The Practically Perfect Baby - Your Baby's Sleeping Milestones: Year OneThe Practically Perfect Baby

When you put your baby on our schedules, you will essentially be sleep-training them from night one, so you should expect them to make certain sleeping milestones during their first year. Your baby will start right off on a 2 1/2 or 3 hour schedule for round-the-clock feedings…then at week four, you will drop one feeding that results in a four hour sleep-stretch. Between 6 to 8 months, you can expect that your baby will be sleeping 12 hours straight at night. Yes, you read that right, so get excited for good family sleep as soon as is possible! And if you’re late to the sleep-training game…get our help getting a late start by reading our post: Starting Late.

Here’s when and how long you can expect your baby to sleep, using our schedules:

Phase I:

*PPB Schedule 4-7 weeks — 4 Hour Sleep stretch from 3:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m.

The goals: stabilize your newborn’s metabolism and sleep rhythm by continuing to create a routine of FEEDING, PLAYING, then NAPPING — always in that order. You will gradually offer more ounces of milk or formula (your baby will stop feeding when she’s full, so don’t force it) and you’ll get to drop a feeding so your baby and you will finally sleep a 4-5 hour stretch!

*PPB Schedule 8-12 weeks — 8 Hour Sleep Stretch

from 11:30 p.m.-7:00 a.m.

The goals: make an earlier last feeding time to create an 8 hour-stretch of nighttime sleep — yes! This is totally possible to achieve in these four weeks, so stick with it! Use the 15-Minute Rule consistently to teach your baby how to sleep through the night. Offer a maximum of 8 oz. per feeding, but don’t force it…he’ll let you know when he’s full.

Phase II:

*PPB Schedule 13-16 weeks — 9 Hour Sleep Stretch

from 10:30 p.m.-7:00 a.m.

The goals: drop another feeding to create a 9-hour stretch of nighttime sleep. Add slightly more ounces of milk/formula to the last feeding to ensure your baby receives enough calories to sleep through the night.

*PPB Schedule 17-26 weeks — 10 Hour Sleep Stretch

from 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.

The goals: back up the last feeding to an earlier time. These are the last weeks before your baby will begin solid foods, so enjoy it while it lasts because your feeding times will become a whole lot less simple and much more messy!

Phase III:

*PPB Schedule 27- 36 weeks — 12 Hour Sleep Stretch

from 8:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m.

The goals: ease your baby into eating solid foods during mealtimes. You’re teaching your baby how the world of adult meals work and still giving him enough calories to get through a full night’s sleep. Congratulations, your baby is getting real, uninterrupted, quality sleep every night!