after waking from the first nap.
The pattern typically follows:
● Morning nap: 3 hours after waking up
● Afternoon nap: 3.5 hours after waking from first nap
● Bedtime: 3.75 hours after waking from afternoon nap
How Much Daytime Sleep for a 10 Month Old?
Shoot for 2-3 hours of daytime sleep in total broken up between morning and afternoon naps. If your baby naps significantly more than this during the day, they will have trouble sleeping at night. If they get significantly less daytime nap time, though, they can become overtired by bedtime.
Sleep Routine for a 10 Month Old
A consistent bedtime routine signals to your baby that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep. An effective routine might include:
- Bath time (doesn't need to be every night) - Bath your baby with proper temperature and gentle touch, making him/her relaxed before sleep.
- Change into comfortable sleepwear like the Momcozy bamboo pajamas, which are specially designed with silky soft fabric derived from bamboo and natural cotton.
- Feeding (but not until completely asleep) - This is to prevent the 10-month-old baby from waking up at night hungry for food.
- Tooth/gum cleaning each day before sleeping makes sure your baby won't wake up at midnight because of certain oral health problems.
- Reading a book or singing a lullaby can simply drive the baby sleepy if you use a gentle voice, and this is also a good chance of building a child-parent relationship.
- Dimming the lights and creating a calm environment - Remember that strong light and intense emotions don't serve a sweet dream even for adults.
- Use white noise such as the Momcozy Baby Sound Machine, which offers 34 soothing sounds, including white noise, lullabies and nature sounds.
- Goodnight phrase or routine that you repeat each night can build a closer connection between you and your baby(similar to bedtime reading/singing), as well as serving as a signal for the baby to sleep.
The entire routine should take about 30-45 minutes and should be consistent night after night.
10 Month Old Wake Windows
Wake windows are the periods of time your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleep periods. At 10 months, babies typically need 3-3.75 hours of awake time between sleeps.
Throughout the day, these wake windows often increase in length:
- Morning wake window (before first nap): About 3 hours
- Midday wake window (between naps): About 3.5 hours
- Evening wake window (before bedtime): About 3.75 hours
Respecting these wake windows helps prevent your baby from becoming overtired, which can make it harder for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
How to Get a 10 Month Old to Sleep Through the Night
If your 10-month-old is still waking up during the night, several factors could be at play:
Ensure Adequate Daytime Feeding
By 10 months, many babies can sleep through the night without feeding. Make sure your baby is getting enough nutritional intake during the day to reduce hunger-related night wakings.
Address Sleep Associations
If your baby needs to be rocked, fed or patted to sleep at bedtime, they may expect the same assistance when they naturally wake between sleep cycles during the night. Gradually working on independent sleep skills can help them self-soothe back to sleep.
Create an Optimal Sleep Environment
Make sure your baby's sleep space is:
- Dark (consider blackout curtains)
- Cool (68-72°F or 20-22°C)
- Quiet (or with consistent white noise)
- Safe (following AAP guidelines)
Monitor Wake Windows
Overtiredness can lead to difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Follow the recommended wake windows for your 10-month-old to ensure they're getting enough sleep during the day without becoming overtired.
Rule Out Medical Issues
Sometimes sleep disruptions are due to teething, ear infections, reflux, or other medical conditions. Consult your pediatrician if you suspect your baby's night wakings are related to discomfort or illness.
Can I Sleep Train a 10 Month Old?
The answer is...Yes! In fact, most babies are mentally and physically ready for sleep training even by 4-6 months, so at 10 months, your baby can certainly learn more independent sleep skills, as they grow even more mature at this age.
There are various sleep training methods to consider, ranging from gradual, gentle approaches to more structured ones:
- Fading Method: Gradually decreasing your presence and assistance as your baby falls asleep
- Chair Method: Sitting near your baby as they fall asleep, gradually moving the chair further away over time
- Check and Console: Checking on your baby at increasing intervals when they cry (but practice it only when they are in the safe condition)
- Full Extinction: Allowing your baby to learn to self-soothe without intervention
Choose a method that aligns both with your parenting philosophy and your baby's preferences. And despite the certain method you choose to practice, remember to practice it repeatedly like a routine.
FAQs About 10 Month Old Sleep Schedules
What Time Should a 10 Month Old Go to Bed?
Most 10-month-old babies respond well to a 6:30-8:00 PM bedtime. The actual time may be quite close to 12-13 hours from when they wake up in the morning. For example, if your baby wakes up at about 6:00 AM, attempt to put them to bed between 6:00 PM-8:00 PM.
Is There a 10 Month Sleep Regression?
While there is no officially recognized 10-month sleep regression, infants do experience sleep disruption at this age due to milestones like pulling to stand, cruising, and learning to walk. Some of the reasons that disrupt sleep patterns include mobility, intellectual growth, and separation anxiety. If your baby is experiencing sleep issues at this time, try to be regular with your sleeping routine while giving them adequate encouragement to grow.
When Do Babies Sleep 7pm to 7am?
Most babies can sleep from 7 PM to 7 AM by 6-9 months old, though this is highly variable. Most babies are physiologically capable of sleeping through the night by 10 months, but sleep associations, hunger, milestones, and temperament all influence when a baby will actually sleep through on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Establishing a consistent 10-month-old sleep schedule is beneficial to your baby and your entire family. While there will be interruptions along the way due to developmental milestones, teething, or illness, a place to fall back on good sleeping habits will see your little one through these temporary setbacks.
Every infant has their own unique growth pace, and a method that works for one infant may not suit another. Be flexible and ready to adapt your method according to your baby's personality and requirements while maintaining the core elements of a routine sleeping regime.
With consistency and patience, the majority of 10-month-olds are able to learn good sleep habits that will remain beneficial for a lifetime. If you're experiencing ongoing sleep difficulties even after having put these ideas into practice, seek the assistance of your pediatrician or pediatric sleep consultant for one-on-one advice.
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