Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby onto a regular 10 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make maintaining it as easy as possible.
How Much Should A 10 Month Old Sleep
Your 10 month old will need between 12 to 16 hours of sleep every 24 hours.
They will take 10 to 12 hours at night and the remaining 2 to 4 hours will be taken across 2 daytime naps.
Sample 10 Month Old Sleep Schedule
By 10 months old, your baby will be sleeping through the night and they will be having 2 roughly equal-length naps a day.
Here’s a sample 10 month old sleep schedule to give you a guideline for how your baby’s day might flow:
REMEMBER: This 10 month old sleep schedule is a guideline and will differ from baby to baby. As you become more in tune with your baby’s needs and learn what works for them, you will find a sleep schedule that meets your needs.
Discover how you can get your little one to listen in under 5 minutes so you can become a calm, effective and happy parent without yelling, nagging or losing control.
Nap Schedule For 10 Month Old Baby
Here’s a quick reference for a 10 month old nap schedule to help you visualise your baby’s daytime sleep habits:
How Many Naps Should A 10 Month Old Baby Take?
A 10 month old will now have 2 naps a day.
Occasionally, you may find they need an extra quick cat nap if their day has been incredibly busy, but for the most part, your 10 month old will only nap twice a day.
Aim to have your first nap around 3 hours after waking up and their second nap about 3 hours after their first.
How Long Can A 10 Month Old Go Between Naps?
Most 10 month old babies can now stay awake between 3-4 hours at a time.
However, it is still very important to watch for signs your little one is tired to avoid them becoming overtired.
TOP TIP: Don’t be tempted to try and keep your baby awake to fit in with a rigid sleep schedule. This will only result in your baby becoming overtired.
Is There A Sleep Regression At 10 Months?
Sleep regressions can occur at any age but there are certain times when they are more likely to happen.
Mainly at 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months and around 12 months old.
If your baby’s established sleep patterns are disrupted with them fighting sleep, increased nighttime wakings and restlessness then they are very likely experiencing a short-term sleep regression.
Read these posts to help you navigate this situation:
Sleep Regression: Why It Happens And How To Survive It
10 Month Old Sleep Tips
Establishing and maintaining a 10 month old sleep schedule will make your day much easier to manage because after all… Everything starts and ends with sleep!
Here are some of my top sleep tips to make creating and maintaining a 10 month old sleep schedule as simple as possible:
- Have a regular bedtime routine. I cannot emphasise how important it is to have a consistent bedtime routine. Start the routine at the same time every day and aim to have your baby in bed at the same time each evening.
- Lower the energy at the end of the day. By 10 months old, your baby is more aware of what is going on around them and can be more easily distracted… So prepare your baby for sleep by not letting things get too exciting before bedtime. Keep your interactions calm and low-key.
- Get some fresh air every day. Fresh and natural light will help to regulate your baby’s melatonin levels and circadian rhythm. Taking your baby outside every day for a walk in their pram or simply sitting in the garden to play on a blanket will definitely help establish a healthy 10 month old sleep schedule.
- Avoid your baby getting overtired. As your baby becomes more active and stays awake for longer periods of time it is very easy for them to become overtired, resulting in them fighting sleep. So, watch for sleep cues and ensure your little one has timely daytime naps and a regular bedtime as a part of their 10 month old sleep schedule.
- Make naps a priority. Try and make sure that your baby takes most of their naps at home. The occasional nap on the go is inevitable and OK, but try not to do this on a daily basis.
- Be consistent in how you treat nighttime waking. As your 10 month old baby is now on a well-established solid diet with 3 meals a day, they do not require feeding at night. Therefore, if your baby wakes at night, wait a while to see if they will resettle and if necessary go to them and comfort them without picking them up or talking.
- Make sure baby is getting enough solids. There is a sharp increase in physical activity at 10 months of age and your baby’s appetite will increase too. Make sure they are getting enough to eat to ensure that hunger is not the cause of any sleep disruptions.
TOP TIP: Don’t be tempted to cut down on daytime naps to improve nighttime sleep… An overtired baby will not settle easily or stay asleep for long.
Common 10 Month Old Sleep Problems
The most common sleep problems that your baby may encounter when establishing and maintaining a 10 month old sleep schedule are:
- Experiencing a sleep regression.
- Early morning waking because they are more aware of the light and sounds that surround them or because they went to bed early.
- Restless settling because they are feeling discomfort from teething.
- Fighting sleep because they’re overtired.
- Crying when away from you due to separation anxiety.
- Resisting bedtime because they have not calmed down for the day.
- Night time waking and crying because they need your touch to self-settle back to sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions About A 10 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 10 month sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.
What Time Should A 10 Month Old Go To Bed?
Bedtime for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers does not really change.
For a 10 month old sleep schedule, your baby should be in bed with the lights out by 7pm.
If you want to adjust your schedule to make bedtime a little later you must change your daily nap times accordingly.
But no matter what… your baby should not be in bed any later than 8pm.
Is 10 Months Too Early For One Nap?
Yes. 10 months old is too early for one nap.
If you drop to one nap, your baby will become overtired and may be more prone to sleep issues.
Babies are usually 12 months old before they are ready for a 1 nap schedule.
How Much Nighttime Sleep Is Appropriate For A 10 Month Old?
As always timings will vary from baby to baby but most 10 month old babies will sleep between 10 and 12 hours at night.
Why Is My 10 Month Old Fighting Naps?
Your 10 month old may be fighting naps because they:
- Are experiencing a sleep regression?
- They are going through a big developmental leap.
- Their sleep routine has changed (Are you on holiday? Visiting friends? Or have you changed the bedtime routine?)
- The sleep environment is not cosy enough for your baby to fall asleep in.
If your baby is fighting naps, try adjusting the nap time by ½ hour to see if they want to fall asleep sooner or later than usual!
You can also invest in a nightlight and white noise machine to help make baby’s room a cosy place to settle down in.
White noise machines are a game-changer for your little one's sleep and having a portable one is a must. Take this handy gadget from Dreamegg with you where ever your child might need to take a nap and use it in the nursery too to lull your little one to sleep night after night.
Which Nap Do Babies Drop First?
When your little one is ready to drop a nap, it will be the morning nap that will be dropped first.
However, this is a big transition and will vary from baby to baby and for quite some time you may find your baby needing 2 naps on some days and 1 nap on another.
But dropping to one nap does not usually occur until around your baby’s 1st birthday so you should not let sleep resistance tempt you into dropping a nap too soon as this will only result in an exhausted baby at the end of the day that does not want to sleep!
REMEMBER: Naps on the go are fine for this age but you should still aim for most daytime naps to be taken at home in their crib.
Sleep Schedules Further Reading
Here are some more sleep schedules to help you get the most out of helping your little one sleep as best they can.
After all…
Sleep breeds sleep!
- 1 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 2 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 3 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 4 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 5 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 6 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 7 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 8 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 10 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 11 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 12 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 13 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 14 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 15 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 16 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 17 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 19 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 20 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 21 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 22 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 23 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule
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Paula McLaren
Paul Mclaren - Norland Nurse NNEB RSH is the founder of Teething to Tantrums and has been in the child care industry as a Norland Nanny since 1982. Since then, her mission has been to help parents become the best they can possibly be. And each year, she continues to help more families understand their child's development, the trials and joys of parenting and of course, how to care for their little ones.Discover how you can get your little one to listen in under 5 minutes so you can become a calm, effective and happy parent without yelling, nagging or losing control.
