7 Month Old Sleep Schedule: The Complete Guide

Author Image By Paula McLaren BA (Hons) Early Years Development & Learning •  Updated: 07/06/22 •  Baby » Baby Sleep

Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby into a regular 7 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make it as easy as possible.

How Much Should A 7 Month Old Sleep?

Sample 7 Month Old Sleep Schedule

By 7 months old, your baby should be sleeping through the night and napping several times a day.

REMEMBER: ‘Sleeping through the night’ means that your baby is sleeping for 6 or more hours at night without waking to be fed.

Many 7 month old babies will be sleeping for 6-8 hour stretches regularly, but it is important to remember that it is also perfectly normal for some babies to still wake during the night at this age too.

Here’s a sample 7 month old sleep schedule that contains 2-3 daytime naps:

7 Month Old Sleep Schedule Sample

TOP TIP: With the introduction of solids many babies of 7 months of age can sleep all night without a feed even if they wake and you may not need to dream feed at all. However many babies will still wake to be fed up until 9 months of age.

Nap Schedule For 7 Month Old Baby

There are still no hard and fast rules about an exact nap schedule for a 7 month old baby, however, there are approximate guidelines.

Remember to keep an eye out for your baby’s sleep cues and follow their lead by taking naps at regular intervals and never forcing your baby to stay awake if they are tired.

Here is a sample nap schedule for a 7 month old baby:

Nap Schedule For A 7 Month Old Baby

TOP TIP: The final nap of the day can be taken on the move as it is really just a top-up of sleep to help your baby through to bedtime.

How Many Naps Should A 7 Month Old Baby Take?

For a 7 month sleep schedule, your baby will take between 2 and 3 naps per day.

Your 7 month old’s day time naps should last at least 1 hour each. However, if your baby is transitioning down to 2 naps, they may need to sleep for up to 2 hours per nap.

REMEMBER: While nap transitions can be challenging… you must let your little one take the lead when it comes to sleep. Don’t delay naps in the hope that they will sleep later, as this often backfires on you and results in an overtired baby.

How Long Can A 7 Month Old Go Between Naps?

Your 7 month old will now be able to stay awake between 2 ½ and 3 ½ hours between naps. 

Make the most of these awake times to offer your little one lots of stimulating play and opportunities to learn new skills.

Bedtime For 7 Month Old

For a 7 month old sleep schedule, your baby’s bedtime routine should now be firmly in place and it will not change much from now on. 

A simple bedtime routine will consist of:

The entire bedtime routine should start between 6pm and 6.30pm and take no longer than 30 minutes.

REMEMBER: The bedtime routine should follow the same steps and be repeated at the same time every evening to ensure your 7 month old can recognise the signs that bedtime is coming to help them settle and fall asleep more easily.

Looking to get your little one to sleep quickly and effortlessly? Check out my Bedtime and Nap Cheat Sheet and master the art of making daytime naps and bedtimes as seamless as possible.

What Time Should A 7 Month Old Go To Bed?

As a part of a 7 month old sleep schedule, your baby should be asleep in their nighttime sleeping space between 7pm and 7.30pm after their bedtime routine is complete. 

Ideally, your 7 month old should go to bed no later than 8pm and the closer to 7pm you can get them tucked up, the better… to ensure your baby gets enough sleep to support their brain’s growth and development as well as their physical development.

Is There A 7 Month Old Sleep Regression?

In truth, sleep regressions can occur at any age. 

Although, they are more common when your baby is 4, 6, 8 or 12 months old, a sleep regression will depend on when your baby reaches certain developmental milestones

Knowing the signs of sleep regression, what can trigger them and how to handle them is your best defence to avoid a 7 month sleep regression.

Take a look at my post on how to handle and survive any sleep regression.

7 Month Old Sleep Tips

Establishing and maintaining a 7 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 7 month old sleep schedule as simple as possible:

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Common 7 Month Old Sleep Problems

The most common sleep problems that your 7 month old baby may encounter are:

Frequently Asked Questions About A 7 Month Old Sleep Schedule

Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 7 month sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.

Can A 7 Month Old Baby Sleep Through The Night?

Yes. 7 month old babies are physically able to sleep through the nightand do not need to be fed every few hours. 

However, this does NOT mean that every baby WILL sleep through the night.

Each baby is different: some 7 month olds may sleep for a short while, wake once and then sleep for 8 hours whilst others will sleep for 12 hours very happily.

Can You Sleep Train A 7 Month Old Baby?

Yes, you can sleep train a 7 month old baby.

If you have not started any form of sleep training yet then now is the time to start.

At 7 months old, bad sleep habits can begin to become difficult to break.

Sleep training and self settling for 7 month old babies should be gentle and consistent, focusing on giving your little one strong sleep cues with regular and recognisable nap and bedtime routines as a part of their 7 month old sleep schedule.

TOP TIP: Whatever sleep training technique you use, remember that a 7 month old baby should never be left to cry it out to the point where they’re very distressed.

How Much Nighttime Sleep Is Appropriate For A 7 Month Old?

A 7 month old should be sleeping between 11-12 hours in their nighttime sleep space.

Some 7 month old babies may sleep for the whole of this time most nights… while others will still wake for the occasional feed. 

​​TOP TIP: When your baby wakes at night, wait a short while to see if they will re-settle themselves before going to them. They might go back to sleep without your having to feed them!

How Long Can A 7 Month Old Stay Awake?

As a part of a healthy 7 month old sleep schedule, your baby can now stay awake from anywhere between 2 ½ and 3 ½ hours at a time during the day. 

However, it is very important to watch for sleep cues and put your baby down for a nap before they get overtired.

Should Babies Nap After 5pm?

No. Babies should not nap after 5 pm.

7 month old babies should ideally be awake for at least 2 hours before their regular bedtime in order for them to be ready for sleep and settle nicely. 

Therefore, if your baby’s bedtime is 7pm they should not be napping after 5pm. 

TOP TIP: If your baby does take a late nap it is OK to wake them after 20-30 mins but do not let them sleep for longer than 1 hour.  

Is 6pm Too Early For A 7 Month Old Bedtime?

No. 6pm is not too early for 7 month old to go to bed. 

But if you do put your 7 month old to bed at 6pm, you should then expect them to be ready to start a new day any time between 5am and 6pm. 

If you are a household that wakes early then an early bedtime is fine, however, if you want to start your day a little later, then I would aim for a 7pm bedtime.

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!

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Author Image Bio
Paula McLaren - The founder of Teething to Tantrums has been in the childcare industry as a Norland Nanny and Childcare Expert since 1982. Her qualifications include a BA (Hons) in Early Years Development & Learning (0-6 Years) plus the highly prestigious Norland Diploma, recognized as the best early years practitioner qualification in the world. During her 40+ years of experience, she has worked as a night nanny (specializing in solving sleep issues), run a very successful daycare center in London, and raised almost 100 children, including her son, to be kind, healthy, and happy individuals with her tried and tested developmental and guidance methods.

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