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10 Month Old Sleep Schedule Ideas

Are you struggling with your 10-months-old’s sleep schedule? I know how it feels. When I got used to our boy’s first sleep routine, he suddenly transitioned into a new stage and required something different. Let me share a few 10-month-old sleep schedule ideas that helped us during these times.

I know that the internet is full of “guaranteed” tips on infant sleep – but I also know that many of them are useless. So, what can you expect from this particular article?

Some of the tips I share below come from our friends and relatives. Others 10 Month Old sleep schedule ideas come from studies, articles, and other sources I’ve discovered through my research. A few of the ideas below also come from our individual experiences. But most importantly, all were first-hand tested and verified by us.

Although I cannot promise they will work for you just like they did for us, I believe that the key to success lies in understanding your child´s genuine needs and abilities.

How much sleep should your 10-month-old baby get per day?

A newborn typically sleeps most of their days and nights (they should get as many as 17 hours of sleep a day!). However, these periods of rest are frequently (and often unexpectedly) interrupted by short awake periods when the baby needs to feed or have their diaper replaced.

There is a little difference between the baby’s sleep schedule during the day and night at first. Around the 3 month mark, however, infants usually start to slowly adjust to what we consider standard: they become more active during the day and sleep longer and tighter at night.

At 10 months, babies sleep for around 15 hours a day. This typically comprises just two naps during the day and a continuous night’s sleep lasting for 10 or 11 hours, often wholly uninterrupted. Yes, you’re finally on the track to normality!

But it does not always go smoothly without a little effort on your side. That’s why most parents try to intentionally manage and adjust their kids’ sleep schedules to make this transition as easy as possible.

Does your 10-month-old truly need a sleep schedule?

10 Month Old Sleep Schedule Ideas

Before I became a father myself, I read up and studied many different books on parenting and often wondered if people don’t just overcomplicate some parts and aspects of this journey.

Sleep schedule? Why would you want to teach your baby when they should or shouldn’t sleep? Doesn’t sleep come just naturally when they’re tired?

Of course, reality taught me that things are sometimes much more complicated than they seem at first glance. Let me summarize a few sound reasons why introducing your 10-month-old to a regular sleep schedule may be a good idea:

  • Healthy development: Just like you focus on work better after a good night’s sleep, your baby can also concentrate on its “job” (= growing and developing) better when rested. A day nap is never as effective as a night’s sleep when everything is silent, peaceful, and dark.
  • Sleep schedule = feeding schedule: Grown-ups eat during the day and fast at night. It allows our internal organs to rest, resulting in a deeper, more refreshing sleep. It also keeps our teeth healthier. Infants who sleep the night through without feeding benefit from this too.
  • Happier parents: Parenting is sacrificing your comfort, but there’s only so much discomfort you can take before it starts to affect you. After months of sleepless nights, it’s time to reclaim control over your life. The baby will benefit from healthier and happier parents too!
  • More time for fun: When your baby starts sleeping properly during the night, they are more awake during the day, which allows you to engage in more fun and bonding activities as a family. Since baby learns through play and new experiences, this is incredibly beneficial.

Though I was first quite skeptical about the idea of a rigid sleep schedule, I must say that it changed everything for the better: We as parents became more relaxed and better organized, and our boy became much more active and less fussy during the daytime.

Examples of a 10-month-old´s sleep schedules you can try

So, now that you have an idea of how much sleep your 10-month-old needs in total and why it is smart to organize it according to a consistent timetable, I’d like to share two examples of tried and verified sleep schedules you can put into practice.

Of course, consider these just an inspiration, and feel free to adjust them around your individual needs. Every baby is unique, and we as parents are also not the same, so there’s nothing wrong with creating your own rules.

Example no. 1

The following schedule is a straightforward and easy-to-follow roadmap to a typical daily program for your 10-months-old. It contains two daily naps of moderated length that can be adjusted as needed.

The goal is to put your baby to a good night’s sleep around 7:00 PM. If they’re still too active around this time, you can shorten the naps, whereas if they’re dozing off earlier, you can let them nap longer during the day.

7:00 AM Wake up your baby and breastfeed them/feed them with formula
9:00 AM Baby eats proper breakfast
10:00 AM Baby takes the first nap (ideally lasting for 1.5 – 2.5 hours)
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Wake up the baby and breastfeed/feed them with formula + small snack
1:30 PM Baby eats proper lunch
2:00 PM Baby takes the second nap (ideally lasting for 1 – 2 hours)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Wake up the baby and breastfeed/feed them with formula + small snack
5:00 PM Baby eats proper dinner
6:15 PM Start with a consistent bedtime routine
7:00 PM Breastfeed/feed the baby with formula and put them to sleep

Example no. 2

If you find the first example too vague, here’s another one that is more rigid regarding the length of naps and feeding times. It is also more suitable for those who are used to waking up earlier and those who do not yet feed their baby a proper solid breakfast.

6:00 AM Wake up your baby
6:30 AM Breastfeed/feed with formula
8:30 AM Baby eats a light snack
9:00 AM Baby takes the first nap (lasting for 90 minutes)
10:30 AM Wake up the baby and breastfeed/feed them with formula
12:00 PM Baby eats proper lunch
1:30 PM Breastfeed/feed with formula
2:00 PM Baby takes the second nap (lasting for 90 minutes)
3:30 PM Wake up the baby and breastfeed/feed them with formula
4:30 PM Baby eats a light snack
5:30 PM Baby eats proper dinner
6:15 PM Start with a consistent bedtime routine
7:00 PM Breastfeed/feed the baby with formula and put them to sleep

10 Month Old Sleep Schedule Ideas To Try

Whereas experts do not recommend introducing sleep training or a rigid schedule to newborns (read our 3-month-old sleep schedule ideas for alternative tips), a 10-month-old can usually adjust to some of the timeframes above and hence sleep throughout the whole night.

Nevertheless, some kids seem to struggle in the sleep department considerably more than others. Before you start to panic or blame yourself for doing something wrong, check out the following “troubleshooting” ideas:

1. Make sure your baby is not hungry

feeding baby

Babies often wake up during the night because they are simply hungry. If you cannot make your 10-month-old sleep all night without feeding breaks, try providing them with more filling dinner meal or more snacks throughout the day.

2. Consider weaning

If you breastfeed your baby, they may wake up during the night to fulfill their habit, which includes feeding and feeling their mom’s closeness. If you’re entirely determined to stick to the sleep schedule and stop nighttime feeding, maybe it’s time to consider weaning.

3. Be consistent in your bedtime routine

The nighttime routine is one of the most intimate, individual, and essential parts of your baby’s day. Whether it’s a song, a short fairytale, sprinkling of magical dust on the bed, or anything else, keep it consistent. It creates a positive association with sleep that can work miracles in the long run.

10-Moth-Old Sleep Schedule: Three Products To Make It Easier

Do you still need help to make your 10-months-old’s sleep more compatible with the ideal schedule? These three products made it easier for us:

Portable window blinds such as NICETOWN

Portable window blinds such as NICETOWN

What we found the most challenging in adjusting our son to the ideal sleep schedule at this age was making him nap during the day at the given times. He was always too bouncy and excited and struggled to fall asleep despite demonstrating tiredness.

Then our friend suggested that our nursery was really light during the day, stating that he could not imagine sleeping there either. We were skeptical about this idea but decided to give it a try, ordering perfectly affordable and easy-to-use portable window blinds from NICETOWN.

Luckily, it worked truly well: The nursery was almost as dark as at night, and our son finally accepted his scheduled daytime naps without the usual fuzziness and protests.

Further reading:

White Noise machines such as Hatch

White Noise machines such as Hatch

White noise machines are small portable speakers producing a comfortable, womb-simulating ambiance that soothes infants and helps them fall asleep faster. Although it is usually recommended for newborns, many parents use it for as long as two to three years if their kids respond to it well.

Although we already had our Hatch white noise machine from when our son was born, we fully appreciated it only when we worked on his transition to an uninterrupted nighttime sleep around the 10th month.

When he suddenly woke up at night at first, it made a huge difference in his mood and ability to fall asleep fast again.

Further reading:

Weighted sleep sacks such as Nested Bean Zen Sack

Weighted sleep sacks such as Nested Bean Zen Sack

Our son seemed to struggle with startle reflexes practically from day one, and even when they diminished later, we always noticed how restless and active his limbs were during his sleep. Sometimes he literally woke up due to an unintentional hand or leg movement.

We were advised to try a weighted sleep sack (we chose Nested Bean and never regreded it) to mimic the pressure felt when the baby is held in arms. All I can say is that it really worked for us, and we’re already thinking about getting a weighted blanket when our boy grows out of the sack.

Further reading: 

FAQs

Question: How long should a 10-month-old be awake between naps?

Answer: Aim to keep them awake between 2.5 and 3.75 hours. It is also recommended to keep the first awake period of the day in the morning shorter than the second one in the afternoon.

Question: Why is my 10-month-old so unsettled at night?

Answer: If you suddenly notice your baby struggles with sleep more than before, maybe they’re going through the so-called sleep regression. Read ourSleep Regression Explained article for all the details on this phenomenon and some practical tips.

Question: What time should a 10-month-old go to bed?

Answer: Ideally between 7 PM and 8 PM. If you don´t want your baby to wake up too early in the morning, don´t put them to sleep earlier in the evening.

Conclusion: It´s Only Getting Better Now!

Whether you manage to introduce your 10-month-old to the desired schedule over the night or it takes a bit more time and effort, the good news is that regarding your little one’s sleep, it’s only getting better from now.

A 10-month-old baby is fully capable of sleeping throughout the whole night, so you can finally enjoy a good night’s rest too. Thanks to taking only two naps during the day, your baby can now also lead a more active lifestyle. Enjoy the postponed trips and visits and keep them inspired and curious.

I hope this article provided you with all the information you were looking for, and I’d be delighted to know that my tips worked for you just like they did for us.

But even if you still struggle, try not to get too frustrated and cherish this period as it is. Remember that it is one of the last months to enjoy that your baby depends on you with their mobility. They’ll soon start running on their own two legs, and you’ll face completely new challenges…

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