Colin Snow
Sleep is an important topic for new parents, and it can be a challenge to establish a healthy sleep schedule for your baby. At two months old, your baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb and sleep patterns can seem erratic and unpredictable. On average, two-month-old babies sleep around 14 to 17 hours a day, including naps and nighttime sleep. While they might sometimes sleep for longer stretches, they'll still wake frequently to feed and change things up from day to day. This is a normal part of their development as they learn the difference between night and day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average sleep hours in 24 hours | 14-17 hours |
| Number of naps | 4-6 |
| Average length of naps | 20 minutes to 2 hours |
| Wake windows | 60-90 minutes |
| Maximum night sleep | 12-12.5 hours |
| Sleep patterns | Erratic and unpredictable |
| Sleep cycles | 20-50 minutes |
| Sleep training | Not ready |
| Sleep routine | Flexible routine, not a rigid schedule |
| Bedtime | 7:00-8:00 pm |
| Sleep position | On their back |
| Room-sharing | Recommended for the first 6 months |
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What You'll Learn
- A 2-month-old baby's sleep pattern is flexible and unpredictable
- A 2-month-old baby should sleep between 14 and 17 hours in 24 hours
- Daytime sleep patterns should be encouraged to distinguish between day and night
- A bedtime routine should be calming and familiar
- Sleepy cues help parents know when their baby is ready for sleep
A 2-month-old baby's sleep pattern is flexible and unpredictable
At this age, babies are still in the newborn stage, and it is normal for them to sleep in short bursts, or sleep cycles, throughout the day and night. A sleep cycle is usually around 50-60 minutes long and consists of active sleep and quiet sleep. During active sleep, a baby may move around, grunt, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. During quiet sleep, they will lie relatively still and their breathing will be more even.
The average 2-month-old sleeps between 14 and 17 hours in a 24-hour period, including about five to seven hours' worth of naps during the day. Their stretches of sleep will usually last between three and four hours, and they will still wake frequently during the night for feeding. It is important to be responsive to your baby's sleepy cues, feeding needs, and nap lengths, and to create a bedtime routine that is familiar and relaxing for them.
While it is too early for sleep training, you can gently encourage healthy sleep habits to help your baby distinguish between night and day and go longer between feedings at night. For example, you can expose them to light and gently play with them during the day, and provide a dim and quiet environment at night. Other practices, like a calming bath, reading, and singing, can also help your baby get used to a bedtime routine.
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A 2-month-old baby should sleep between 14 and 17 hours in 24 hours
A 2-month-old baby typically sleeps between 14 and 17 hours every 24 hours. This includes about five to seven hours' worth of naps during the day. While this is the average, it's important to remember that every baby is unique and there is a wide range of "normal" sleep patterns at this age. Some babies may sleep more or less than others, and that's okay! Your baby's mood and wellbeing are good indicators of whether they are getting enough sleep.
At 2 months old, your baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb and their sleep patterns may seem erratic and unpredictable. They are likely still sleeping and waking at all hours of the day and night, but may be starting to develop more recognizable sleep patterns and settle into a routine. You can help your baby develop healthy sleep habits by paying attention to their cues and following their lead. Look out for signs that your baby is tired, such as rubbing their eyes, pulling on their ears, or being fussier than usual.
It's recommended to aim for wake windows of around 60 to 90 minutes for your 2-month-old. This means they should be awake for about two hours between naps. During their awake periods, ensure they have plenty of feedings. It's generally recommended to feed your baby every four to six hours throughout the day and night. However, don't let your baby go more than 12 to 12.5 hours without sleep at night.
While it's too early for sleep training, you can gently encourage sleep habits to help your baby distinguish between night and day and gradually develop a more regular sleep-wake cycle. Creating a bedtime routine can be helpful. This might include calming activities such as giving your baby a bath, reading to them, or singing lullabies. Keeping the environment dimly lit and minimizing stimulation during nighttime feedings can also help your baby drift back to sleep more easily.
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Daytime sleep patterns should be encouraged to distinguish between day and night
At two months old, a baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb and sleep patterns can seem erratic and unpredictable. They are still learning to distinguish between day and night, so you should expect them to be sleeping and waking at all hours.
However, this is the time when they will start to develop more recognizable sleep patterns, and you can work on establishing habits that will set the foundation for a healthy sleep schedule. You can help your baby learn to sleep more at night by exposing them to light and gently playing with them during the day. At night, provide a dim and quiet environment.
It's important to be responsive to your baby's sleepy cues, feeding needs, and nap lengths. Their schedule will be very flexible and will vary from day to day. They will still wake frequently and eat frequently. As they get older, they will be developmentally ready for fewer feedings and longer naps, and their schedule will become more predictable.
While it's important to be flexible, you can also start to gently encourage sleep habits to help your baby separate night from day. You can do this by creating a bedtime routine. Help your baby get ready for sleep by closing the blinds, turning down the lights, and quieting the household. Other practices, like a calming bath and singing a lullaby, can help your baby get used to a bedtime routine.
During the day, ensure your baby gets good naps. Keeping your baby awake for longer stretches will tire them out, but this doesn't mean they'll sleep more soundly at night. Babies sleep better when they're well-rested.
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A bedtime routine should be calming and familiar
At two months old, a baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb and sleep patterns can seem erratic and unpredictable. They are still learning the difference between night and day, so you'll notice they're sleeping more when the sun goes down. Their sleep cycles are still decidedly newborn-like, with more REM sleep, shorter sleep cycles, and frequent waking.
On average, a two-month-old baby sleeps around 14 to 17 hours a day, including about five to seven hours' worth of naps during the day. Their stretches of sleep will usually last between three and four hours. A baby's wake window, or the period of time they're awake between naps, will be around one to two hours.
It's important to be responsive to your baby's sleepy cues, feeding needs, and nap lengths. Some signs that your baby is tired include rubbing their eyes, pulling on their ears, and being fussier than normal. At two months old, your baby will need about 60-90 minute wake windows. You can aim for a nap pattern of short-long-short naps, focusing on getting a decent two-hour nap in the middle of the day with shorter naps on either side.
During your little one's awake periods, ensure they have plenty of feed opportunities. We would advise feeding your baby when they wake from a nap rather than directly before going to sleep, as they'll take a better feed when rested and fresh, and you don't run the risk of developing negative sleep associations.
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Sleepy cues help parents know when their baby is ready for sleep
At two months old, a baby is still adjusting to life outside the womb and sleep patterns can seem erratic and unpredictable. They are still learning the difference between night and day and are not ready for a rigid sleep schedule. However, they may be beginning to settle into more predictable sleep patterns and you can start to establish habits that will set the foundation for a healthy sleep schedule.
Sleepy cues will help you know when your baby is ready for sleep. A baby's wake window is how long they stay awake between naps. At two months, your baby will need about 60-90 minute wake windows. When they're closer to 8 weeks, your baby's wake windows might be on the shorter end of that range, but when your baby is 11 weeks, you'll see those wake windows expand to the longer end of the range.
Signs that your baby is tired include rubbing their eyes, pulling on their ears, and being fussier than normal. It's important to be responsive to these cues, feeding needs, and your baby's nap lengths. There isn't a set number of naps that works best for a 2-month-old. During the first few months, it's normal to see naps last anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. While it goes against the saying "never wake a sleeping baby", if your baby likes to nap on the longer end, it's recommended to wake your 2-month-old after 2 hours. This is because babies need that important awake time to ensure they get enough calories during the day, to help with day-night confusion, and to work towards longer stretches of sleep at night.
At 2 months old, your baby will still nap frequently throughout the day, usually taking three or four naps for four or five hours every day. It's a careful balance, though – if your baby sleeps too much during the day, they won't be tired when it's bedtime. It's important to create positive sleep associations for your newborn. Some settling techniques may be hard to keep doing long-term, such as holding your baby until they fall asleep. These can create a negative sleep association for your newborn, resulting in them needing to be held to fall asleep.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, a 2-month-old baby sleeps between 14 and 17 hours a day, including about five to seven hours' worth of naps. A baby's sleep cycle is usually around 20 to 50 minutes long.
There isn't a set number of naps that works best for a 2-month-old. While some sources recommend three or four naps a day, others suggest four to six. Each nap should last between 20 minutes to two hours.
At this age, it's important to follow your baby's lead and pay attention to their cues. You can also create a bedtime routine by turning down the lights, quieting the household, and incorporating calming activities like bathing and singing.
