Good Sleep Habits for Babies 6 to 9 Months Old

Visit sleep is a crucial part of your baby's development. It's important to help him develop good sleeping habits from an early age. You're bound to encounter a few problems along the way, but stick to the basics. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

What will my baby's sleep pattern be like at 6 months?

By the age of 6 months, babies need around 14 hours of sleep a day and can sleep for up to 7 hours at a time. If your baby sleeps longer, it's probably because he wakes up briefly during the night, but goes back to sleep on his own. Your baby probably still takes two naps, lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Suggesting that he take his naps and go to bed at the same time at night will help regulate his sleep patterns.

How can I establish good sleep habits?

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For babies aged 6 to 9 months, here are a few tips to help them sleep well at night:

• Establish a bedtime ritual and stick to it

You've probably already established a bedtime ritual, and at this age your baby can really start to take an active part.

• Playing a quiet game
• Take a bath
• Put on pyjamas to prepare for the night
• Reading a story to your child
• Sing him a nursery rhyme
• Take them in your arms and kiss them

Whatever you do, try, if possible, to do it in the same order and at the same time every day. Consistency and predictability give your baby a sense of security and signal that he can relax and fall asleep.

• Reserve this daily ritual for bedtime and naps.

You'll both benefit from this daily ritual, which involves respecting bedtime and siesta. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have breakfast at midday every day, but it does mean that you have to stick to a schedule that your baby expects. If your baby sleeps, eats, plays and gets ready for bed at the same time every day, he'll have much less trouble falling asleep at night.

• Let your baby fall asleep on his own

If you want your baby to sleep through the night, he must learn to go back to sleep on his own. Put him to bed before he's completely asleep. Try not to make him depend on a cuddling ritual or a feeding to get him to sleep. If he cries, it's up to you to decide and feel what's best for your baby. Most experts recommend waiting a few minutes before checking on your baby. It's up to you to decide what to do, based on how you feel about your child.

What little sleep problems can I encounter at this age?

At the age of 7 months, babies begin to understand that you and your child are two different people. He may experience periods of separation anxiety during the day or at night when you're not with him. When he wakes up at night, he'll call you. Try not to worry. Over the weeks, he'll come to understand that you're never far away, and will eventually be able to go back to sleep on his own.

Visit teething can also worry your baby. Rest assured, this is a very short phase. Sleep disturbances can also be linked to milestones in your baby's cognitive and motor development. He's beginning to learn to sit up, roll over, crawl and maybe even stand up - a long list of challenges! Not surprisingly, your baby won't necessarily want to finish trying to sit up or roll over when it's time to sleep. Sometimes, he'll be so impatient that he'll wake up at night to try a few acrobatics.

But if he's too agitated, or worse, if he sits up or gets up and can't get back to sleep, he won't be able to go back to sleep. In this case, he'll quickly start crying to you. You need to teach him to go back to sleep if he's "stuck" standing up, but it's up to you to decide what method to use to calm him down and help him get back to sleep. Most experts agree that it's perfectly acceptable for parents to visit their children, but opinions differ.