A Complete Guide to Helping Your 6-Month-Old Baby Sleep and Settle

Babies require assistance to fall asleep at times, and the six-month mark is a significant stage filled with rapid and delightful developments. By this age, your little one may have started exploring solid foods, sitting up, attempting to crawl, rolling over, and getting on all fours. During the first six months, babies typically wake up at night to fulfill their nutritional needs for growth and development. However, sleeping “through the night” and settling independently usually comes later, when they are developmentally ready. Here, we provide invaluable advice on sleep training your 6-month-old and establishing healthy sleep habits.

1. Establish a Bedtime Routine: Consider feeding your baby before bath time at the start of the bedtime routine to separate feeding from sleep. This approach can help reduce night wakings. Create a relaxing atmosphere by bathing your baby with dimmed lights or gently wiping them down with a warm washcloth. Aim to put your baby down in their cot while still awake and allow them to fall asleep on their own. Provide comfort and support, using an appropriate method to teach them self-soothing skills.

2. Optimize the Sleep Environment: Keep the room dark or dimly lit and maintain a quiet atmosphere. Use a soft night light when attending to your baby during the night, avoiding bright overhead lights. Establishing a consistent daily routine, such as feed-play-sleep, when appropriate for your baby, can help them settle into a regular sleep pattern.

3. Manage Overtiredness and Awake Time: A well-rested baby during the day tends to sleep better at night. If your child has been awake for an extended period during the day, they may become overtired and overstimulated, making it challenging to sleep at night. Prolonged wakefulness triggers the release of cortisol, the stress hormone, making it harder to fall asleep and leading to frequent wake-ups.

4. Gentle Techniques for Settling: Experiment with holding your baby in your arms until they fall asleep. Use gentle rhythmic patting, rocking, stroking, talking, or soft singing to induce relaxation before placing your baby in the cot while still asleep. These repetitive actions signal calmness and sleep.

5. Hands-On Settling: Try “hands-on settling” by placing your baby in the cot while they are awake but calm and drowsy. Pat or stroke them gently until they fall asleep, providing comfort through soothing sounds. If your baby becomes or remains distressed, pick them up for a cuddle until they are calm or asleep before returning them to the cot. Stay with them until they fall asleep.

By implementing these strategies, you can help your 6-month-old baby establish healthy sleep patterns and develop the ability to settle on their own. Remember, each baby is unique, so be patient and adjust the techniques to suit your little one’s needs.