Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

Baby sleep guides

175 direct answers to the questions parents actually ask about baby and toddler sleep, each reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD. Start with how to sleep train a baby.

Start here

• How long does sleep training take?
• Is sleep training safe? What the AAP safe-sleep rules mean for a sleep plan
• What is the best age to sleep train a baby?
• How do I sleep train my baby? A step-by-step guide
• How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?
• Does sleep training work? What the research says

Sleep training methods

• What is the Ferber method, and does it work?
• What is cry it out (extinction), and is it safe?
• What is the chair method of sleep training?
• Does the pick-up-put-down method work?
• Which sleep training method is gentlest? Methods compared
• What is bedtime fading?
• Can I sleep train and keep breastfeeding?
• Can I sleep train while room-sharing?
• Sleep training isn’t working. What should I do?
• How fast does sleep training work? What 129 families reported

Sleep schedules by age

• What are the right wake windows by age?
• When do babies drop naps, and how do I handle the 3-to-2 and 2-to-1 transitions?
• What is a realistic newborn sleep schedule (0–8 weeks)?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 2 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 3 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 4 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 5 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 6 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 7 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for an 8 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 9 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 10 or 11 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 12 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for an 18 month old?
• What is a good sleep schedule for a 2 year old?

Sleep by age: what's normal

• Newborn sleep in the first 4 weeks: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to call the pediatrician
• Sleep at 1 month: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to your pediatrician
• Sleep at 3 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 4 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 5 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to the pediatrician
• Sleep at 6 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 7 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 8 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to call the doctor
• Sleep at 9 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 10 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 11 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to your pediatrician
• Sleep at 12 months: what’s normal at the first birthday and when to get help
• Sleep at 15 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 18 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 21 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2 years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 2½ years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help
• Sleep at 3 years: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help

Common sleep problems

• Why does my 6 month old wake every 2 hours, and how do I fix it?
• Can you sleep train a baby with reflux?
• How do I stop contact napping?
• How do I break the feed-to-sleep association?
• Why does my baby wake at 5 a.m., and how do I fix it?
• Why does my baby only nap for 30 minutes, and how do I lengthen naps?
• My toddler won’t stay in bed. How do I fix it?
• How do you sleep train twins?
• When and how do I night wean my baby?
• Does a dream feed help a baby sleep longer?
• Is the pacifier helping or hurting my baby’s sleep?
• When and how do I stop swaddling?
• Why does my baby wake 30–45 minutes after bedtime?
• Why is my baby awake for hours in the middle of the night?
• My baby will only sleep on me, not in the crib or bassinet. What do I do?
• Why does my overtired baby fight sleep?
• How do I handle daycare naps when sleep training?
• How do I keep my baby sleeping while traveling or changing time zones?
• How do I adjust my baby’s sleep for daylight saving time?
• My baby’s sleep fell apart after being sick. How do I get back on track?
• How do I handle separation anxiety at bedtime?
• When should I move my toddler from a crib to a bed?
• How long should my baby sleep in our room?
• Is bed-sharing with my baby safe?
• Are crib bumpers safe, including mesh bumpers?
• Are weighted sleep sacks and weighted swaddles safe for babies?
• Are baby loungers, inclined sleepers and sleep positioners safe for sleep?
• Do I need a baby monitor, and what does the AAP say about wearable oxygen monitors?
• My baby only sleeps in the car seat, swing or stroller. Is that okay?
• My baby rolls onto their tummy in their sleep. Should I flip them back?
• My baby stands up in the crib and can’t get back down. What do I do?
• Why is my baby’s sleep worse since they started crawling or walking?
• Is white noise safe for my baby, and how loud should it be?
• What should my baby wear to sleep, and what TOG sleep sack do I need?
• When can my baby sleep with a blanket, pillow or stuffed animal?
• Should I use a humidifier in my baby’s room?
• Does my baby need blackout curtains or a night light, and what colour?
• Do screens before bed affect my toddler’s sleep?
• What should a bedtime routine include, and when should I start one?
• My toddler stalls at bedtime with one more book, drink or hug. How do I stop it?
• My toddler says they’re scared of the dark. How do I help?
• Is my child having nightmares or night terrors, and what should I do?
• My toddler sleepwalks. Is it dangerous, and should I wake them?
• Why does my baby bang their head or rock to fall asleep?
• Will starting solids help my baby sleep through the night?
• My toddler is dropping their nap. What is quiet time and how do I set it up?
• How do I protect my toddler’s sleep when a new baby arrives?
• Can my baby and toddler share a room, and how do I make it work?
• How do I keep my baby or toddler sleeping well when we move house?
• How do I prepare my baby’s sleep for when I go back to work?

Regressions

• Is it the 4 month sleep regression or a real sleep problem?
• Why is my 12 month old suddenly waking at night?
• Why is my 8, 9 or 10 month old suddenly waking at night?
• Is the 18 month sleep regression real, and what do I do about it?
• Is there a 2 year old sleep regression?

Medications and safety (pharmacist-reviewed)

• Is melatonin safe for babies and toddlers?
• Does teething medicine help a baby sleep?
• Which over-the-counter medicines affect a baby’s sleep?
• Do reflux medications help a baby sleep?
• Does my caffeine affect my breastfed baby’s sleep?
• Which of my medications could affect my breastfed baby’s sleep?
• How do a baby’s sleep cycles and circadian rhythm develop?
• Can I sleep train a premature baby or NICU graduate?
• Does Benadryl (diphenhydramine) help a baby or toddler sleep, and is it safe?
• Is magnesium safe for toddler sleep, and does it work?
• Does gripe water help a baby sleep?
• Are natural or homeopathic baby sleep drops and teething tablets safe?
• Can low iron (ferritin) cause restless sleep in a toddler?
• Is it safe to give a baby or toddler melatonin for a flight or jet lag?
• Can I give cough and cold medicine at bedtime to a baby or toddler?
• Do vitamin D drops or probiotics affect a baby’s sleep?
• Do allergy medicines affect a toddler’s sleep?
• Are essential oils, lavender products or sleep sprays safe for babies?
• Can asthma or ADHD medicines affect a young child’s sleep?
• My toddler snores and breathes through their mouth at night. When should I see the pediatrician?
• Is it normal for my baby to sleep more or be fussy after vaccines?

Choosing help

• Should I hire a baby sleep consultant?
• Sleep consultant vs pediatric sleep specialist: which does my baby need?
• Is a baby sleep consultant worth it?
• What does a baby sleep consultant actually do?
• How do I choose a baby sleep consultant? Questions to ask before you hire
• Sleep course vs app vs 1:1 sleep consultant: which is right for my family?
• What are the red flags when hiring a baby sleep consultant?
• Do sleep consultants use cry it out?
• When is the right time to hire a baby sleep consultant?
• Can a sleep consultant help with a toddler, or is it too late?
• What should a sleep-training guarantee actually say?
• Is online sleep coaching as effective as in-person?
• What credentials should a baby sleep consultant have?
• How long does it take to see results with a sleep consultant?
• Sleep consultant vs night nurse vs postpartum doula: what’s the difference?

What parents worried about first

• Will Actually Sleeping work for my baby?
• We already tried sleep training. Will Actually Sleeping be any different?
• Is Actually Sleeping too good to be true?
• Is the free consultation just a sales pitch?
• Is Actually Sleeping worth it?
• My husband isn’t on board with sleep training. What do other families say?
• What if I cave and give in halfway through?
• My baby still needs to eat at night. Can Actually Sleeping still help?
• Do I have to stop nursing for Actually Sleeping to work?
• Is my baby too young for Actually Sleeping?
• Is my toddler too old for Actually Sleeping?
• My baby has reflux. Can Actually Sleeping still help?
• Won’t my baby just grow out of waking at night?
• Now isn’t a good time for sleep training. Should we wait?
• Does Actually Sleeping use cry it out?
• Will sleep training with Actually Sleeping hurt our bond?
• Am I a bad mom for needing help with my baby’s sleep?
• We co-sleep and don’t know how to stop. Can Actually Sleeping help?
• Why hire Actually Sleeping instead of figuring out sleep myself?
• My baby is just a bad sleeper. Can Actually Sleeping help?
• How long does Actually Sleeping take to work?
• Will Actually Sleeping results last?
• Does Actually Sleeping help with naps too?
• Will I be on my own with Actually Sleeping?
• I’m on my own at night. Can I do sleep training solo?
• Won’t sleep training wake the whole house?
• Will sleep training still work with daycare, babysitters or grandparents?
• Our schedule is too crazy. Can Actually Sleeping still work for us?
• I have more than one child. Can Actually Sleeping help our whole family sleep?
• We’re exhausted but surviving. Do families like us really use Actually Sleeping?

Tools and reference

• Baby and toddler sleep statistics: what the research actually shows
• Baby sleep glossary: 40 terms parents hear, in plain English
• Wake window and nap calculator by age
• What time should my baby or toddler go to bed? Bedtime calculator by age