How much sleep should my baby have?

At 5 months old some babies will be beginning to sleep through the night. But most will still be up during the night. After months of broken sleep it can be tempting to try and encourage your little one to fit into a more normal pattern, but at this age it is important to follow your baby.

They may not be quite ready to sleep all night. It could confuse their natural rhythm and stop them feeding during the night when they need to.

They will still likely be sleeping upwards of 14 hours a day across nighttime and daytime naps. It’s important to remember that this is an average and all babies are different. Babies like routine but try to let their needs lead the way when they are this age.

You may have found that your wee one’s sleeping patterns have become more disturbed since the coronavirus pandemic started. This could be because lockdown restrictions have made it harder for everyone in your family to get out and about and burn off energy. Or it could be because groups and activities you usually attend together have been closed.

If your child has additional support needs, you may be finding it even harder if you haven’t been able to get the same level of support and respite you did before the pandemic started. If this is the case for you, you’re not alone, and there is support out there and the following organisations can all help:

Cry-sis offer help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. They have a helpline you can call on 08451 228 669.

Sleep Scotland offer support to improve sleep habits for children and young people. Email sleepsupport@sleepscotland.org to get in touch or visit their website.

Twins Trust have advice on sleep if you have twins, triplets or more.