updated, April 17, 2024 – Chicago’s Most Trusted Postpartum Doula Certificate Now Available shares the basics of our evidence based newborn care education. Successful completion of the Newborn and Postpartum Support (NAPS) curriculum also means students get listed on the national NAPS Registry.
Chicago’s Most Trusted Postpartum Doula Certificate Now Available – Online Options
Virtual newborn care and breastfeeding classes are hosted at Teachable. They include a quiz after each module so night nannies and postpartum doulas can be sure they have mastered the most up to date care and safety protocols. Additionally they are routinely updated as safe sleep and other newborn and postpartum care recommendations become available. This class is the online version of the material awarded local government contract #2000001276. Let Mommy Sleep is also a proud Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep partner.
Chicago area parents can contact us anytime for personal and in home classes too. We serve everywhere Riverwood to Arlington Heights, from Streeterville to Northbrook, Downers Grove and beyond. In-person classes for parents are taught by our Night Nurses (RN) and veteran Postpartum Doulas. You’ll learn safe sleep, the basics of infant CPR and emergency care, how to swaddle, how to diaper, how to know if your newborn is feeding well and much more.
This place is a godsend for parents. Erin is very responsive and quickly matched us with a night nanny, Elene, when our daughter was born. Elene was fantastic! Always available and genuinely enjoys what she does…(more)
RM- Lake Forest, IL
Your Baby Nurse will personally teach you and as many friends and family members as you wish and also remains on-call via text or phone. This ensures you are getting answers immediately and ongoing as you need them!
Nanny agencies and home health care organizations are also welcome to contact us! We have taught postpartum and newborn care to: Nanny Next Door, Muslim Nannies and more.
For Chicago based baby care experts and postpartum doulas who have already earned the newborn care certificate and wish to register with us, apply now.
Last week, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, (AAP) revised developmental milestones for children age 2 months to 5 years. The purpose of the updates is to help parents identify autism and developmental delays in their children, so that helpful interventions may occur earlier. Early intervention is a key factor in allowing children to reach their full potential. Baby Milestones: Updated details how milestone evaluation has changed since 2004.
Parents can use the milestone checklists to keep track of their infant, toddler and child’s development.
Baby Milestones
The Milestone Moments checklist developmental milestones from ages 2 months to 5 years. The CDC’s free App, Milestone Tracker is also available. This may be especially helpful to parents of twins or children of different ages.
Baby Milestones: Updated, ages 2 months to 5 years
Clearer Language and Narrower Age Ranges
According to the AAP, the revised developmental milestones “identify the behaviors that 75% or more of children can be expected to exhibit at a certain age…”. In the past, milestones contained vague language such as, “At this age baby may…” or “this behavior begins between 12 -17 months…” The updated guidance now includes specific checklists for ages 15 and 30 months to bridge any gaps between the previously longer ranges.
Development as a Continuing Discussion Between Families and Primary Care Providers
The new guidance is clear to say that parents know their children best and should not wait to contact a doctor with concerns. Further, that early childhood development should be an ongoing conversation between parents and doctors. To facilitate this conversation, the new guidelines contain a specific checklist for each well-child visit ( 2 months, 4 months, 6 months etc.) rather than checklists by age range.
Doctors and clinicians will also ask open-ended questions such as Is there anything your child does that concerns you? This will also encourage child development as a discussion.
Baby Milestones: Updated – Ongoing Resources and Tips for Parents to Use at Each Age
Expanded, appropriate tips parents can incorporate into developmental learning are now available. For example: Use “back and forth” play with your baby. When your baby smiles, you smile; when he makes sounds, you copy them. This helps them learn to be social.
By 10 months, your baby’s sleep habits are beginning to feel more predictable and you might be considering helping baby sleep through the night . Here’s how to set up a flexible, evidence-based schedule that supports consistent naps and long stretches of nighttime sleep. Baby Sleep Schedule for a 10-11 Month Old provides a sample to get started.
Baby Sleep Schedule for a 10-11 Month Old
10 Month Old
Sample Sleep Schedule for a 10-11 Month Old
Here’s what a typical day looks like for a 10-11 month old baby. You can also customize this schedule to reflect your own daily routine. For example, if baby wakes at 7:00a, simply note that and adjust this schedule forward 1/2 hour.
Time
Activity
Details & Notes
6:30 AM
Wake up, diaper change, bottle
7–8 oz milk or formula
7:30 AM
Optional feed
6–8 oz if baby shows hunger cues
8:00 AM
Breakfast
Solids + milk; oatmeal with fruit is great — milk mixed into food counts toward the 28–32 oz total goal
8:30–9:00 AM
Playtime
Light activity, floor play, songs
9:00–9:15 AM
Wind-down
Quiet play, cuddles, books — watch for sleepy cues like yawning or rubbing eyes
9:30–10:30 AM
Morning nap
1-hour nap; sleeping past 10 AM is fine
10:30/11:00 AM
Wake & bottle
7–8 oz milk or formula
12:00 PM
Lunch
Solids + milk or formula as a drink
12:30–1:30 PM
Playtime
Active play or outdoor stroll
1:30–2:00 PM
Wind-down
Dim lights, read, cuddle
2:00–3:30 PM
Afternoon nap
1–1.5 hour nap
3:30 PM
Bottle
7–8 oz milk or formula
3:30–5:30 PM
Playtime
Low-key play; stay home if sleep training for consistency
5:30 PM
Dinner
Solids + milk or formula
6:45–7:30 PM
Bedtime routine
Bath, bottle (final 6–8 oz), quiet play, lights dim — in bed by 7:30 PM
10-11 month old infant schedule
Notes:
Total daily milk intake for most full-term 10-11 month olds: 28–32 ounces
Most babies this age take 2 naps per day, lasting 1–1.5 hours each.
Adjust the start time forward or backward based on when your baby naturally wakes.
Bedtime can shift earlier if the second nap is short or skipped.
Once you get the pediatrician’s approval and you are sure baby is not waking overnight due to hunger, you can begin sleep training. If you want to help your baby sleep through the night, you can find step-by-step sleep training instructions in the Ultimate Guide to Baby Sleep Training.
FAQ: Baby Sleep Schedule for 10–11 Month Olds
How many naps should a 10–11 month old take? Most babies take two naps per day at this age, one in the mid morning and one in the early afternoon. 10am and 2pm are fairly common but by no means the norm for every baby. By 11 months, some babies may begin resisting the morning nap, signaling the eventual transition to one nap per day closer to 12–14 months.
How long should naps be at 10–11 months? Each nap typically lasts 1 to 1.5 hours, for a total of 2.5–3 hours of daytime sleep. If one nap runs long, the other may naturally shorten. Nap times can also be affected but what activities you and baby are doing during the day.
What time should a 10–11 month old go to bed? A consistent bedtime between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. works well for most babies. An earlier bedtime may be needed if naps were short or skipped that day.
How much total sleep does a 10–11 month old need in 24 hours? On average, babies this age sleep about 13–14 hours total; 11–12 hours overnight plus 2–3 hours during the day. Every baby’s sleep need varies slightly depending on growth, temperament and activity level.
Why does my 10–11 month old suddenly fight sleep? It can be caused by new mobility like cruising or walking, separation anxiety or teething. Stay consistent with your bedtime routine, and it usually passes within 2–3 weeks.
Can I start sleep training at 10 months old? Yes, if your pediatrician has ruled out medical issues and confirmed your baby is ready. Many families use gentle methods like the Slingshot approach, which allows you to stay near your baby while they learn to fall asleep independently.
Should I still do a dreamfeed at 10 months? Once babies consistently consume 28–32 ounces between the time they wake and bedtime ad can sleep 8-10 hours without needing to feed, a dreamfeed is not needed. If your baby is 10 months old and still only drinks small amounts during daytime feeds, talk to your pediatrician before stopping a dreamfeed.
What if my baby still wakes up at night? Night wakings can still happen due to teething, growth spurts, developmental leaps or simply because baby has never done it any other way. Offer reassurance without full playtime or bright lights, so baby understands it’s still nighttime and time for sleep.
Things to remember:
This is just an example. It’s fine if your schedule differs; the goal is to have defined eating times to set the stage for long sleep overnight.
While your baby is getting more mobile, Infant Safe Sleep guidelines are still important for babies age 0-1 year old. Review them in 10 Steps to Safe Sleep for Baby
This information is for general educational purposes and not a substitute for medical advice. Always follow your pediatrician’s guidance about your baby’s individual feeding and sleep needs.
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Newborns and infants sleep differently than adults. Once you understand why, you can work with their natural rhythms instead of against them, helping them sleep longer and with less fuss.
They’re tiny! – Newborns have small stomachs so they need to eat frequently. Their tummies can only hold small amounts of breast milk or formula and this nutrition gets digested quickly. As a result, they typically wake every 2 to 3 hours to feed. See the chart at How big is a newborn’s stomach?
Hunger, need for comfort or growth spurts – Babies usually wake up if they’re hungry, have a wet or dirty diaper, or are experiencing discomfort due to issues like teething or gas. Additionally periods of growth mean their bodies and brains are developing rapidly, leading to more frequent waking during the night.
Immature sleep patterns: Newborns have an immature sleep-wake cycle, and it takes time for their circadian and ultradian rhythms to develop. This means that their sleep is not yet regulated by day and night patterns, and they have shorter sleep cycles compared to adults.
Melatonin isn’t Present Yet: Newborns receive melatonin, widely known as the sleep hormone, from the placenta but don’t start developing their own until they’re about 8-9 weeks old.
Is my infant sleeping enough
Baby Sleep: Naps Decoded – Circadian Rhythm
Circadian rhythm is nature’s 24-hour clock that regulates awake and sleep times. Within this cycle are shorter ultradian rhythms, lasting about 30–90 minutes, that dictate when babies move from alertness to sleepiness.
Every baby book about “schedules” or “wake windows” is based on these patterns—but let’s simplify how they actually work.
Ultradian Rhythm Basics
Serotonin increases alertness and is triggered by daylight.
Melatonin promotes sleepiness and is triggered by darkness.
If we visualize this using a 6-month-old as an example: baby is wakeful at the top of the curve (around 45 minutes after waking), and sleepy at the bottom (around 90 minutes after waking). Tip: Put baby in the crib 5–10 minutes before that 90-minute mark—right before the “clock dings” and they become alert again.
In full-term newborns, melatonin production doesn’t mature until 9–12 weeks, so they build up to that 90-minute cycle gradually. Getting baby down before they enter another wakeful period prevents fussiness and overtiredness.
NapTiming Reminder
Baby shouldn’t start winding down at the :30, :45, :60- or 90-minute mark. They should already be in their crib by that point.
Here’s a breakdown of newborns’ basic awake and sleep times:
Baby Sleep: Naps Decoded
Weeks 0-2: Baby is awake for a maximum of 30 minutes. Most of this time is spent feeding and baby will appear sleepy even during wakeful periods, often falling back asleep with no help at all.
Weeks 3-8: Baby is awake for a maximum of 45 minutes. You’ll notice baby is more wakeful around week 8; s/he won’t just go right back to sleep like s/he used to and may need your help to stay asleep. Baby wearing, white noise, giving a pacifier to help sleep are all fine to do because at this age baby needs your help to get and stay sleep.
Weeks 8-12: Baby is working on and eventually awake for 60 minutes. Napping will become longer during these weeks as well but it’s perfectly fine and even recommended to help baby with napping when s/he pops up after 10-15 minutes or so by giving a pacifier, using white noise etc. You’re not creating bad habits, baby simply needs a little help to not fully awaken because the systems that make seratonin and melatonin are not quite mature yet.
Weeks 12 – 18: Baby is working on and eventually is awake for 90 minutes. Baby is even more alert and still may need help getting and staying asleep. If your goal is to have baby eventually sleep through the night independently, try not to pick baby up if she wakes before a 90 minute nap is done. Instead, stay near to comfort with patting on the back or giving pacifier while baby is still asleep, but exhibiting signs of waking up like twitching or moving her head back and forth.
Weeks 18 -24:Baby is awake for 90+ minutes and consolidates naps now. There may be fewer naps that vary in length but a nap of at least 90 minutes will provide adequate rest. S/he will usually be awake for some increment of 90 minutes (11⁄2 hours, 3 hours, 4 1⁄2 hours).
What’s Next?
If your goal is to have baby sleep long stretches overnight without feeding, the 4 month well check is a great time to start talking with your pediatrician. These longer stretches of sleep are really just one big nap consolidation! They can help you to know whether baby is developmentally ready to sleep for at least 6 hours uninterrupted.
If you’re ready for your baby to sleep through the night, start with an appropriate routine. While the cry-it-out method gets a lot of press, sleeping through the night can be a gradual process where baby’s body adjusts to less milk overnight, making sleep a natural next step to waking from hunger. You can read about this in detail in the Ultimate Guide to Baby Sleep Training.
Infant Sleep Cycles visual
Baby Sleep: Naps Decoded – Important Notes
Sometimes even though we’re doing everything right, babies cry. A LOT.
They might cry because of colic, could be overstimulation, reflux or any other reason only known to your baby. Even if you follow this blog or any sleep advice exactly as it’s written, babies are not robots. You’re doing a great job. If you’re concerned about baby’s crying or health, please contact your pediatrician.
These guidelines are for full-term babies without medical concerns. Preemies, twins, and babies with special feeding or growth needs may follow different patterns. Some babies need to be woken for feeds to gain weight, for example. When in doubt, trust your instincts and your doctor. You can never go wrong with patience, following doctors’ orders and responding to your baby’s needs.
“What should my baby’s schedule look like?” is one of those questions for which there are a lot of right answers and being “on a schedule” is usually just a matter of following baby’s natural cycle. It shouldn’t feel forced or like a stand-off between parent and baby and for some parents the schedule is their first step in helping baby sleep through the night. Below is Sample Schedule for a 4, 5 or 6 Month Old Baby.
5-6 Month Old Baby
Every baby is unique, and while the sample schedule can be a helpful guide, keep in mind that sleep regressions, growth spurts, illness and developmental milestones will naturally affect timing. Also, aways prioritize 10 Steps to Safe Sleep for Baby: place your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface, free of loose bedding, pillows, toys and bumpers. Following these guidelines supports both your baby’s healthy development and your peace of mind.
Sample Schedule for a 5-6 Month Old Baby
7:00am wake up, change
7:15 or 7:30 milk/formula given when baby is showing signs of hunger
8:30 solids: grain, or grain + fruit when solids are introduced as directed by your pediatrician. Milk/formula can also be given here.
9:30 wind down to get ready for nap
10:00 down for a nap
– 4 hour cycle repeats upon waking up –
11:30 milk/formula
12:30 solids: grain or grain + veg (when lunch is introduced as directed by pediatrician) Milk/formula can also be given here.
12:00 – 1:00 activity
1:00 – 1:30pm wind down for nap
1:30 – 3:30 nap
– 4 hour cycle repeats again upon waking from nap, but with a third short nap-
3:30 milk/formula
3:30 – 4:30 quiet play, try to stay around home and stick to calm activities
4:30 – 5ish nap
5:30 dinner of solids (this is appropriate whenever you want to begin the addition of an evening meal—we are only including it to show what it looks like to have a 3 meal per day schedule)
6:15 – 7:00 milk/formula, getting into PJ’s, books and quite time and then into bed
10pm Dreamfeed if you wish. Baby does not have to be fully awake for this. It is just a small 2-3 ounce feed to be sure baby has gotten all of the ounces in for the night. You don’t have to wake baby, simply hold the bottle or breast to baby’s lips and they will instinctually take in what’s needed. When you’re done there’s no need to burp since baby is so relaxed but a quick diaper change should be done. You can read this if you’re wondering What is a Dreamfeed?
There will be 3 “blocks” of 4 hours. The last block will only include a short nap since it is close to bedtime.
Each block begins with milk and the last block ends with milk, so feeding times are at: 7am, 11:00am, 3pm and 6:30pm. There may be milk “snacks” in between and at mealtimes, especially for our breastfed babies who do not take in 6 ounces per feed but the 4 main feeding times are the anchor to this schedule.
Baby Schedule FAQs
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk? Look for steady weight gain, regular wet diapers and contentment after feeds. You can always visit your pediatrician for a weight check too.
What if my baby skips a nap? Occasional skipped naps are normal as babies grow. Try not to force a nap, just keep activities calm and follow your baby’s cues until the next sleep period.
Can I adjust the schedule for breastmilk vs. formula? Yes. Formula-fed babies may feed less often but in larger amounts, while breastfed babies often eat more frequently. It’s perfectly fine to adapt the sample schedule to your baby’s needs.
Sleeping through the Night
If your baby is older and you want another sleep schedule, or you’re ready to help your infant sleep through the night, read the Ultimate Guide to Baby Sleep Training. You can also join us on Reddit to share what works for you or talk through any sleep-troubleshooting.
