Update, February 14, 2022 – As of February 8th, the CDC and AAP have expanded infant, toddler and early childhood development milestones. See the new guidance here.
Infant speech milestones and communication progress varies from child to child, but there are general guidelines parents can use to gauge their own baby’s development. In this blog, Baby Talk: Infant & Toddler Speech Milestones, parents can find a quick guide of communication milestones for babies age newborn to 18 months old.
As always, you know your child best so if you ever feel that baby isn’t reaching their milestones on time or that there’s something wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician. For a full breakdown of milestones, this chart from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is very helpful!
Birth to 5 Months Old
Cooing, vocal sighs and vowel sounds such as “ahhh”
Laughter, crying (obviously!) and fussing sounds
6 -11 Months Old
Begins gesturing or using actions to try to communicate
Babbles without meaning (to us, not to baby!) and attempts to say mama and dada
12- 17 months Old
Understands how to label objects and people. Mom is actually “Mama” or Dad is actually “Dada”
Repeats simple words
Has a vocabulary of 4-6 words
Can respond non verbally
By 18 Months Old
Is adding more sounds, like animal sounds, to their repertoire
Is adding more vocabulary words
Pointing and gesturing, is able to communicate answers to simple questions like “Are you hungry?”
Again, there is a wide range of typical behavior in babies and toddlers. For example, sometimes newborns with older siblings reach milestones later than their peers because the older kids “speak” for their younger sibling. In other cases the child may start communicating earlier than expected because they are exposed to older family members or peers modeling speech to them all day! And of course twins and higher order multiples may even develop their own language which becomes part of their everyday communication.
Either way we hope this info is helpful and if you have more questions, you can visit our Parent Resource Center for evidence-based support.
Since the Back to Sleep campaign began in 1994, it has become widely known that babies sleeping on their backs instead of their bellies helps reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). ABC’s of Safe Sleep is an easy way to remember how to help newborns and infants sleep safely.
An example of what a safe sleep environment looks like can be seen here on the National Institute of Health’s website. A good summary however is to also remember the ABC’s of Safe Sleep: Alone, Back, Crib. Let’s break down each of the ABC’s:
Alone
It’s recommended that baby share a room but not a bed with parents for the first year of life.
No toys, pillows, blankets, crib bumpers or other loose items should be in baby’s crib.
Once baby is rolling over or taking off their swaddle blanket, it’s time to remove the swaddle blanket, or exchange it for a sleep suit that will keep baby warm.
Back
Put baby to sleep on their back, also called the supine position, for sleep.
If baby falls asleep in a carseat or stroller, it’s okay to stay there for short stretches. Place the carseat in an area where you can observe, or ideally put baby in the crib.
Crib
The terms “crib” and “bassinet” are regulated terms meaning that in order for a product to use those terms they must meet strict safety standards. Baby should not sleep in products called infant swings, beds, sleepers, napper or couch.
A crib with a flat, firm mattress should be used
Use a properly fitted sheet on the mattress.
And one last tip -as NationwideChildrens.org reminds us the “S” in ABC’S can stand for smoking…newborns “exposed to smoking, either while in the womb or after birth, have a higher risk of SIDS than infants who have not been exposed.”
Getting Baby on a Schedule and Sleeping Through the Night is a step-by-step plan to help your baby or twins naturally transition into sleeping longer stretches overnight. This plan should only be used once your pediatrician agrees it’s appropriate. In this article we define “sleeping through the night” as sleeping 6-8 hours without waking.
This is the same infant sleep framework our newborn care providers, night doulas, and night nurses (RN/LPN) use when parents ask:
“How can I get my baby on a schedule?”
“When and how do we start sleep training?”
There are a lot of right answers when it comes to care of an infant, and we don’t endorse a single parenting style. What we do offer are practical, medically-informed sleep training steps, created by our Registered Nurses and Night Nannies with guidance from our Medical Advisory Board.
Preparing to Help Baby Sleep Through the Night: Why the 4 Month Well Check Matters
The pediatrician visit around 4 months is often the right time to discuss sleeping through the night because:
By this age, most full-term babies take 4–6 ounces per feed, meaning they can go longer between feedings.
**Remember though, 4 months old is still really little!** While it can certainly happen, it shouldn’t be expected that an infant sleeps through night this early. We’re only citing this milestone as the time to begin the conversation and to possibly begin gently and gradually adding more food intake during the day to encourage sleep overnight.
Sleeping Through the Night
4 Steps to Sleeping Through the Night
Get Pediatrician Approval: Confirm your baby is ready to sleep 6-8 hours without needing overnight feeds.
Establish Consistent Daytime Feeds: Aim for 4 scheduled feeds of 6–7 oz during the day, plus a “dreamfeed” of 2–3 oz around 10 p.m. This provides about 28 oz total—enough for many babies to sleep long stretches.
Wean Overnight Feeds Gradually: While increasing daytime calories, reduce nighttime bottles by ½ oz every 2–3 nights. Pacifiers can help with comfort during this transition.
Introduce Formal Sleep Training: Once hunger is no longer a factor, begin structured sleep training (such as the one we like, Slingshot Method, below).
These 4 steps might take 2 weeks or more to implement and that’s okay! Every baby develops at their own pace. Don’t rush it, the goal is steady progress, not perfection. Infant Safe Sleep should also always be practiced for babies age 0-1 year old.
A Note About Naps: There are different opinions out there but our team of night nannies agrees that there’s no need to change anything regarding naps when you are helping a baby to sleep through the night. Once a child is consistently sleeping through the night, their naps will also become easier. Baby Sleep: Naps Decoded has more info on successful naps.
Consolidating Feeds: The Key to Longer Sleep
A crucial step to getting on schedule and sleeping through the night is ensuring infants are taking larger, consistent feeds during the day. This means giving 4 consistent feeding sessions (milk every 4 hours) with one last “dreamfeed” around 10:00pm.
Babies sleep best when calories are shifted to the day. The goal is four predictable daytime feeds (about every 4 hours), plus the dreamfeed.
Morning feed: Offer a full bottle as soon as baby wakes.
Subsequent feeds: Gradually stretch toward every 4 hours. In the beginning, it’s fine if you can only make it 3 hrs 15 min for a few days. The numbers don’t matter so much as some kind of progress.
Timeline: Expect at least 5–7 days before a true 4-hour schedule emerges, and 1–2 weeks for the full transition.
Pacifier: After giving less in the overnight bottle, it’s okay to use a pacifier. This way baby gets the soothing without filling their tummy.
During this period, babies will most likely still wake at night; not necessarily from hunger, but from habit. Reducing night feeds while building daytime calories teaches the body the difference between day and night.
With four daytime feeding sessions of 6–7 ounces each, plus a final “dreamfeed” around 10:00 p.m., most babies are taking in about 28 ounces in a 24-hour period. For many infants, this amount of milk is enough to sustain them overnight without additional calories. (again, the reason why we need the docs input).
Put another way, if you and your pediatrician agree that your baby is thriving on about 28 ounces per day, you can feel confident that nighttime waking is no longer about hunger, it’s about simply not having ever done nighttimes any other way. Your baby may still wake during the night, but you can rest assured they are not waking because they’re hungry. That peace of mind makes it easier to move forward with gentle night weaning and sleep training.
While you are transitioning to feed only during the day, remember:
the full transition time will take a week, maybe 2
we have not yet addressed formal sleep training where baby learns to sleep for 6+ hours
you’re still doing the normal overnight feeds but gradually giving less and less overnight. Don’t worry though, these ounces are being taken in during the day. So you’re not feeding less overall, just less overnight.
It’s important to understand that we are not reducing your baby’s daily nutrition. Instead, we’re shifting those ounces from overnight into the daytime. By filling the belly more consistently during the day, baby’s body naturally adapts to resting at night. This is the normal biological shift from the newborn “round-the-clock” rhythm (eat a little, sleep a little) to the more structured pattern of daytime feeding and nighttime sleeping.
tl:dr Gradually reduce the amount in your baby’s bottle by about ½ ounce every 2–3 nights (or longer, if needed). Once the bottle is down to just 1–2 ounces total, you can offer a pacifier instead. This allows your baby to enjoy the soothing effect of sucking without actually filling their tummy.
Once we know baby does not physically need milk overnight, we can address…
Sleeping Through the Night
One of the key factors in sleeping through the night is teaching a child to fall asleep on their own at bedtime, typically around 7:00–8:00 p.m. Putting baby down awake but drowsy gives them the tools to get back to sleep if they wake during the night.
A key component to helping baby get ready for bed and in the “drowsy but awake” state is to instill an average of a 30 minute wind-down routine. It doesn’t matter what the wind down is; just that it is the same 2-3 quiet things before bed every night so he can switch gears and can physically and mentally wind down for sleep. Baby cannot fall asleep using anything outside of his control. No pacifiers, no rocking, and no feeding to sleep because these are all controlled by the parent, not the baby. Baby needs to control how *he* gets himself to sleep.
When baby wakes for a bottle during the first night waking window, the Slingshot Method of sleep training can be very effective. This method, where a parent stays in the room while baby learns to fall asleep independently, is often the least jarring. Other methods can absolutely work too, depending on what you and your baby prefer.
How to do the Slingshot Method of Sleep Training
How to use the Slingshot Method:
This gradual approach helps baby feel secure while developing the self-soothing skills they need.
First few nights: Stay next to the crib, offering comfort with your voice and touch. You can pat or sing, but avoid picking up baby when they fuss. Baby needs to learn to fall asleep independently while feeling supported.
Next few nights: Sit a little farther from the crib and soothe with your voice. If baby continues fussing, briefly reassure with touch, spacing out interventions gradually.
Following nights: Move even further away, near the doorway, eventually sitting just outside the room. The goal is a slow, gradual shift so baby adapts comfortably.
Use the Slingshot Method for night wakings too. Night wakings are any wake times between 10:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Once baby can fall asleep independently at bedtime, they will generally be able to self-soothe during night wakings. If baby wakes at 6:00 a.m. happy and rested, that’s likely their natural wake time.
Consistency is Key
The most important thing to remember in helping a baby sleep through the night is consistency. If you are sure, and the pediatrician agrees, that baby is able to sleep through the night without waking to feed, the only way sleep training works is to see it through. For example, if baby cries for 10 minutes and you give a bottle, they learned that crying for 10 minutes = bottle.
Getting Baby on a Schedule and Sleeping Through the Night: Twins and Schedules for Older Babies
Twins sharing the same room should be kept together for sleep training since they will need to learn to sleep through each other’s wake ups. In the beginning however, if one twin wakes and needs soothing you might try to comfort both so their sleep cycles stay aligned. Consistency helps both adapt faster.
To help with this transition from dependent to independent sleep, you can make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible by incorporating dark blinds and shades and a small nightlight in the room. Calm activities during the afternoon will also help pave the way for a calm bedtime. Below is a sample schedule for a 4-6 month old, based on an average 7:00 awake-for-the-day time. If baby wakes at 6, simply adjust back 1 hour.
There will be 3 “blocks” of 4 hours. The last block includes only a short nap since it is close to bedtime.
Nap #3 in the late afternoon will disappear in month 7. You will see the nap become shorter and less reliable for about 3-4 weeks until the last nap eventually drops altogether.
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 will obviously be some adjustment time where the schedule is not perfect. This transition time it will likely last 5-7 days.
Sample Schedule for a 4-6 Month Old
7:00 wake up, change
7:15 or 7:30 5/6 oz. milk
8:30 solids: grain or grain + fruit
9:30 wind down
10:00 nap
4 hour cycle repeats upon waking up
11:30 5/6 oz. milk
12:30 solids: grain or grain + veg (when lunch is introduced)
12:00 – 1:00 activity
1:00 – 1:30 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 5/6 oz. milk
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 begin an evening meal. We’re including it so you can see what it looks like to have a 3 meal per day schedule)
6:15 – 7:00 5/6 oz. milk, bed
Last thing… the Dreamfeed
The 10:00pm Dreamfeed as the last feed of the night and baby does not have to be fully awake for this. It is just a small 2-3 ounce feed to “top baby off” for the night. You don’t have to wake baby, simply hold the bottle to their lips and they’ll instinctually take in what is needed. When finished, there’s no need to burp but you may opt to do a quick diaper change at this time. Learn more about why this works in What is a Dreamfeed?Remember this schedule is only a sample, it might not work for you and that is perfectly fine!
Vaccine notifications pouring in from our Night Nurses & Nannies, January 2021
As the pandemic emergency is officially over on May 11, 2023, this post is no longer being updated. We are keeping it up as an archived post for those interested in how the company handled COVID19.
COVID19 and Newborn Care Best Practices for our Night Nurses and Postpartum Caregivers working in the family home have been updated as the coronavirus pandemic evolves. Vaccinations are now widely available and covid19 testing easily accessible, so we’re able to service more families while still remaining vigilant with safety. Below is a breakdown of our COVID19 safety and ongoing best practices:
Updated, Nov 20 2021 – Yes, we are all vaccinated including the booster. We understand some folks have big feelings about the vaccine however, as an evidence-based newborn and postpartum care company we’re following the advice of the CDC, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and the AAP.
Updated, Jan 11 2021 – Our Nurses and Newborn Care Providers are now receiving the 2nd round of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. We still wear masks because it’s possible for a vaccinated individual to transmit the virus. We also want to protect those in the household too young to receive immunization or those who are immune-compromised.
Update – Dec 1, 2020 We’ve prided ourselves on using the highest vetting and safety practices possible since we began in 2010. As a company dedicated to evidence-based care, we lean on the recommendations of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other primary sources. Specifically we follow the AAP statement that vaccines are “ethical, necessary and just” to protect vulnerable populations. Too young to receive vaccines themselves, newborns and infants are considered vulnerable.
COVID19 and Newborn Care Best Practices
Coronavirus has caused us to examine and refine our practices even further. Here is an overview of current Let Mommy Sleep practices:
What we always do:
Wash Hands – Caregivers wash hands upon arrival into the family home and continue handwashing and sanitizing through the night and before and after all contact with baby.
Remove Shoes – upon arrival into your home.
Masking – Masks are required unless the family and caregiver mutually agree that they are comfortable without masks.
Vaccinate – We follow evidence-based science. We remain updated on all vaccinations to minimize the risk of illnesses to which newborns are vulnerable. These include influenza, pertussis (MMR), TDaP and COVID.
Continuing Ed – Provide free continuing education to all staff. This ensures we’re following the most recent safety, health and care guidelines.
Err on the side of caution – Staff is kept home at any sign of illness, even if symptoms might be “just allergies.”
What can we do together to minimize exposure?
Please leave sanitizing wipes or other household cleaners out for our team to use periodically through the night. While we can’t always practice social distancing when caring for babies, we can wear masks, handwash and clean, clean, clean!
We can’t wait to see you again and remain thankful and privileged to be in your homes. If you’d like to learn more about us and our practices, please visit this page.
Updated Feb 1, 2022- One of the great joys we have here at Let Mommy Sleep is transitioning first time parents home from the hospital with their newborns. This blog, Your First Night Home with Baby: Newborn Sleep, is the first of our three part series, “Your First Night Home with Baby,” and answers our most commonly asked newborn sleep questions. As humans we’re programmed to be, well, terrified that first night because we’re fiercely protective, so it’s completely normal to feel anxiety. Knowing what’s typical and what’s not can help parents’ confidence so
Newborn Sleep
Getting Ready for Bed
What should my baby wear?
The rule of thumb is that baby should wear what you would be comfortable in, plus 1 layer. For example, a recommended outfit for baby to sleep in would be a onesie, footed pajamas and swaddle blanket.
How about a hat?
As Rachelle Bernard, RN says in Mom.com, remember to keep baby’s hat on if you’re awake and off if you’re asleep. Those little hats can move and become a safety hazard so when don’t have eyes on baby, practice the ABC’s of safe sleep by removing baby’s hat.
How do I swaddle? Swaddling mimics the feel of the womb which is a comfort to baby. That is why the “baby burrito” is universally recommended. Here are two easy swaddling techniques you can do with a simple baby blanket.
But my baby is busting out of the swaddle, what do I do?
For newborns, give baby a snug swaddle. At this age baby’s movements are not always purposeful and the reflexive movements they have can keep them awake. A snug swaddle will help.
Where should my baby sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing but not bed-sharing. This means that your baby is sleeping in the same room as you, but not in the same bed. A flat bassinet next to the bed is an ideal set-up; baby should be alone (no blankets or stuffed animals), on a flat, firm mattress and flat on their back to adhere to safe sleep recommendations.
Your First Night Home: Newborn Sleep – What’s Typical?
How often can I expect my baby to wake up overnight?
Babies don’t develop regular sleep cycles until about 6 months of age. Their stomachs are also tiny which means they need to eat and have diaper changes through the night. All of these things mean that unpredictable and staggered sleep are normal. Waking every 2-3 hours to eat can also be normal, particularly for babies coming home from the NICU where they got used to scheduled feedings but don’t be surprised if your baby’s sleep is all over the place.
***Bonus Question – What are Baby Sleep Guidelines?*** – Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics Childhood Sleep Guidelines below. Notice anything?! That’s right, ages 0-4 months aren’t even included! So, chances are, whatever your baby is doing is normal! Of course check with your pediatrician if you’re unsure, but even the AAP is like Oh you have an infant that sleeps sometimes? And sometimes doesn’t? Yup, sounds right to us! 🙂
We’re just going to start at 4 months because 0-3 months is wild.
All of this said, while it’s expected that the first nights/weeks home with baby will include overnight waking, the awake times are generally short and peaceful. The “sleepy newborn” stage is real as your baby gets used to the world. Being ready with milk or formula when baby wakes will usually keep their time awake shorter, with less crying rom hunger as well.
My baby is super sleepy, should I wake-to-feed?
It makes sense that babies are pretty sleepy after being born- birth was really exciting for them too! Babies of healthy weight don’t usually need to be woken up to feed but it’s a great question to ask your team before leaving the hospital or birthing center. Babies that have jaundice may need to be woken to feed as milk/formula allows bilirubins (the cause of the yellow color) to pass through baby and if that’s a concern, your pediatrician will direct waking baby to feed. Also if babies are underweight when born, or have lost more weight than expected since birth they may need to eat more often.
It’s important to note that both of these instances are not uncommon and often very easily corrected and that early feeding decisions should be made with the child’s primary care physician.
So how do I wake baby to feed?
To wake baby, first loosen swaddle and clothes. If this does not work then undress baby down to a onesie. Changing babies diaper can also help waken them to feed. Turning on the light does not work. In fact, light will encourage newborns to close their eyes!
Anything Else I need to Know About Sleep?
Help! My baby seems to stop breathing for a long time! Is this normal?
A baby’s breathing patterns are not like an adults and they may experience periods of apnea, which means they are temporarily not breathing for several seconds. Check out our previous article, Newborn Breathing Patterns-What’s Normal, to find a good breakdown of normal newborn breathing patterns. However, as always, if you feel something is just not right, please notify your child’s pediatrician.
I know sleep deprivation is normal, but is there any way my partner and I can get more sleep?
Yes! You all can decide on a sleep schedule for yourselves by each taking a block of hours where you are “off.” For example, 2 parent is off from 9pm – 2am and the other is off from 2am – 7am. Better yet, give each other 2 or 3 entire 8 hour nights off. Resist the urge to watch Netflix during your off time, keep sleep as the priority for now.
But I’m breastfeeding and still have to get up, how can *I* get a block of sleep?
In the early weeks before pumped milk is an option, yes, the breastfeeding parent will need to nurse. And even when overnight bottles are available your body will still wake you because your breasts will be full. You can make this as easy as possible by having your partner bring baby to you, do all the diaper changing and soothing back to sleep. Your partner can also be on pump duty if you need to express milk; making sure the pump is within your reach and then bringing milk to the fridge. Ideally you will never have to get out of bed on your nights off. It’s not perfect but you’ll definitely get more sleep.
“Your First Night Home with Baby: Questions About Newborn Sleep” is the first in our three part “Your First Night Home with Baby” series. Here are part 2, “Your First Night Home: FEEDING“. And Part 3, “Your First Night Home: DIAPERING & BATHING.”
