Updated Dec 22nd 2022
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6
min read
Medically Reviewed By
Board Certified Pediatrician & Lactation Consultant
A 2-month-old’s sleep schedule is interesting because it’s both unscheduled, like a newborn’s sleep, and taking on a bit more structure, like an older baby.
That’s because your 2-month-old is at a sleep crossroads: they’re still very much a newborn who needs to sleep often, but they’re half-way to 4-months, when a baby’s circadian rhythm begins to mature.
Considering the uniqueness of a 2-month-old’s sleep schedule, you may have some questions, including “When will my 2-month-old sleep through the night?” or “How long should my 2-month-old’s nap be?”
Luckily, we’re here to help: we spoke with other pediatric sleep experts to gather everything you need to know about your 2-month-old’s sleep schedule.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Like newborns, two-month-old babies still need a lot of sleep to keep growing. Also, a 2-month-old’s circadian rhythm hasn’t formed yet.
The circadian rhythm is the internal “clock” that regulates sleep by releasing a sequence of hormones that make your baby sleepy or wake them up. This natural rhythm starts to sync up around 4 months, which is why 4 months is considered the best time to start sleep coaching.
Even though 2-months is too young to sleep train, you can lay the foundations now by practicing a bedtime routine and setting up healthy sleep fundamentals.
A bedtime routine is the series of steps you take, in the same order,every night before bed– many parents like to read, cuddle, and bathe before bed.
Whatever you do during your bedtime routine, the trick is to keep it calm and consistent. The calmness helps lull your baby into a sleepy mindset, while the consistency begins to cue them that it’s time to sleep.
A wake window is how long your baby can stay awake between sleeps. When your baby is a newborn, their wake windows are very short – sometimes as short as 10 minutes – but these wake windows get longer as your baby grows.
Wake windows to help shape your baby’s sleep and as their circadian rhythm matures sleep consolidates at night, reducing naps and extending wake windows over time.
This a process, andwill take time. The act of falling asleep is a learned skill and your baby needs the space and time to practice and master it. Using an app like the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ can help guide you through this time and help your baby become a strong independent sleeper.
Most 2-month-olds can be awake for 45 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes between sleeps.
Here are sample of what a 2-month-old’s daily sleep schedule looks like with 5 naps or 4 naps.
Keep in mind these times are just examples – each baby is unique, but typically 2-month-olds are only awake 45 minutes-to-1 hour 45 minutes between sleeps.
Babies this young still need to develop their circadian rhythm and are eating a lot to keep growing. This means a lot of mini-sleeps instead of a solid chunk of sleep.
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“Good morning!” |
8:00 AM |
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Nap 1 |
9:15-10:15 AM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. |
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Nap 2 |
11:30-12:45 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins. |
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Nap 3 |
2:00-3:15 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins. |
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Nap 4 |
4:30-5:45 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 15 mins. |
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Nap 5 |
7:15-7:45 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 30 mins. Nap: 30 mins. |
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Bedtime Routine |
9:00 PM |
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“Good night!” |
9:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 45 mins. |
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“Good morning!” |
8:00 AM |
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Nap 1 |
9:15-10:45 AM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 30 mins. |
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Nap 2 |
12:00-1:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 15 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 30 mins. |
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Nap 3 |
3:00-4:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 30 mins. Nap: 1 hr. 30 mins. |
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Nap 4 |
6:00-6:30 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 30 mins. Nap: 30 mins. |
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Bedtime Routine |
7:45 PM |
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“Good night!” |
8:15 PM |
Awake: 1 hr. 45 mins. |
A nap transition is when you cut out a daytime nap to help consolidate your baby’s sleep at night. It happens when their wake windows are naturally lengthening. That said, every baby is special and develops at their own rate. If you see the signs of a sleep transition, your baby may be ready to reduce their daytime naps.
Naptime Resistance: If your baby resists a nap they used to take without a problem or they simply can’t fall asleep during that nap, it may be time to nap transition.
Bedtime Struggles: If your baby struggles to fall asleep at night after previously falling asleep fine, you may want to cut out a daytime nap.
Less Fussiness: This is a great – and we mean great – sign it’s time to nap transition: your baby misses a nap and isn’t fussy! If this glorious event happens, you can probably nap transition your baby.
More Fussiness: This is the opposite symptom your baby needs a sleep transition – if they sleep too much during the day, their sleep cycles are thrown off and they become more fussy than usual.
Yes, two months is too early to sleep train. Experts recommend waiting to sleep train until your baby is 4 months old. This is when your baby’s circadian rhythm begins to take shape – a key ingredient in sleep coaching your baby.
But – while 2-months is too early to technically sleep train, you can lay the foundations by learning more about the science of your baby’s sleep and creating a bedtime routine for your baby. Simply download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ to get started.
No. This is for two reasons:
Ideally a 2-month-old sleeps 14.5 hours total over a 24-hour period.
About 9-12 hours with regular wakeups for feedings, diaper changes, and comfort.
About 4-5 hours spread over 4-5 naps.
There’s no 2-month- sleep regression, though there may be one around the 4-month mark.
If you see the signs of a sleep regression, here’s how to handle them and how to keep sleep regression is brief.
Over the course of 24-hours, a 2-month-old should sleep about 14.5 hours. 9-12 of those hours should be at night – with frequent night feedings – while a 2-month-old should sleep about 4-5 hours over 4-5 naps.
To develop well, a 2-month-old should sleep about 9-12 hours at night. Keep in mind a 2-month-old will still wake often for night feedings, new diapers, and cuddles. More consistent night sleeps will begin around 4 months, especially with sleep training.
2-month-old babies wake about every 2-3 hours for night feedings because they’re growing very fast. You can make night feedings easier on both you and your baby by dream feeding – basically you anticipate when your baby is going to wake up next, gently rouse them, and feed them while they’re still half-asleep. This prevents prolonged wakeups for both you and your baby.
There isn’t a technical sleep regression at 2-months, however some babies may wake up more often as their sleep schedules shift.
If your 2-month-old is suddenly waking up more at night or having trouble falling asleep, they may be taking too many naps. If that’s the case, and you see the signs of a sleep regression, transition your baby from 5 naps to 4 naps.
“Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond,” Sleep Medicine Review.
“Development of infant and toddler sleep patterns: real-world data from a mobile application,” Journal of Sleep Research.
“Bedtime routines child wellbeing & development,” BioMed Central Public Health.
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
