9 Month Old Sleep Schedule: The Complete Guide

Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your baby onto a regular 9 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make maintaining it as easy as possible.

How Much Should A 9 Month Old Sleep?

A 9 month old will sleep for 14 to 15 hours every 24 hours.

They will take 11 to 12 hours at night and the remaining 2 to 3 hours of sleep will be taken across 2 daytime naps.

Sample 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule

By 9 months old, your baby will be sleeping through the night and will still be having 2 naps a day.

This will be split into a long nap in the morning, followed by a slightly shorter nap in the afternoon.

Here’s a sample 9 month old sleep schedule to give you a guideline for how your baby’s day might flow:

REMEMBER: This 9 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.

Nap Schedule For 9 Month Old Baby

Here’s a quick reference for a 9 month old nap schedule to help you visualise your baby’s daytime sleep habits:

How Many Naps Should A 9 Month Old Take?

A 9 month old will now have transitioned to 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 9 month old will only nap twice a day.

How Long Can A 9 Month Old Stay Awake?

Your 9 month old will now be able to stay awake for up to 3 hours between daytime naps.

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.

Bedtime For 9 Month Old

For a 9 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:

Having a bath,
Followed by a massage,
Cosying up together with a suitable baby book and singing a lullaby,
Having a feed,
And finally, settling baby down to sleep in their crib.

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 9 month old can recognise the signs that bedtime is coming to help them settle and fall asleep more easily.

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What Time Should A 9 Month Old Go To Bed?

For a 9 month sleep schedule, your baby should be in bed with the lights out by 7pm every evening.

If you want to adjust your schedule to make bedtime a little later you must change your daily nap times accordingly.

But no matter that, your baby should not be in bed any later than 8pm.

Is There A 9 Month Old Sleep Regression?

Typically there is a sleep regression that can happen around 9 months old, however, it usually coincides with when your baby is learning to crawl, pulling to stand, teething or experiencing separation anxiety.

If your 9 month old is going through a sleep regression, they may experience sleep issues such as:

fighting bedtime,
waking from naps early,
or increased night waking.

Your best defence is knowing the signs of sleep regression, learning what can trigger them and understanding how to handle them.

REMEMBER: Sleep regressions can occur at any age. However, they are more common when your baby is 4, 6, 8 or 12 months old, and will usually occur when your baby reaches certain developmental milestones.

9 Month Old Sleep Tips

Establishing and maintaining a 9 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 9 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 9 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.
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.
Encourage your baby to spend some time in their crib whilst awake to get used to their own company. I have always found it useful to let your baby spend a few minutes every day playing in their crib while awake. Putting your little one in the crib to look at an interesting mobile, like this one from Manhattan Toys while you take a quick shower is a good way of getting them used to being awake alone in their sleep space. This can help with teaching them to self-soothe and to not always cry out on waking too.

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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 9 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 9 month old sleep schedule.
Check the sleep environment. Making sure your baby’s sleep environment is perfect for sleep is essential. Here is a list of must-haves for your baby’s room:

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Common 9 Month Old Sleep Problems

The most common sleep problems that your baby may encounter when establishing and maintaining a 9 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.
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 from the day.
Night time waking because they are used to being fed at night.

Frequently Asked Questions About A 9 Month Old Sleep Schedule

Looking for more help with creating your baby’s 9 month sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.

When Should The Last Nap End For A 9 Month Old?

In order for your 9 month old to be primed for sleep you should aim for their afternoon nap to end approximately 3 to 3½ hours before their bedtime.

So, if your baby has lights out at 7pm, ideally you should not let them sleep later than 3.30pm.

TOP TIP: If your little one has not slept well during their usual nap times you could let them have a 30 min cat nap later in the day.

How Much Nighttime Sleep Is Appropriate For A 9 Month Old?

Your 9 month old baby will be able to sleep between 11 and 12 hours per night.

Most babies will sleep through the night, however, some 9 month old babies will still wake and require your calming touch to help them resettle and drift back off to sleep.

Should I Put My 9 Month Old To Bed Early If They Missed Their Nap?

If your baby has missed a nap or has woken very early from a daytime nap, you may need to adjust their bedtime by bringing it forward.

Alternatively, you could consider incorporating a short 30-minute cat nap in the later afternoon to help tie your baby over to bedtime…But you should only do this if your baby settles to sleep quickly.

If they don’t… just bring bedtime forward by an hour.

REMEMBER: Don’t try to keep your baby awake until their normal bedtime as this will result in them becoming overtired… Making getting them to sleep even harder!

Is 6pm Too Early For A 9 Month Old Bedtime?

No. A 6pm bedtime is not too early for a 9 month old.

However, if your 9 month old does go to bed at 6om, you need be prepared for them to wake by 6am the next day.

REMEMBER: As with all sleep schedules they are only a guideline and an example of what your baby’s sleep might look like. Keeping an eye on the total amount of sleep in a 24-hour period is the most important element and will allow you to work out if your baby has had enough age-appropriate sleep.

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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Paula McLaren

Paula McLaren - Norland Nurse NNEB RSH is the founder of Teething to Tantrums and has been in the childcare 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.