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

Sleep at 10 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to get help

At 10 months, the AASM range is 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours, including naps. Pulling up and cruising are the big sleep disruptors, and the AAP says separation anxiety usually peaks between 10 and 18 months. Most babies still take 2 naps as a common pattern. The mattress must be at its lowest setting before your baby can stand.

What is changing at 10 months

By 12 months, the CDC lists pulling up to stand and walking while holding on to furniture. Many 10 month olds are already doing both, and the crib rail is the perfect thing to pull on. The AAP describes the window from 10 to 18 months as the usual peak of separation anxiety.

Language is coming too. By 12 months, the CDC lists understanding “no” and calling a parent “mama” or “dada”. Babies who can call you, will.

Many babies can pull up long before they can get back down, which turns a brief waking into a long one. The mattress must already be at its lowest position before your baby learns to stand (AAP, MedlinePlus).

Standing protests are where many families stall, because every response seems to make the next night longer. Actually Sleeping gives you one response that fits your baby, written by Dr. Sam, with bootcamp-style coaching before night one and daily 1:1 check-ins. It is not cry it out and not wait it out.

What is normal

In a review of studies, babies 7 to 11 months averaged 1.1 night wakings, with anything from 0 to about 3 within the normal range, and babies 6 to 11 months averaged about 2 naps a day. A temporary dip during a big motor leap is common. Total sleep holds steady: babies from 9 months averaged 12.6 hours per 24 hours in the same review.

What parents find hardest

Bedtime standing protests that stretch settling to an hour.
Short second naps or nap refusal. A large review found the sharp drop in two-nap days comes between 12 and 18 months, so most babies are not ready for one nap at 10 months.
Early waking as daylight and noise wake a lighter sleeper.
Illness. Colds and ear infections often start around daycare age and can reset sleep habits.

Safe sleep at 10 months

Lowest mattress position, crib away from windows and blind cords.
Still nothing in the crib: the AAP’s recommendations apply until the first birthday.
Place on the back to start. If your baby rolls or sits, there is no need to reposition.
Furniture near the crib should be anchored so it cannot tip.

Night feeds

If your pediatrician wants a night feed kept, keep it. If they say it can change, follow their advice on how. Ask before you decide either way; a sleep plan works around the answer.

When to talk to the pediatrician

Snoring most nights, gasping, or restless sleep with heavy breathing.
Sudden waking with crying that suggests pain, especially with fever.
Your baby is not yet pulling up, or not babbling, as the first birthday approaches.
Recurring screaming episodes early in the night where your baby does not seem awake.

Where to go from here

What works for one 10 month old’s standing protests makes another’s worse, which is why a plan has to start from your baby’s temperament and how they fall asleep now. Actually Sleeping writes that plan and coaches naps until they are solid. 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 talk about how it went on our 10 to 12 month reviews. Related: the 10-month schedule, the 8 to 10 month regression, and early waking. Book a free consultation with Dr. Sam to start.

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

My 10 month old stands in the crib and will not lie down. What do I do?

First, make sure the mattress is at its lowest setting. Standing is a new skill, and many babies can pull up before they can get down. A consistent night response that fits your baby is what Actually Sleeping writes into a plan.

Should my 10 month old drop to one nap?

Usually not yet. A review of napping studies found the big drop in two-nap days happens at 12 to 18 months. Babies 6 to 11 months averaged about 2 naps a day. Short spells of nap refusal are common at this age.

Is separation anxiety worse at 10 months?

It can be. The AAP says separation anxiety usually peaks between 10 and 18 months and that it can disrupt sleep for several months. A predictable bedtime routine helps children accept the separation.