father caring for black baby

Feeding and Sleeping for Babies Aged 3-6 Months

Feeding

This will now take less time, as you and your baby are more in tune with one another. Your baby should have 5 feeds in 24 hours. During the day, they’ll be every 3–4 hours, and at night every 6–8 hours. Some days your baby might demand more feeds during the day or overnight, which is normal. By 6 months many babies will be ‘sleeping through’ the night – having their last feed at 10pm and the first at 5am or 6am.

Young father playing with his daughter inside with toys

Sleeping

By 3 months your baby should be sleeping for 1–2 hours following feed and play time during the day, and 5–7 hours at night. By 4 months, babies have usually outgrown their bassinet and need to move to a cot.

By 6 months, your baby still needs 1-2 hours’ sleep after feed and playtime, as their play is more active. At night, they’ll usually sleep 8–10 hours (13-15 hours sleep in 24 hours).

Put your baby in the cot while they are calm and still awake, then leave so they can learn to go to sleep by themselves.

Tips for sleeping

  • Settle your baby as soon as you see signs of tiredness.
  • It is best to stick to the same settling routine whether at home or out and about.
  • When at home, sleep your baby in the same place, both day and night.
  • Put your baby in the cot while they are calm and still awake, then leave so they can learn to go to sleep by themselves.
  • If your baby becomes distressed, return to calm and resettle them.

Moving from bassinet to cot

Some babies sleep in a cot from birth. If you used a bassinet, your baby will probably outgrow this by the time they are 3–4 months old.

This may mean that your baby will be moved from a bassinet in your room to a cot in another room – although it’s recommended to keep baby in your own room for at least 6 months. The move to a cot should not upset them as long as you continue to use the same settling technique as before.

Senior woman getting out of bed holding lower back in pain

If you are borrowing a cot or purchasing a second hand one, it is advisable to buy a new mattress which is clean and firm. Make sure your cot (whether it’s new or second hand) meets Australian safety standards:

Visit Product Safety Australia (ACCC) and follow the link to ‘Baby & nursery.’ www.productsafety.gov.au

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