6-month sleep regression
Typical age: 6 months. Usually lasts: 1–3 weeks.
Why it happens
Around 6 months, babies are sitting, rolling both ways, maybe starting solids and becoming more aware of separation. Big physical and mental leaps plus a nap schedule that needs to stretch can disrupt sleep for a few weeks.
Signs
- Short naps or fighting the third nap
- Practising rolling or sitting up in the cot
- More night waking after a settled stretch
What helps
- Give lots of floor time to practise new skills during the day.
- Lengthen wake windows toward 2–3 hours.
- Keep a short catnap as the third nap until it clearly isn’t needed.
Check the wake windows for this age in the sleep schedule builder.
When to call your pediatrician
- Fever, ear pulling with a cold, vomiting, or feeding much less
- Loud snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep
- No improvement after 6 weeks
- Well and happy by day, feeding and peeing normally
General guidance based on AAP, NHS and CDC advice, not a diagnosis. If your gut says something is wrong, call your pediatrician or nurse line. You never need permission to seek care.
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Questions parents ask
Is my 6-month-old hungry at night?
Other sleep regressions
- 4-month sleep regression (3–5 months)
- 8-month sleep regression (8–10 months)
- 12-month sleep regression (11–13 months)
- 18-month sleep regression (17–19 months)
- 2-year sleep regression (2 years)