Establishing good sleep habits: nine to 12 months
What will my baby’s sleep pattern be at nine months?
By now your baby is probably sleeping for between 11 hours and 12 hours a night, and napping twice a day for just over an hour at a time. Make sure that she’s getting enough sleep, because sleep is crucial to your baby’s development.
Try to stick to a consistent nap routine. If that slips, you may have more trouble getting your baby to sleep at night, and she may start to wake up more often.
How should I encourage good sleep habits?
Continue with the techniques you’ve been using since she was six months old, to encourage your baby to settle herself to sleep. But don’t worry if you haven’t managed it yet. The same principles apply to both younger and older babies.
Stick to a consistent bedtime routine
You and your baby will both benefit from a nightly bedtime routine. This may include:
- playing a quiet game
- giving her a bath
- changing your baby into her pyjamas
- reading her a bedtime story
- singing her a lullaby
- giving her a gentle massage
- tucking her in and kissing her goodnight
Before you start your bedtime routine, try to encourage some quiet time by turning off the television and winding down activities. This helps set the scene for preparing to go to sleep.
Try to follow the same routine every night. Your baby will thrive on consistency and feel more secure when she knows what to expect.
Follow a daily routine
Bedtime is likely to go more smoothly if you keep the rest of your baby’s daily routine fairly consistent. If she naps, eats, plays and goes to bed at the same time every day, your baby is more likely to fall asleep without a struggle.
Give your baby a chance to fall asleep on her own
If you want your baby to sleep through the night without calling for you, encourage her to learn to fall asleep on her own. This is a natural part of her development and learning and is helped by having a regular bedtime routine and being familiar with the difference between day and night. Put your baby down while she’s awake, but sleepy. Try not to make the mistake of letting her become dependent on rocking or feeding to fall asleep.
What sleep problems can happen at this age?
Your baby is old enough to sleep through the night, but she may still be suffering from occasional periods of separation anxiety. Her napping routine may also change as she grows older. Be flexible and be prepared to modify your routine as you need to.
If you haven’t already, now may be a good time to start sleep training. Find out about the different methods you can try, from controlled crying to a number of “no tears” approaches.