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

Sleep at 5 months: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to talk to the pediatrician

At 5 months, the AASM range is 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours, including naps. This is mostly an equipment month: the CPSC says bassinets are not meant for use beyond about 5 months, the AAP says to remove mobiles by 5 months, and the crib mattress should be lowered before your baby can sit. Short naps and early waking are the common complaints.

What is changing at 5 months

Your baby is getting close to the CDC’s 6-month milestones: rolling from tummy to back, pushing up with straight arms, and leaning on the hands while sitting. More strength means more movement in the crib and more ways to get stuck awake.

Teething can be part of the picture. The AAP says teething typically starts by about 4 to 7 months and that timing varies a lot. Interest in the world also jumps, so feeds get distracted and short.

Equipment check at 5 months	Guidance	Source
Bassinet or cradle	Not intended for use beyond about 5 months, or once your baby can push up on hands and knees	CPSC
Mobile or hanging crib toys	Remove at 5 months or when your baby gets up on hands and knees, whichever comes first	AAP
Crib mattress	Lower it before your baby can sit up alone	MedlinePlus, AAP
Swaddle	Gone once your baby shows signs of trying to roll	AAP
Crib itself	Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart; crib made after June 2011	AAP

Five months is when short naps and broken nights that started at 4 months tend to settle into a pattern. The equipment changes are simple; the sleep pattern is not, because it depends on how your baby falls asleep. That is what Actually Sleeping works on, with a plan Dr. Sam writes for your baby.

What parents find hardest

Short naps. One sleep cycle and awake is common at this age, and it usually has the same root as night waking.
Very early waking. Light, bedtime and how the day is spaced can all drive early waking, and the cause differs from baby to baby.
The first nights in the crib. A new space can bring unsettled nights, especially for a baby used to being held to sleep.
Distracted daytime feeds. Calories can shift into the night, and only your pediatrician should decide what happens to night feeds.

Safe sleep at 5 months

Back to sleep for every sleep until the first birthday, even if your baby then rolls.
Room-share in a crib or play yard next to your bed, ideally until at least 6 months. No sleeping together on a couch or armchair.
The crib stays empty: no bumpers, pillows, blankets or soft toys. Crib bumpers are banned products under federal law.
No weighted sleep sacks or weighted blankets.

Night feeds

Some 5 month olds still feed once or twice at night, some more. Whether that should change is your pediatrician’s decision. Starting solids is also their call.

When to talk to the pediatrician

Fever above 101°F (38.3°C): the AAP says this is not teething.
Snoring on most nights, gasping, or breathing pauses during sleep.
A sudden change in sleep alongside feeding refusal, vomiting or fewer wet diapers.
Not rolling or pushing up with straight arms as 6 months approaches.

Where to go from here

If nights have become a series of short wake-ups that need feeding or rocking, the cause is usually how your baby falls asleep, not a lack of sleep pressure. Generic fixes often fail here because they do not account for your baby’s temperament or feeds. Actually Sleeping writes plans for this age around any feeds your pediatrician wants kept, with bootcamp-style coaching before night one. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Families talk about what changed for them on our 4 to 6 month reviews. Related: short 30-minute naps, the 5-month schedule, and when a baby will not sleep in the crib. A free consultation with Dr. Sam is the first step.

Want this fixed for your baby?

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Frequently asked

Should my 5 month old be out of the bassinet?

Usually yes, or very soon. The CPSC says a bassinet or cradle is not intended for use beyond about 5 months, or once a baby can push up on hands and knees. Your product may have a lower limit; check the label. A crib in your room keeps room-sharing going.

How much sleep does a 5 month old need?

The AASM recommends 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours, including naps, for babies 4 to 12 months, and the AAP supports that range. Healthy babies sit at different points in it.

When do I lower the crib mattress?

Before your baby can sit up alone, according to MedlinePlus and the AAP. Then move it to the lowest setting before your baby can stand. Many families lower it as soon as rolling and pushing up start, to stay ahead of the milestone.