When does a baby begin to sleep full nights, my baby is 3 months still getting up twice a night?

Answer 1

Most babies wake one or two times per night well after one year of age:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11530895&dopt=Abstract
Few objective data are available regarding infants' night waking behaviors and the development of self-soothing during the first year of life. This cross-sectional study examined 80 infants in one of four age groups (3, 6, 9, or 12 mo) for four nights by using videosomnography to code nighttime awakenings and parent-child interactions. A large degree of variability was observed in parents' putting the infant to bed awake or asleep and in responding to vocalizations after nighttime awakenings. Most infants woke during the night at all ages observed. Younger infants tended to require parental intervention at night to return to sleep, whereas older infants exhibited a greater proportion of self-soothing after nighttime awakenings. However, even in the 12-month-old group, 50% of infants typically required parental intervention to get back to sleep after waking. Results emphasize the individual and contextual factors that effect the development of self-soothing behavior during the first year of life.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8035724&dopt=Abstract
The above study is the definitive work on sleeping habits of (Australian) children to 38 months. The researchers surveyed 3269 parents, with a 96.5% response rate, over a one week period. The parents had to report on their child's sleeping habits over the past 24 hours, plus answer a few questions related to their perceptions of their child's sleep behavior.

What did they find?

There is a wide range of normal childhood sleep behavior.
Circadian rhythm is not well established until four months of age.
Daytime sleep becomes less regular with increasing age, the most marked reduction in length occurs around 3 months of age. However, a surprising 11% under 3 months of age don't have a daytime sleep every day.
Frequent night waking that disturbs parents is common from 4-12 months (12.7% disturb their parents 3 or more times every night).
Night time settling requires more parental input from 18 months.
Nearly a third of parents have a significant problem with their child's sleep behavior.
Sleeping through the night: 71.4% did this on at least one occasion by 3 months of age, but many of these relapse into more frequent waking in the 4 to 12 month period. It is not until after 24 months that regular night waking (requiring attention) becomes much less common.
Although this study did not address breastfeeding, it is relevant because a lack of understanding of "normal" sleep patterns can lead to supplementing, early solids, belief there is not enough milk, etc. The authors claim it also leads to misdiagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and overuse of sedative medication. A worrying 31% of 25-38 month-old children were disciplined (mostly smacking) to get them to settle. 27% of parents let their children cry, 11% at less than one month.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1934318&dopt=Abstract
Abstract: A longitudinal study of the development of sleep patterns addressed the issue of continuity and change in night waking in the course of the first year. Mothers of 118 infants, who took part in a follow-up study of normal babies, completed a sleep questionnaire at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Regular night waking was a common characteristic throughout the first year:

Baby's age % babies waking at night
3 months 46%
6 months 39%
9 months 58%
12 months 55%

The number of awakenings per night was a function of age. Following a decline in the number of interruptions from 3 to 6 months, an increase in night waking at age 9 months was recorded. Although the methodology does not lend itself to an objective validation of the changes in sleep-wake states, nor is it suitable for causal explanations, it is, nevertheless, important to note this profile. The increase in night waking towards the end of the first year coincides with significant socio-emotional advances which characterize this developmental stage.

Answer 2

Some babies dont sleep through the night until MUCH later. My daughter is 2 and still wakes up about once a night, mainly wanting to play more than anything else. My son slept through the night at 2 months. If I remember right the average is somewhere between 4 and 6 months though, I asked my doctor with my son because I was shocked he was doing it so early

Answer 3

Dont let your baby sleep all day if it can be avoided because when my daughter sleeps all day (she is 11weeks two days) she gets up at three-four am for a bottle. But if she is awake for a larger part of the day she will sleep nine hours through the night. She will fuss a bit because she is hungry, so also try feeding the baby a filling bottle before bed, and make sure the baby is warm and cozy and that will help you out.

my baby has been sleeping through the night almost regularly for the last two weeks btw.

Answer 4

It really, really depends on the baby. There are supposedly things you can do to help, but I truly believe a great deal of it has to do with your baby's personality. My sister's baby slept through the night from 10 days old. My son started sleeping through the night on his own around 6 months, but it took my daughter until 9 months, and we had to initiate it.

Overall, I think by 6 months, most babies are sleeping through the night.

Good luck! I know lack of sleep is so miserable....

Answer 5

my daughter was about 4 months old when she started sleeping through the night but then she started getting up again around 9 months and that lasted a few months, shes 14 1/2 months now and she is sleeping through the night again.

Answer 6

This is a question without a definite answer I'm afraid :) My daughter (whom I breastfed for 17 months) started sleeping through at 7 weeks and never looked back. My son didn't sleep through the night until one week after his first birthday. I breastfed him for 10 months, but he was terrible at it, something wasn't working right, so I eventually had to switch to formula and he went from getting up an average ten times a night, to now just once or twice. He has slept through about eight times now.
Every baby is different, my friend. Your bub will sleep through when he/she sleeps through. Simple as that!
Good luck,
Donna :)

Answer 7

I think that 3 months is still a bit early for sleeping through the night, especially if you are breastfeeding. Mine didn't start sleeping through the night until after 6 months, at which age they shouldn't need to eat at night.

Answer 8

Mine is 3 months also and gets up at least once a night. It makes for broken sleep for me but otherwise she is fine...she's a growing baby and needs to eat! A lot of people suggest putting cereal in her bottle before bed but she is still too young. I work full time and I am tired but I'm not going to rush solids for my own convenience. It also depends on your baby's personality...is yours staying up wanting to play? Mine gets up, eats and goes right back to bed. So do I.

Answer 9

My little girl just turned 3 months and literally the weekend she turned 3 months old she started sleeping through the night...it was kind of funny :)

Answer 10

All kids are different. But you could try to give the baby a little cereal at night to get him to sleep through the night. Hopefully this will work. Good Luck!!!

Answer 11

Thats normal...the baby is either hungry or wanting your attention..most babies wont sleep through the night til they approach their first birthday...but all kids are different...hell, all 3 of my kids were waking up and bugging us for something til about the age of 4...LOL