Your baby is 5 months old, the fourth nap keeps falling apart, and some days it feels like the whole day revolves around getting the next nap to happen. If you’ve searched 5 month old sleep schedule, you probably want to know two things: how many naps your baby really needs now, and whether a looser day is fine. Short answer: most 5-month-olds are somewhere between 4 naps and 3, and a flexible rhythm that follows your baby’s tired signs is a perfectly good plan. Below you’ll find two sample days, a simple check for dropping to 3 naps, and the signs that mean it’s worth calling your pediatrician.
This page is part of our baby sleep schedule by age guide. Looking for the month before or after? See the 4 month old sleep schedule or the 6 month old sleep schedule.
Quick answer: 5 month old sleep schedule
- Total sleep: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 12 to 16 hours of sleep in 24 hours for babies 4 to 12 months old, including naps.
- Naps: often 3 to 4 a day. Many babies move from 4 naps to 3 around this age, and some days will have 3 and others 4.
- Wake windows: about 2 to 2.5 hours awake between sleeps is a common rough guide, usually shortest in the morning. Wake windows are not an official AAP measure, so your baby’s tired signs come first.
- Nights: the NHS says that between 3 and 6 months some babies sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer at night, but not all. Waking to feed is still common.
- Settling: the AAP suggests putting babies to bed drowsy rather than already asleep, so they can learn to fall asleep on their own.
- Safety: on the back for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface with nothing else in the crib. Stop swaddling once your baby looks like they’re trying to roll over (AAP).
What changes at 5 months
Five months sits between two CDC milestone checklists (4 and 6 months), so there’s no official list for this exact month. Many babies at this age are working toward the 6-month skills, such as rolling from tummy to back and pushing up on straight arms during tummy time. That busy body often shows up in sleep.
- Longer awake time. Most babies can stay happily awake a little longer than at 4 months, which is why the day often has room for one nap fewer.
- Nap transition. The late-afternoon catnap is usually the one that starts to go. Expect a few weeks of mixed days.
- Rolling in the crib. Some babies practice rolling at nap time and at night, which can mean more wake-ups for a while.
- More awareness. A busy room or an interesting sound can be harder to tune out, so a calm, dim place to nap can help.
For all the skills at this age, see our 5-month milestones guide. The month before is covered in our 3 month old sleep schedule too, if your baby was born early or is still on lots of short naps.
Sample 5 month old sleep schedules
These are examples, not rules. They use wake windows of about 2 to 2.5 hours, with the longest stretch before bedtime. Shift every time to match your baby’s morning wake-up. If your baby is happy on a looser day, that’s fine too.
Sample day with 3 naps
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up, feed, diaper change, play |
| 9:00 a.m. | Nap 1 (about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours) |
| 12:30 p.m. | Nap 2 (about 1 to 1.5 hours) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Nap 3, a shorter nap (about 30 to 45 minutes) |
| 6:45 p.m. | Bedtime routine: feed, diaper, sleep sack, song |
| 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. | Asleep for the night (night feeds as needed) |
Transition day: 3 naps plus a catnap
Use this on days when the naps are short and your baby can’t make it to bedtime on 3.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | Wake up, feed, diaper change, play |
| 8:45 a.m. | Nap 1 (about 30 to 45 minutes) |
| 11:30 a.m. | Nap 2 (about 45 minutes to 1 hour) |
| 2:30 p.m. | Nap 3 (about 30 to 45 minutes) |
| 5:00 p.m. | Catnap (about 20 to 30 minutes). If your baby dozes off in the stroller or carrier, move them to a firm, flat surface on their back as soon as possible (AAP). |
| 7:00 p.m. | Bedtime routine |
| 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. | Asleep for the night |
Feeds aren’t listed at fixed times, because many 5-month-olds still feed on cue. For how much milk babies typically take at this age, see our baby feeding schedule by age.
Going from 4 naps to 3: the 4-sign check
There’s no official age for dropping a nap. Instead of watching the calendar, look for these signs over about a week. If you see two or three of them on most days, your baby may be ready for 3 naps.
| Sign | What it looks like | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The last nap is a fight | Your baby fusses, plays or babbles through the fourth nap | Skip it and offer a slightly earlier bedtime for a few days |
| 2. Bedtime keeps getting later | The fourth nap pushes sleep for the night later than you’d like | Stretch the earlier wake windows a little, a few minutes at a time |
| 3. Happy after 2 hours awake | No yawning, eye rubbing or fussing until well past 2 hours | Let the morning wake window grow a little |
| 4. Earlier mornings | Your baby starts the day earlier than before | Look at the whole day’s sleep, and see baby wakes up at 5am for other common reasons |
Not seeing these signs? Keep 4 naps. Many babies hold on to the catnap for a while longer, and that is normal.
How much should a 5 month old sleep?
| Sleep | Typical at 5 months | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Total in 24 hours | 12 to 16 hours, including naps | AAP recommendation for 4 to 12 months |
| Longest night stretch | Some babies sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer, but not all | NHS, for babies about 3 to 6 months |
| Naps a day | 3 to 4 | Common pattern, not an official measure |
| Wake window | About 2 to 2.5 hours | Rough guide, not an official measure |
These are ranges, not targets. A baby who is mostly content when awake, feeds well and is growing as expected is usually getting enough sleep, even at the low end.
Night sleep and night feeds at 5 months
The NHS says that as babies grow, they need fewer night feeds and may be able to sleep for longer. Plenty of 5-month-olds still wake at least once to feed, and that is common. A few things from the AAP can make nights smoother:
- Keep night feeds and diaper changes calm, quiet and dim, and try not to stimulate or fully wake your baby.
- Put your baby down drowsy, not already asleep. The AAP notes that babies who are held or rocked to sleep may struggle to go back to sleep when they wake at night.
- Give your baby a little time to resettle before going in, unless they need a feed, a diaper change or comfort because they’re unwell.
- Keep your baby awake and engaged during the day’s wake windows. The AAP says longer awake time in the day helps babies sleep for longer periods at night.
If night waking suddenly gets worse, our guides to why babies wake up at night and sleep regression at 4, 6 and 8 months walk through the common reasons.
Common 5-month sleep questions
My baby rolls onto their tummy in the crib
Keep placing your baby on their back to sleep. The AAP says that once babies are comfortable rolling both ways (back to tummy and tummy to back), you don’t need to turn them back over, as long as the sleep area has no blankets, pillows, toys or bumpers. If your baby is still swaddled, it’s time to switch to a sleep sack with free arms. See when to stop swaddling and sleep sack vs swaddle.
Will starting solids help my baby sleep?
Sleep isn’t one of the readiness signs. The CDC says babies can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months, that introducing foods before 4 months is not recommended, and that signs of readiness include sitting up alone or with support, good head and neck control, and opening the mouth when food is offered. Our guide to the signs your baby is ready for solids has the full list. Talk to your pediatrician before you start.
Naps are still only 30 to 45 minutes
Short naps are still common at 5 months. If your baby wakes happy, the nap may simply be enough. If they wake upset, try a slightly longer or shorter wake window for a few days, and keep naps in a dark, quiet room. Thinking about background sound? Our guide to whether a sound machine for baby is good or bad covers volume and placement.
The clocks just changed
In the US, clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Our daylight saving time baby sleep plan shows how to move naps and bedtime gradually.
A short bedtime routine for a 5 month old
The NHS says a simple, soothing bedtime routine may help babies settle. At 5 months it can be short, as long as it follows the same order each night:
- A bath or a warm washcloth wipe-down (a bath isn’t needed every night).
- Fresh diaper, pajamas and a sleep sack.
- Feed in a dim room, then a short book or song.
- Into the crib on the back, drowsy but awake.
More ideas in our guide to a baby bedtime routine that works.
Safe sleep at 5 months
- Place your baby on their back for all naps and at night (AAP).
- Use a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard, and keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area (AAP).
- Share a room with your baby, not a bed, for at least the first 6 months (AAP).
- If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing or carrier, move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible (AAP). More in is it safe for baby to sleep in a swing.
- Stop swaddling when your baby looks like they’re trying to roll over (AAP).
See our full safe sleep practices guide.
When to talk to your doctor
- Your baby is unusually sleepy, hard to wake or too sleepy to feed.
- You notice snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing during sleep.
- Sleep changes come with fever, poor feeding, fewer wet diapers or slow weight gain.
- Your baby has lost skills they used to have, or you have concerns about how they move, see or respond to you.
- You’re thinking about starting solids before 6 months or about sleep training, and want advice for your baby.
- You feel exhausted or low and it’s hard to cope. Your pediatrician can help or point you to support.
- Call 911 if your baby stops breathing, turns blue or gray, or can’t be woken.
Frequently asked questions
How many naps should a 5 month old take?
Usually 3 or 4. Babies who take short naps often still need 4, while babies with longer naps may do well on 3. Mixed days during the switch are normal.
What are wake windows for a 5 month old?
About 2 to 2.5 hours between sleeps is a common rough guide, often shorter in the morning and longest before bed. It is not an official AAP measure, so watch your baby’s tired signs too. Our guide to baby cues shows what to look for.
What time should a 5 month old go to bed?
There’s no official bedtime. Many families aim for a time that follows a reasonable wake window after the last nap, and keep it about the same each night.
How long should a 5 month old sleep at night?
The AAP gives a 24-hour total (12 to 16 hours including naps for 4 to 12 months), not a separate number for the night. The NHS says some babies aged 3 to 6 months sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer at night, but not all.
Is there a 5 month sleep regression?
Regression isn’t a medical term. The AAP says babies don’t have regular sleep cycles until about 4 months, and many families notice sleep is bumpy for a few weeks around this age while new skills like rolling develop. It’s a phase of change, not a step backward.
Is it OK if my 5 month old sleeps on their stomach?
Always place your baby on their back to start. If they roll onto their tummy on their own and can roll both ways comfortably, the AAP says you don’t need to turn them back, as long as nothing soft is in the crib.
Does my 5 month old need a strict schedule?
No. Some babies and parents like a set routine, others do well with a looser day that follows tired signs. If your baby is content and sleeping safely, either approach is fine. If you’re weighing sleep training, compare the options in our guide to sleep training methods and talk to your pediatrician.
Browse more sleep guides on our baby sleep page.
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Sources
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Getting Your Baby to Sleep
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe
- CDC: Important Milestones: Your Baby By Six Months
- CDC: When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleep
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you’re worried about your baby, call your pediatrician, or 911 in an emergency.