How to Figure Out When Your Baby’s Bedtime Should Be
Bedtime feels like it should be so simple right? You pick an early-ish time, put your baby in pajamas, and lay them down to sleep… Things start feeling a little more tricky when you’re starting down a baby who woke up 30-minutes after you put them down treating it like a nap, waking every 90 minutes at night, or starting the day before sunrise.
This blogpost will teach you when to start (and what to include in) a bedtime routine, when your baby’s bedtime should be, and teach why getting the timing right can solve some of your sleep struggles. Let’s dive in!
When Should You Start a Bedtime Routine?
You can begin a very simple, predictable routine from day one (if you want) think: diaper change → pajamas → feeding → snuggles → sleep.
But the more “formal” bedtime routine typically becomes most helpful around 6–8 weeks as your baby becomes more alert and begins forming sleep associations.
A bedtime routine:
Signals to your baby that sleep is coming
Helps regulate their nervous system
Sets up predictability for your baby long-term
And no, it doesn’t have to be fancy or come in any certain order. Here are a few things you can incorporate into a bedtime routine:
bath
lotion/massage
singing songs
prayers/affirmations
books
dimming lights
white noise machine
sleep sack
Consistency and connection are the most important pieces of a bedtime routine.
When Should Bedtime Be? (By Age)
Newborns are all over the place, older babies need earlier bedtimes, and toddlers need more flexibility. A predictable schedule evolves with your child’s developmental changes — not because the internet says “7–7 is best.”
Typical bedtime ranges by age:
0–12 weeks: 9–11 PM
12–16 weeks: moving earlier, usually 7–9 PM
4–24 months: 6–8 PM
2+ years: 7–9 PM
Why the wide range? Sleep needs vary so much from baby to baby, and some babies simply need less nighttime sleep than others. You’ll likely find that your own baby’s bedtime varies a little bit day-to-day, and definitely changes as they get older.
Why the Timing of Bedtime Actually Matters
You might be surprised to learn that bedtime should usually be based on your baby’s last wake window, NOT the clock. This is due to these two systems that influence when/how long your child will sleep for:
Sleep pressure (the buildup of tiredness)
Circadian rhythm (their internal clock)
If bedtime doesn’t align with these, your baby might fight bedtime, have frequent night wakings, have split nights (wide awake in the middle of the night for 30+ minutes), and early morning wakings.
So instead of strictly using the clock to determine bedtime, pay attention to your baby’s last wake window to determine when to tuck them in for the night.
0–12 weeks: ~90 minutes
12–16 weeks: 90–120 minutes
4 months: ~2 hours
5–6 months: 2–2.5 hours
7–8 months: 3 hours
9+ months: 3–4 hours
14+ months: 4–5 hours
2+ years: 5–6 hours
Looking For the Best Baby Sleep Consultant to Help?
Tired of waking up multiple times a night and trying to solve the “why is sleep so hard” puzzle on your own? Book a 1:1 consultation and we’ll map out what bedtime (and the rest of your baby’s sleep!) should look like for your family.
