Your 6-12 Month Baby Sleep Kit

Your 6-12 month old baby sleep kit: common baby sleep problems, teething, baby separation anxiety, help your baby sleep through the night,  sleep training, ... and more sleep for you.

For you: more sleep again?

As your 'little baby' becomes a 'big baby' the sleeping chaos of the first months will start to settle too. Your baby is now able to sleep more restfully and can go without food for longer.

Of course, and sadly, this does not always mean full 8-hours-sleep nights every night for you. Many parents still find their baby not sleeping well.

Use all the info below to get the most sleep, using basic principles and ask for my personal advice if you like.

As at any baby (and child!) age: take good care of yourself. Never feel guilty but take enough rest moments, relax moments and some fun time to keep your energy levels up.

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6-12 month old baby sleep essentials

Going on 1 year old, imagine your baby's amazing development: from sitting towards crawling and maybe standing, from crying only to first words to communicate, from milk and almost fluid mashed veggies to finger food and real meals, ...

No wonder really that sleep troubles are never far these days ...

And then there's several 'external' effects on infant sleep patterns that play a role too, but also give you a chance to guide in the right direction.

You will be the best sleep guide for your baby if you offer a consistent and reassuring environment. You provide regularity and are (or at least act ;)) confident: this has a very positive effect on your baby's sleep.

Always have the basics in place:

• a well adapted baby sleep schedule

• a simple winding down bedtime routine

• encourage self soothing actively, this is the age where baby learns self soothing well and consistently

Download my free mini-guide "Baby Sleep Essentials" for a crisp overview of all basics keys to help your baby sleep well.

Good regular naps become even more important than in the first half year. See my "Nap in a Snap" guide for easy tools to get naps right.

You will probably expect your to have your baby sleep through the night by now.

The truth is that yes, many babies do sleep regular nights of 6-7 or more hours in a row. But trust me, many many babies do not do this until well in their second year. There are quite a few sleep disturbers around the corner to cause this, see below.

Read up on average sleep hours and how much sleep is enough for your baby.

Are you thinking about different sleep methods, or sleep training? Find out more about no cry sleep solutions, attachment parenting, the baby whisperer, crying it out, Ferber method, ...

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Common 6-12 month old baby sleep problems

Typical baby sleep problems for from 6 to 12 months old:

• Night feedings: the line between 'hunger feeding' and 'comfort feeding' becomes thinner towards 1 year old. There are still many good reasons for one or two night feedings. And just as many reasons why you would want to reduce the number of night feedings. Check the sleep through night tips for helpful ideas. The Q&A section below will also help you.

• Baby teething is an important baby milestone and at the same time one of the main sleep disturbers around 1 year old.

• Baby separation anxiety is an  important phase all babies go through in some way. Your baby is now able to understand that you leave sometimes but she has not yet built the confidence that you will always be back. 

• A common baby cold or mild illness often gives a set back in sleep. If you stick to the good habits you had before, your baby will usually go back to sleeping better when she feels better again.

• Night terrors can start to play a role at his age. They are usually harmless but can be heart breaking and even scary, especially for you as a parent.

• Under 1 year old, sleep apnea in babies still usually occurs as central sleep apnea. Be aware of the sleep apnea signs so you can seek medical advice when needed.

 

Don't hesitate to Ask your own question if you would like personalized expert advice.

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Your 6-12 month old new baby checklist

Your baby is becoming stronger and more mobile. Whether she has been sleeping in her own crib all along, or you are co sleeping: safety is still very important.

Towards 1 year old, the risk of SIDS decreases: your baby is stronger, is able to regulate her own temperature much better and let you know if something is wrong.

As you grow confident, it will be OK for her to have a favourite soft toy (transitional object) in bed with her which can be of great help with baby separation anxiety.

Even if your baby didn't seem to need a night light so far, this can be a time where she'll be too frightened to sleep well without.

The biggest change now is her mobility: her sleeping place must now be 'crawling-and-standing-up proof'.

Lower the crib mattress to the lowest position and make sure she cannot crawl out of the crib. Check the cosleepers guide to ensure your cosleeping place is safe: you may need to install a bed rail to keep your baby from falling out of your bed.

A good monitor, in particular a good baby video monitor to keep an easy eye on her can be a good help too.

If you haven't used a baby carrier (and did 'the baby sling trick') yet, it's still a good time to start. Carrying your baby when you are out and about becomes even more fun. And to finally get that regular nap schedule set, a good wrap (like my favourite Hug A Bub) is ideal.

At this age, your baby may also become more aware of light and dark at night. Some babies happily sleep in a pitch dark room at first. But towards 1 year old, they start to realise that is a bit scary after all. A fun, dim night light can then be very important now.

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