Is 7pm-7am the goal?
Well, in an ideal world, yes it would be AMAZING, but its also not realistic for alot of bubs.
Our goal for our little ones overnight sleep can vary greatly depending on:
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Their age
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Health considerations/weight gain
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Family situation
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Cultural differences
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Personal preference
For most people, the thought of having your little one sleep from 7pm - 7am straight sounds like absolute bliss!
But is it always the goal?
Firstly, what constitutes sleeping through the night?
From what you see and hear, it seems as though sleeping through means sleeping 11-12 hours straight with no wakes or feeds.
When actually most research shows that sleeping through the night is defined by a baby being able to sleep 5-8 hours straight.
We also need to consider a child's overall sleep in a 24 hour period and their individual sleep needs.
How much sleep are they having during the day? With that amount of sleep, will they have the drive to be able to sleep 12 hours overnight?
Our age appropriate routines takes the guess work out of this.
Do they still need to feed overnight? Generally speaking, most bubs have the ability to drop their night feeds by 6 months and achieve that consistent 11-12 hour stretch. But if holding onto that night feed for a little longer is what you want, then this is 100% ok.
This is your reminder that all babies are different and 7-7 may not be achievable for your little one, regardless of what you’ve tried.
However, if all other factors align, and we think bubs is capable, we can definitely strive for this if that is your personal goal!
If you need help establishing a routine and getting closer to that dreamy 7-7 routine, then our team of sleep consultants can help. Get started here
