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

What is a good sleep schedule for a 5 month old?

At 5 months most babies take 3 naps and, as a rule of thumb, stay awake 2–2.5 hours at a time. The AASM recommends 12–16 hours of sleep in 24, naps included. Bedtime usually falls between 7 and 7:45 p.m., with 11–12 hours overnight and often 0–2 night feeds.

What is typical at 5 months

Measure	Typical range
Total sleep per 24 hours	12–16 hours (AASM, ages 4–12 months)
What studies of healthy babies found	Average 13.6 hours from 3 months and 12.9 hours from 6 months (Galland 2012)
Night sleep (common practice range)	11–12 hours
Naps (common practice range)	3, totalling about 3–4 hours
Wake windows (rule of thumb, not a research finding)	2–2.5 hours; shortest first, longest before bed
Night feeds	Commonly 0–2 a night. Whether to keep, reduce or drop night feeds is your pediatrician’s decision.

Rows marked AASM are the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendation, which the AAP supports. Rows marked Galland 2012 come from a systematic review of observational studies. The other rows are common practice ranges, not research findings. They describe an average baby; healthy babies sit on both sides of every one of them.

At 5 months the most common complaint is not the schedule itself but naps stuck at one sleep cycle and nights that never settled after 4 months. A timetable cannot change how a baby falls asleep. Actually Sleeping works on exactly that, with a plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam and naps coached until they are solid.

What is changing developmentally

The sleep cycles that mature around 4 months are now in place, and naps can lengthen past one cycle, though many babies need to learn how. Rolling in both directions and early sitting practice often show up in the crib at 2 a.m. Daytime feeds get more distracted, which can shift calories toward the night.

Why the average 5-month schedule often does not fit

Naps stuck at 30–45 minutes: see why naps are only 30 minutes. Short naps push every later time on the schedule off course.
The regression never ended: see regression or sleep problem.
Early waking: it has several possible causes, from bedtime to light to how the day is spaced. See early morning waking.
Distracted feeds: calories that move to the night bring wakings with them, and only your pediatrician should decide what happens to night feeds.

Which of these is driving your baby’s nights is different for every family, and that is the part a custom plan answers.

Safe sleep at 5 months

Always start on the back in an empty crib with no positioners. A baby who rolls both ways comfortably can stay as they land (AAP).
The CPSC says bassinets are not meant for use beyond about 5 months or once a baby can push up on hands and knees; lower the crib mattress before your baby can sit (MedlinePlus).

Is this age right for sleep training?

For most healthy babies, 5 months is a very workable age. Confirm with your pediatrician that growth is on track and ask how many night feeds make sense; Actually Sleeping builds the plan around that answer. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents of babies this age describe what changed on our 4 to 6 month reviews. See the best age to sleep train, and book a free consultation with Dr. Sam when you are ready.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

Can a 5 month old be on 2 naps?

Rarely, as a common pattern. In studies, babies 0 to 5 months averaged about 3 daytime sleeps and babies 6 to 11 months about 2. When your baby is ready to move depends on how they nap and how long they can comfortably stay awake.

How long should a 5 month old nap?

As a common practice range, about 3–4 hours in total across the day. Many 5 month olds take far less because naps stop at one sleep cycle. Coaching naps until they are solid is part of every Actually Sleeping plan.

What time should a 5 month old go to bed?

As a common rule of thumb, between 7 and 7:45 p.m. On days with short naps the right bedtime moves, which is why Dr. Sam adjusts it with you in daily check-ins rather than fixing it on paper.