By Paula McLaren BA (Hons) Early Years Development & Learning •
Updated: 04/01/23 •
Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how and when to get your baby on a regular 2 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make it as easy as possible.
How Much Should A 2 Month Old Sleep?
Most 2 month old babies should have 14-17 hours of sleep per day and they will be able to stay awake between 60 to 90 minutes at a time. Most 2 month old babies take 4-6 daytime naps lasting between 30 mins to 2 hours at a time.
2 Month Old Wake Window
At 2 months, your baby will have 60 to 90 minutes of awake time between their naps.
This ensures that baby has enough awake time during the day to meet their developmental milestones and to consume enough daytime calories to grow at a rapid rate.
Sample 2 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Similar to newborn babies, at 2 months old, your baby’s sleep will still vary day to day and you will struggle to follow a rigid routine…
Therefore, a 2 month old sleep schedule takes into consideration your baby’s sleep throughout a 24-hour period instead of following an hour-by-hour expectation.
Here is what a 2 month old sleep schedule should look like:
REMEMBER: It’s very difficult to predict when your 2 month old baby will sleep, how deeply they will sleep or how long their naps will be until they’re a few months older… So, please don’t be concerned if your baby’s day looks different.
2 Month Old Nap Schedule
2 month old babies are mostly concentrated on growing and developing new physical, emotional, cognitive and social skills through baby toys and play sessions… as a result, they will spend most of their time asleep than awake (particularly by napping!)
As with a 2 month old sleep schedule, your little one’s 2 month old nap schedule will still not follow a consistent routine yet, however, you should aim for your little one to be doing the following every day:
You will find that the amount of awake time your baby can manage will vary quite dramatically from day to day alongside what they are experiencing when they are awake.
TOP TIP: If your baby had a quick nap and is showing signs of being tired during their wake window (having only being awake for a short period of time…) then let them go to sleep again and DO NOT wait for ‘nap time‘. Trying to keep your baby awake will only lead to them getting overtired and being unable to settle.
How Many Naps Does A 2 Month Old Baby Need?
Typically, a 2 month old will still be having between 3 and 6 naps a day.
REMEMBER: Swaddling is still important at this age to make your little one feel safe and secure while sleeping and it helps to control the Moro Reflex which can startle babies awake in the early months.
How Long Should A 2 Month Old Baby Nap For?
Your 2 month old baby will nap anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours at a time.
The length of your baby’s naps will all depend on how busy their awake period was and what their individual sleep needs are.
TOP TIP: Your 2 month old may now struggle to fall asleep anywhere as they did as a newborn. Therefore, you will now have to start establishing a proper nap routine where they are put to sleep in the same place each day.
Bedtime For A 2 Month Old
As you know I am a great advocator of establishing a bedtime routine as early as possible, and at 2 month old your baby is on the verge of being able to have a full bedtime schedule.
However, the priority right now is to make a stark difference in your interactions with your 2 month old baby at night and to keep the sequence of events leading up to bedtime the same every night to establish strong sleep associations.
Hopefully, most 2 month old babies will no longer suffer from day-night confusion meaning you can now start to establish a regular routine.
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What Time Should A 2 Month Old Go To Bed
A 2 month old should be going to bed between 6pm and 7pm.
Remember, even though you will need to dream feed your baby again before you go to sleep… It is always a good idea to get them used to ‘going to bed’ in the early evening so it’s not such a big change when they get older.
TOP TIP: If you are bathing your baby daily, do so at the end of the day followed by a soothing massage, quiet time together in a dimly lit room, and a feed and then settle your baby to sleep in their nighttime sleep space (crib, bassinet or moses basket)
2 Month Old Sleep Tips
Managing a 2 month old sleep schedule can be a rollercoaster of emotions…
Some days it will be easy and you will think you’re getting into a routine and on other days, you will wonder if you’ll ever have a consistent day again!
However, here are my top tips to make the 2 month old sleep schedule easier to navigate through:
- Start a bedtime routine. If you have not done so already then by 2 months old your baby is ready for a simple bedtime routine consisting of bathtime, reading a book, having a feed and settling down to bed.
- Start a nap routine. Help your baby to settle into a healthy nap schedule by having a regular routine that you follow before putting them down to nap. Singing the same lullaby, looking at a baby book and putting them to sleep at home in the same place will all help to prepare them for sleep at night.
- Put your baby down when they are drowsy. Now is also a good time to start putting your baby to bed when they are drowsy rather than letting them fall asleep on you. I know this is hard as we all love cuddling our babies and having them fall asleep on us…However, getting your baby used to falling asleep alone is essential to their development and doing this at a young age will be easier than leaving it until they are older when the habit is much harder to break. Using a crib mobile at this stage is a good idea.
This award-winning crib mobile from the trusted Manhattan Toys range is perfect for entertaining your newborns without being overwhelming. It has 10 interchangeable cards that offer a range of simple high-contrast images to more complex coloured patterns and graphics to boost your little one's visual development!
- Give them time to settle. Following on from the above point, your 2 month old may struggle to fall asleep straight away. Try not to rush back to your baby’s side if they fuss a bit when you put them down. They may be unsettled for a while and then eventually fall asleep. If you respond too quickly they will soon learn that their fussing gets you to return and they will abuse this power very quickly!
- Don’t rush to respond. Applying the same principles as the last point, if your baby wakes at night(especially if it is not when you would expect them to be ready for a feed)give it a while before you go over them. They may resettle on their own. Obviously, if they start to get distressed you should respond and go to them to avoid them getting worked up.
- Remember this motto: eat, play, sleep. Your baby will now become more interested in the world around them and will respond to things that you show them. They are able to ‘play’ simple games at this age whether it be looking at a mobile or doing tummy time under a baby gym, watching your face and responding to you talking and singing to them. Getting into an eat-play-sleep routine with your baby will lay the foundations for a healthy routine as they grow.
This play gym is designed by experts for baby's developing brain and body. Winner of multiple awards it includes everything you need in an activity gym-from batting to teething to learning to focus-for a whole year of play.
- Continue to keep nighttime interactions to a minimum. Although your 2 month old should be suffering from less day and night confusion, it is still very important to make a clear difference in your interactions with them during the day and at night.
- Optimise sleep conditions. Ensuring your baby has the best sleep environment becomes more and more important as they grow. Keep lighting dim and use a white noise machine, like this one from DreamEgg. It is also important that some of baby’s daytime naps are taken at home in their dedicated sleep space and not all on the go. Good quality sleep during the day will definitely help with nighttime sleep!
White noise machines are a game-changer for your little one's sleep and having one that plays all night is a must. Compact, stylish and containing 21 non-stop relaxing noises, this handy gadget from Dreamegg will lull your little one to sleep night after night, no matter where you are.
REMEMBER: At 2 months old your baby’s maternal melatonin (which makes them very sleepy as a newborn) is now fading and their own melatonin and cortisol levels are kicking in. This can disrupt daytime sleep by making it more difficult for your baby to nap.
Therefore, it’s even more important to give your 2 month old time to settle when you put them down to sleep!
Common 2 Month Old Baby Sleep Problems
The most common sleep problems for 2 month old babies are:
- Struggling to settle.
- Wanting to feed lots at night
- Encountering the dreaded baby witching hour
- They are sleeping for fewer hours at night because they’re sleeping too much during the day.
Frequently Asked Questions About A 2 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 2 month old sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.
Can You Sleep Train A 2 Month Old Baby?
In short: no. A 2 month old is still too young for sleep training. However, having healthy and regular sleep routines will set your baby on the right path to good sleep habits and a consistent sleep cycle.
How Much Nighttime Sleep Is Appropriate For A 2 Month Old?
A 2 month old baby will sleep between 8-12 hours in their nighttime sleep space, but they will still wake up during that time for a couple of feeds throughout the night.
How Long Should A 2 Month Old Stay Awake For?
The amount of time your 2 month old can stay awake will depend on the time of day and their personality. Most babies will be awake between 60 mins to 90 mins before needing to go back to sleep.
However, you must learn and observe your baby’s sleep cues so that they can get them back to sleep when they need to so they don’t become overtired.
TOP TIP: At 2 months of age, your baby will be able to stay awake for longer periods of time in the afternoon compared to in the morning.
Can A 2 Month Old Baby Sleep Through The Night?
No, 2 month old baby cannot sleep through the night yet.
Most 2 month old babies will still be waking every 3-4 hours and the length of time they sleep between feeds at this age will vary from one night to the next too.
REMEMBER: Baby should not be going longer than 6 hours without a feed.
Is There A 2 Month Old Sleep Regression
Sleep regressions can hit at any time and are usually triggered by your baby’s changing daytime sleep needs and rapid development.
The first sleep regression usually occurs at around 4 months of age but it can appear when your baby closer to 2 months depending on how they are developing.
And as a result, if you have not done so already, now is the perfect time to start teaching your baby to self-settle by putting them in their crib to sleep when they are drowsy and not fast asleep as a part of your 2 month sleep schedule.
Whether your baby is experiencing a sleep regression with increased night waking and short naps or learning that they really like to have a feed and cuddle when they wake up in order to go back to sleep…
Teaching your baby to fall asleep independently will go a long way to forming healthy sleep habits and breaking unwanted waking habits in order to get you through the regression far quicker.
To learn more about sleep regressions that can occur around this age, and how to manage a baby who won’t sleep unless held, read the following posts:
- 3 Month Sleep Regression: The Ultimate Survival Guide
- Sleep Regression: What, Why, Signs & Sanity-Saving Solutions
- Baby Won’t Sleep Unless Held (12 Proven Steps To Follow)
Why Is My 2 Month Old Sleeping So Much?
Your 2 month old baby will typically be sleeping so much because they are developing at an incredible rate that requires a lot of energy.
However, if you still feel that your 2 month old is sleeping too much, is struggling to stay awake for 20 minutes between naps, or is showing any of the following signs, you should seek medical advice from a doctor or sleep consultant as soon as possible:
- They are not gaining weight
- They do not appear to be comforted by being fed
- They are producing fewer than 4 wet diapers a day
- They are quiet or unresponsive
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!
- Newborn Sleep Schedule
- 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
- 3 Year Old Sleep Schedule
Need More Parenting Help?
- Download our FREE Perfect Sleep Cheat Sheet. It’s a free, easy-to-use and proven formula designed for parents of 0-5 year olds to master the art of consistently undisturbed and restful sleep without the yelling, nagging or exhausting long-winded evenings.
- Check out our Parenting Toolbox. You’ll get access to expertly-chosen products that you can guarantee are the best for your little one and your wallet.
- Ready to create the calm, peaceful evenings you deserve? Then checkout our most popular course - The Bedtime Battles Masterclass
A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
Click Here For The FREE Cheat Sheet
