Is it OK to let my 3-month-old sleep through the night?
Olivia Hensley
Updated on February 21, 2026
Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. About two-thirds of babies are able to sleep through the night on a regular basis by age 6 months.
How long should a 3 month old sleep at night without eating?
Two- to 3-month old babies can sleep for five- or six-hour stretches. That said, most 3-month-olds still need a feeding or two during the night, especially if they're nursing.How long can you let a 3 month old sleep at night?
Between the age of 3 and 6 months, some babies have 2 or 3 longish sleeps during the day, while others just have short naps. A few sleep 12 hours at night without interruption, some manage 8 hours while many others wake fairly regularly for feeds.Should I wake my 3 month old baby to feed at night?
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night.Is it OK that my 3 month old sleeps 10 hours at night?
How much should a 3 month old sleep? At this age, most babies need at least 15 hours of total sleep in a 24-hour period. Ideally, we'll see at least 10 hours of sleep at night and 3 - 5 naps a day, though there's still a lot of variation at this age.How do you get your baby on a sleep schedule?
Is it OK for a 3 month old to sleep 12 hours?
A 3-month-old baby generally sleeps between 12-17 hours per day. About 8-12 hours of their sleep schedule happens overnight, and the rest is made up through daytime naps. And the ideal number of naps for a 3-month-old baby is 3-4 naps per day.When can I stop waking baby for night feeds?
From a developmental perspective, babies are able to sleep through the night — defined as a six- to eight-hour stretch — without eating when they're between 4 and 6 months old. In this age range, most babies reach the 12- to 13-pound mark, the weight where they no longer metabolically need nighttime feedings.HOW LONG CAN 3 month old go between feedings?
Feedings are typically about every three or four hours at this age but each breastfed baby may be slightly different.What is sudden infant death syndrome?
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – sometimes known as "cot death" – is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. In the UK, around 200 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. This statistic may sound alarming, but SIDS is rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is low.How long should a 3 month old sleep at night without eating NHS?
Here's how it happens:By 3 months some babies may sleep up to 5 hours at night-time and by 5 months it could be as much as 8 hours. However, it is unusual for babies to sleep all night every night and it is normal for babies to wake frequently in the night.