The bedtime for a 6 month old that could help you find that predictability - so you can sleep too!
It’s a big deal - As your baby grows, their needs change. This routine for bedtime for a 6 month old is exactly what I used for 3 healthy bouncing (and sleeping) babies.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means when you click on one and purchase something, the author gets a small commission - at no cost to you.
You’ve made it through the first few months of your baby’s life, and now they throw you a curve ball - their needs change with regards to sleep. (Yes, it’s that frustrating at times, but needs do change as our baby develops, and that’s normal. No six year old is sleeping like a 6 month old, right?)
This post will share why I used a regular bedtime for a 6 month old each time I had another bubba - and why I believe it was absolutely instrumental in helping them work into their sleep habits they now have as children (which are reasonably good!).
(If you are new to this space, welcome! I’m Miranda, I’m a teacher, women’s emotional health and stress coach, for both Christian women and any others too! I have 3 kids and have been running parent coaching sessions for 5 years now, focusing on the younger space. I am not a medical expert in sleep or babies - but I am one in emotional behaviour and stress of adults and kids, and known for my practical advice and coaching! Thanks for reading, and feel free to find out more at the bio below regarding consults, etc.)
Here’s what we’re covering here:
Why have a regular bedtime for a 6 month old?
What is needed to help children build a before-bed sleep routine that actually works?
What do I do when my baby’s needs change again?
Here’s to this post helping you out - however there are no guarantees, as I’m sure you know. Read on for some ideas, though!
Need to know the ideal bedtime for a 6 month old? Try this interesting take on a 6 month old schedule and your baby activities - and baby sleep routine - will set them up for life! #babyroutine #babyschedule
Why have a regular bedtime for a 6 month old?
We all function better on routine. It’s a simply fact. Getting up around the same time every day, and going to bed around the same time every day, means our circadian rhythm is actually helping us set our own body clock - meaning we are working with our bodies, rather than against them.
One of the biggest - arguably the biggest - and most important goals for new parents is to teach your baby to sleep well. Good, healthy, structured sleep is absolutely needed for life, and a regular routine can help you make that a reality not just for your own health, but for your baby’s ongoing health and development as well.
When it comes to sleep, our brains wash themselves clean, ridding them of the toxins that build up over the day from just living. Regular sleep is not just good for emotional health and wellbeing, but absolutely vital.
So, not only does having a regular bedtime for a 6 month old help, it can start them on the good habits of a lifetime - and help us, as parents, have that toxin buildup removed too, as we sleep! Please note, thought, if this hasn’t happened for you so far, and your baby is not a great sleeper, you are not alone, and you are not a bad parent! Do not let that Inner Critical Voice start giving you that sort of negativity, as this does not improve anyone’s emotional health. It’s one step at a time - and babies are not robots, either.
What is needed to help children start building that a helpful bedtime routine that actually works towards better sleep habits?
Firstly, starting today, organise your baby’s day to start at 7 or 7:30am. It’s simple - start at the same time every day (within half an hour at the most) and your baby starts to simulate their body clock to that time (roughly). Again, I did this with my kids and it worked wonders - but the reason I pushed through on this, is because it makes sense.
This means, whatever sort of night your baby has (if it’s a shocker, or if they’ve just gone to sleep, leave them until 7:30) - wake them up at the time you have chosen (I chose 7) and then begin their day the same, every day. Feed, wake, sleep - that was the golden routine when my bubs were really little - and of course it was hard to implement at the start, but the long-term benefits have been amazing. Our older kids get up around then every day (although the almost-teenager needs a little help as her needs have changed again obviously), and they go to bed between 7:30-8:30 at night most of the time.
Want to see the best in British television? Sign up to Britbox and watch Midsomer Murders, Father Brown, Vera, and all your British favourites on this fantastic streaming service - even while you breastfeed your baby!
Doing this every day, teaches your baby a few basic rules we want them to know going forwards as a gentle, pro-active parent:
It’s time to wake up!
It’s a predictable, safe routine that minimises stress and lowers anxiety in your baby as you set it in place over a week or two.
Mum knows what she’s doing (even if you don’t feel like you do!)
It means they will hopefully, gradually start to organise their sleep as they have these ‘concrete’ times of start of day and end of day regularly.
Why do this so carefully?
Every day, as an adult, we wake up around the same time, right? We get ready around the same time, and we eat around the same time. In fact, as an adult we know how we feel best - and that is when we are doing things within that routine. Our body knows when to get ready to digest, and roughly when to start producing melatonin for us to start feeling sleepy.
(If you are someone who is messing with your own sleep cycles when you shouldn’t be, or just struggling with tiredness and mum life (like most of us), read this post: What Tired Mums Can Do When The Going Gets Tough)
How do I change this 6 month old bedtime when my baby’s needs change again as they grow?
Great question! Firstly, every mum is very aware of how their children are doing on a regular routine. However, I hear many mums talk about how their little one isn’t sticking with their normal routine, and waking up at different times, etc (even though I’m not a sleep coach at all, remember!).
As your baby grows, they will turn into a toddler and child who is constantly developing and growing, and as a result their needs are doing the same. For instance, when your baby gets a little older, they will not need to have 2 sleeps during the day - then they will not need any. Many mums are regularly trying desperately to put their child down for a day nap (with a huge fight) because the mother is the one who wants a break, the baby doesn’t necessarily need one. Or, they say ‘but they just can’t last through the rest of the day!’
Yes, this might be true - and maybe your baby is just having a developmental leap - The Wonder Weeks book is AMAZING FOR THIS - and we need to be aware of this. However, in my experience, if your baby is exhibiting the same behaviours every day for more than a week - they probably need their schedule changed, rather than simply just trying to keep fitting a ‘square peg into a round hole’.
Watch your baby and see what they are doing. Instead of running by the clock (middle of the day naps, I’m talking), try watching your baby as they play and look for tired signs.
(You’ll know them better than anyone else by now, probably!) Then, before those signs have gone for too long, do their day nap pre-bed routine and put them down to sleep. If it’s too late in the day for your baby’s sleep and it will stop them going to sleep around your concrete bedtime at night, rock them for 15 minutes and give them down time, but don’t let them sleep for too long!
Don’t forget, the best bedtime for a 6 month old is exactly what you want them to do. No-one knows your baby better than you.
But having a concrete morning wake-up time (with 30 mins max wiggle-room) and the same at night, consistently, means that your bub can get into a regular routine, and so can you. Then, being flexible on holidays or a night out here or there is actually so much easier, because you can go back to routine after that time with less effort and less chaos, even if it takes a day or two. Your baby knows what to expect.
Don’t stay stressed, overwhelmed and wracked with guilt, OK?
If you are a mum and feeling stressed and overwhelmed in this period of your life, please don’t stay alone and try to just ‘figure it out’. It’s important to talk about this - with a professional if you need, or even just a wise, trusted friend who has been there. Don’t judge yourself, or let anyone else do that, either. It’s OK to be learning, and trying your best, too - even if things didn’t work out. If you are blessed with another day, you have another chance! Cuddle your baby and love them!
If you want to find out about my online consultancy, here’s what I do:
Help Mums find freedom from emotional stress and overwhelm
Ask questions, (lots of them) and every.single.client.so.far has had ‘Aha’ moments through the sounding-board effect of coaching with me,
Go through emotional embodiment practices to help you actually feel and process the emotions that are ‘stuck’ or that you keep trying to escape from (when you are ready, always)
Offer strategies around parenting (I have been coaching parents for over 5 years, and bring my teaching professional expertise to this)
I do this all via my Zoom consults, soon to be in-person consults offered too in the Geelong, Australia, area - but online to most places!
So don’t be stuck, because whether or not it’s myself, there are people out there who can help you with your emotion, overwhelm and giant stress that can occur in body and mind when you have a baby and/or kids.
Sick of feeling like you are carrying all of the things, and struggling with your emotional health and getting angry at the kids?
Miranda is a teacher-turned stress management/emotional wellbeing coach, for mums both Christian and not; who are finding life overwhelming and stressful. She uses emotional processing and basic somatic techniques with her clients, as well as uncovers deeper beliefs, expectations and habits that you may be unaware of - and the influence they are having on you subconsciously.
Miranda also authors wellbeing books such as Stop Mum Guilt and fantasy novels, as well as creates physical journals and printable products for women. If you feel overwhelmed, or are sick and tired of feeling that horrible guilt you carry around in your chest for ‘not doing everything well enough’, grab your 30% off call here as a new client!
Some More Interesting Things That Might Interest You…
How to Stop Beating yourself up as a Millennial Christian Mother
3 Limiting Self Beliefs Every Good Mum Needs to Know About
Grab your free Mental Wellbeing Printable Planner pack here
It’s time to STOP MUM GUILT with the simple 48 page ebook on Amazon!
Listen Here On Spotify To The Mum Wellbeing Podcast!
Need to know the ideal bedtime for a 6 month old? Try this interesting take on a 6 month old schedule and your baby activities - and baby sleep routine - will set them up for life! #babyroutine #babyschedule
