Babywise Schedule: 3 to 6 Months Old

What to expect week by week from 13 to 29 weeks — feeding schedules, nap counts, wake windows, when to introduce solids, and how to navigate the 4-month sleep disruption.

Three months is a turning point. The fog of the newborn weeks starts to lift, you’ve learned your baby’s cues and preferences, and sleep — while still a work in progress — is beginning to find a rhythm. You feel like you’re finally getting the hang of it.

Then everything changes again.

The 3-to-6-month window is one of the most dynamic periods of the first year. Your baby moves from four naps a day to three, from 7–8 feedings to 5–6, through the 4-month sleep disruption, and — by somewhere in this stretch — is likely beginning solid foods. The schedule that worked perfectly at 13 weeks won’t look anything like the schedule at 26 weeks. That’s not failure; it’s progress.

This post gives you the full picture: what’s developmentally happening at each stage, what to expect from feeding and sleep, and real week-by-week sample schedules from three different Babywise babies — Kaitlyn, McKenna, and Brinley — so you can see just how much variation is normal and find a benchmark that resonates with where your baby is right now.

What’s in this guide

1. 3–6 Month Schedule At a Glance
2. What Changes During This Period
3. Feeding: 3–6 Months
4. Sleep and Naps: 3–6 Months
5. The 4-Month Sleep Disruption
6. Starting Solid Foods
7. Developmental Milestones
8. Sample Schedules: Weeks 13–16
9. Sample Schedules: Weeks 17–20
10. Sample Schedules: Weeks 21–24
11. Sample Schedules: Weeks 25–29
12. Frequently Asked Questions

3–6 Month Schedule At a Glance

This table gives you the benchmark ranges for this entire period. Use it as a general orientation — your baby’s exact numbers will shift week by week within these ranges.

Category	3 Months (Wk 13)	4 Months (Wk 17)	5 Months (Wk 21)	6 Months (Wk 26)
Feedings per day	6–8	5–6	4-6	4–5
Feed interval	2.5–3 hrs	3–4 hrs	3–4 hrs	3.5–4 hrs
Naps per day	4	3–4	3	2–3
Morning wake window	45–75 min	60–90 min	75–105 min	90–120 min
Night sleep	8–10 hrs	10–12 hrs	10–12 hrs	10–12 hrs
Dreamfeed?	Yes (most)	Yes (many)	Tapering	Often dropped
Solids?	No	No	Some babies	Yes (most)
Bedtime	7:00–8:30 PM	7:00–8:00 PM	7:00–8:00 PM	7:00–8:00 PM

📌 These are ranges, not targets

Each baby in this post ran on a slightly different schedule. Kaitlyn, McKenna, and Brinley all developed on their own timelines within these ranges. If your baby is at 5 feedings at 13 weeks or still on 4 naps at 5 months, that is within normal variation. Use these numbers as a compass, not a rulebook.

>>>Read: Optimal Waketime Lengths

What Changes During This Period

The 3-to-6-month window involves more structural schedule changes than almost any other period in the first year. Here’s a quick map of what’s shifting and roughly when:

~13–15 wks

Baby is on a roughly 2.5–3 hour feeding schedule with 4 naps and a dreamfeed. Wake windows are still short (45–75 minutes–some babies might do 90 minutes). Night sleep is lengthening but may still include one early morning feed around 4–6 AM. Things are starting to feel predictable, but not yet fully consolidated.

~16–18 wks

The 4-month sleep disruption arrives for many babies. This isn’t a regression so much as a permanent shift in sleep architecture. Naps that were solid may become erratic, and night wakings can increase temporarily. The feeding schedule begins stretching toward 3–3.5 hours for many babies.

~19–22 wks

Things begin to stabilize after the 4-month disruption. Many babies drop to 3 naps around this time as wake windows lengthen to 75–105 minutes. The dreamfeed may start to feel less productive as baby’s overnight stretch solidifies. Some babies start solids in this window if they show readiness signs.

~23–26 wks

Moving toward a 3.5–4 hour schedule. Solids become more established. The dreamfeed is dropped for most babies by or during this window. Some babies begin transitioning toward 2 naps, though the average age for that transition is closer to 7–8 months — don’t rush it.

~27–29 wks

By 6 months, most babies are on 4–5 feedings including 3 solid meals, 2–3 naps, and sleeping 10–12 hours overnight. Wake windows are 90–120 minutes. The schedule is noticeably more spacious and predictable than the newborn period. Independent playtime is expanding.

Feeding: 3–6 Months

The feeding schedule during this period shifts from frequent, short intervals to longer, more consolidated feeds. The key transition is from a 2.5–3 hour schedule toward a 3–4 hour schedule by 6 months. Here’s what to know about navigating that transition:

Feed interval and frequency

At 13 weeks, most babies are still feeding every 2.5–3 hours, which typically means 6–7 feeds in a day. By 6 months, most are on a 3.5–4 hour schedule with 4–5 feeds. The transition happens gradually — don’t try to push the interval if your baby is still hungry. Hunger at night is the most reliable sign that the daytime interval is being extended too quickly.

One important principle during this window: do not extend your daytime schedule until nighttime sleep is solid. If baby is still waking in the night to feed, she likely needs more calories in the day. Extending to a 4-hour daytime schedule while baby still has a genuine nighttime need sets everyone up for frustration.

The dreamfeed

Most babies in this age range are still on a dreamfeed — a late-evening feeding (typically 10:00–10:30 PM) offered while baby is drowsy or lightly asleep. The dreamfeed’s purpose is to top baby off so she doesn’t wake hungry in the early morning hours.

During this period, you’ll likely notice the dreamfeed becoming progressively less necessary. Signs that it’s time to start tapering: baby takes very little at the dreamfeed, baby is waking anyway despite the dreamfeed, or baby is so deeply asleep that she won’t latch or take a bottle at all. Kaitlyn essentially refused to wake for it, and that’s how it was dropped. You can either drop it cold turkey or slowly reduce the amount offered over a week or two.

Starting solid foods

The AAP currently recommends introducing solid foods around 6 months, though some babies show readiness signs as early as 4–5 months. Signs of readiness include: sitting with support, showing interest in food, loss of the tongue-thrust reflex, and the ability to move food to the back of the mouth. Always consult your pediatrician before beginning solids.

When you do start, solids at this age are about exploration and expanding taste exposure — not replacing milk. Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition through the first year. Start with single-ingredient purees: rice cereal mixed with breast milk, then simple fruits and vegetables one at a time. Wait 3–4 days between new foods to identify any reactions.

>>>Read: Baby’s Feeding Schedule With Solid Foods

💡 On solid food amounts in the schedules below

The schedules in this post include specific tablespoon amounts of solids (e.g., “2 T oatmeal, 4 T bananas”). These are real records from real weeks — not prescriptions. Don’t get fixated on hitting exact amounts. Offer food, let baby guide how much she takes, and increase gradually. Solid food amounts vary enormously from baby to baby and week to week.

Sleep and Naps: 3–6 Months

Nap count: moving from 4 to 3

At 13 weeks, most Babywise babies are on 4 naps a day. By 5 months, they should be down to 3. The fourth nap is typically an early evening nap that gradually shortens and then disappears as the baby’s wake window grows long enough to bridge from the third nap to bedtime.

The transition from 4 naps to 3 is usually gradual — the fourth nap becomes shorter and shorter until one day it simply isn’t needed. Watch for the fourth nap consistently taking 45 minutes or less, or baby consistently resisting it, as signs she’s ready to consolidate.

Wake windows

Wake windows are the single most important scheduling tool during this period. The morning wake window is the shortest of the day (because morning waking is a continuation of night sleep), and each subsequent window is slightly longer. Here are approximate wake windows for this age range:

Age	Morning wake window	Middle wake windows	Evening wake window
3 months	45–75 min	60–75 min	60–75 min
4 months	60–90 min	75–90 min	75–90 min
5 months	75–105 min	90–105 min	90–105 min
6 months	90–120 min	105–120 min	105–120 min

These are starting points. Always combine clock-watching with baby’s sleepy cues: eye rubbing, yawning, decreased activity, staring. The cues should confirm the clock — if baby is showing cues well before the window ends, she’s likely overtired from an earlier missed or short nap.

>>>Read: Wake Time Length (Wake Windows)

Nap length

A good nap at this age is 1.5–2 hours. A 45-minute nap indicates baby woke at the end of one sleep cycle rather than transitioning into a second. If short naps are consistent, the most likely causes are: wake window slightly off, baby not yet able to self-settle between cycles, or a sleep environment issue (light, noise, temperature). See the Complete Guide to Troubleshooting Short Naps for a full workthrough.

Overnight sleep

By 4 months, many (not all) babies are developmentally capable of sleeping 10–12 hours overnight without a true nutritional need to feed. Some babies won’t reach this milestone until closer to 6 months, and that is completely normal. If baby is still waking to feed at night, the first question to ask is whether daytime calories are sufficient before assuming a sleep training issue.

The 4-Month Sleep Disruption

Around 16–17 weeks, many babies who had been sleeping beautifully suddenly seem to go backward. Naps become unpredictable, night sleep fragments, and the schedule that was working stops working. This is sometimes called the “4-month sleep regression,” but calling it a regression is a bit misleading — it’s actually a permanent developmental change.

>>>Read: Everything You Need To Know About Wonder Week 19

At around 4 months, baby’s sleep architecture shifts to become more adult-like. She now moves through clearly defined light and deep sleep cycles, with partial wakings between cycles. Before this shift, she could often pass through those transitions unconsciously. Now, she’s aware enough to fully wake between cycles — and she doesn’t yet know how to get herself back to sleep without your help.

This is, paradoxically, good news: it’s the optimal window to work on independent sleep skills, because the skill she’s developing now (self-settling between cycles) is the skill that will carry her through the rest of childhood.

⚠️ What not to do during the 4-month disruption

The most common mistake is to drop the morning nap because baby is suddenly resisting it. Don’t. Nap resistance during this window is almost always temporary — baby is in a transition, not ready to consolidate. Hold the schedule, focus on independent sleep skills during the day, and give it 2–4 weeks to settle. Dropping naps prematurely during this window makes everything worse.

The schedules in weeks 17–19 below show what this looks like in real life: McKenna’s schedule in particular shows the slight irregularity and adjustment that happens during this window, with wake times shifting and the schedule taking a few weeks to re-settle into consistency.

Starting Solid Foods (5–6 Months)

The schedules from weeks 20 onward include solid foods alongside milk feeds. Here’s how to think about integrating solids into your existing schedule:

Timing: offer solids after the milk feed, not before. Milk is still the primary nutrition source, so you don’t want solids to reduce milk intake by taking the edge off hunger before the feed. Offering solids 30–60 minutes after a milk feed, or at a separate time entirely, works well for many families.

Start with 1–3 meals a day. Most families start with one solid meal (usually morning or midday) and add a second and then third over the following weeks. By 6 months, three solid meals per day alongside milk feeds is typical.

First foods and progression. Single-ingredient iron-fortified cereals (oatmeal is gentler than rice for most babies), simple fruit purees (bananas, pears, peaches, applesauce), and simple vegetable purees (sweet potato, squash, green beans, peas) are all good starting points. The schedules below show exactly how McKenna and Brinley progressed — from a tablespoon or two of oatmeal in the early weeks to multiple foods at multiple meals by week 26.

Watch for reactions. Introduce one new food at a time and wait 3–4 days before introducing the next. Common early reactions include rashes, changes in stool, or excessive gas. Always check with your pediatrician if you’re unsure.

🥄 A word on the amounts in the schedules

You’ll see detailed tablespoon amounts in the schedules from week 20 onward. These are Valerie’s personal records — helpful as a reference point but not meant to be followed precisely. Some babies eat more, some eat less. A baby who eats 1 T of oatmeal at 4 months and a baby who eats 4 T are both fine. Follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues.

Developmental Milestones: 3–6 Months

Understanding what’s developing during this period helps explain many of the schedule shifts you’ll see. Developmental leaps can temporarily disrupt naps and overnight sleep — knowing they’re coming makes them easier to weather.

Age	Physical	Cognitive / Social	Sleep impact
3 months	Better head control, begins pushing up during tummy time, hands to mouth	Social smiling, tracking objects, recognizes caregivers, coos and “talks”	Relatively stable; circadian rhythm solidifying
4 months	Rolling tummy-to-back, grasping objects, reaching	Laughs, recognizes own name, increased curiosity about surroundings	Sleep architecture shift — temporary disruption common
5 months	Rolling both directions, beginning to sit with support, transfers objects hand-to-hand	Babbling, mirrors facial expressions, beginning cause-and-effect awareness	Teething can begin; practice of new motor skills can disrupt naps
6 months	Sitting independently (many), beginning to bear weight on legs, raking grasp	Object permanence developing, stranger awareness, imitates sounds	Increasingly stable if routine is consistent; ready for 2-nap transition soon

🌙 New skills and sleep

When babies learn a new physical skill — rolling, sitting, pulling — they often practice it obsessively, including in the crib. A baby who has just learned to roll may roll onto her tummy in the crib and then not know how to get back, waking frustrated. This typically resolves within 1–2 weeks once the skill becomes automatic. In the meantime, make sure baby has plenty of practice time on the floor during wake time.

Sample Schedules: Weeks 13–16 (3 Months)

At 13–16 weeks, babies are typically on 4–5 naps with a 2.5–3 hour feeding interval and a late dreamfeed. Wake windows are short (45–75 minutes). The evening often includes a short catnap before the final feed and bedtime. One early morning feeding (4–6 AM) is still common for many babies at this age.

Note that McKenna’s week 14 schedule shows a slight irregularity because of a time change between weeks 13 and 14 — a good reminder that disruptions happen and schedules recalibrate.

Week 13

Kaitlyn

• 7:30 AM Nurse
• 8:30 AM Nap
• 10:30 AM Nurse
• 11:30 AM Nap
• 1:00 PM Nurse
• 2:00 PM Nap
• 4:00 PM Nurse
• 5:00 PM Nap
• 6:30 PM Nurse
• 7:30 PM Bed
• 10:00 PM Dreamfeed then bed
• ~6:00 AM Night feed Dropped around 4 months

McKenna

• 8:00 AM Eat
• 8:50 AMNap
• 11:00 AM Eat
• 12:00 PM Nap
• 2:00 PM Eat
• 3:00 PM Nap
• 4:30 PM Eat
• 5:30 PM Nap
• 6:30–7:00 PM Eat then bed
• 10:00 PM Dreamfeed
• 5:30–6:00 AM Night feed (every other night)

Brinley

• 8:10 AM Feed
• 9:10 AMNap
• 11:30 AM Feed
• 12:20 PM Nap
• 3:00 PM Feed
• 3:50 PM Nap
• 6:00 PM Feed
• 7:00 PM Nap
• 8:00 PM Feed, then bedtime
• 10:15 PM Dreamfeed

Weeks 14–16

McKenna — Wk 14

• 8:00 AM Eat
• 8:50 AM Nap
• 11:00 AM Eat (sometimes 1:30)
• 12:00 PM Nap
• 2:00 PM Eat
• 3:00 PM Nap
• 4:30 PM Eat
• 5:40–5:50 PM NapShorter at this time of day now
• 7:00 PM Eat then straight to bed
• 10:00–10:30 PM Dreamfeed
• ~5:30 AM Night feed (one side)

Brinley — Wks 14–16

Note on week 14: A time change fell between weeks 13 and 14 — this explains why the schedules look dramatically different from week 13. Time changes can shift a baby’s rhythm by 30–60 minutes and may take 1–2 weeks to recalibrate.

• 7:30 AM Feed
• 8:30 AM Nap
• 11:00 AM Feed
• 12:00 PM Nap
• 2:00–2:30 PM Feed
• 3:00 PM Nap (1 hr after waking)
• 5:00–5:30 PM Feed
• 6:30 PM Nap (1 hr after waking)
• 7:30 PM Feed, then bedtime
• 9:45 PM Dreamfeed

McKenna — Wk 15

• 7:00 AM EatRange 6:45–7:15
• 7:50 AM Nap
• 10:30 AM Eat
• 11:30 AM Nap
• 1:30 PM Eat
• 2:35 PM Nap
• 4:00–4:30 PM Eat
• 5:15–5:45 PM Nap
• 7:00 PM Eat then straight to bed
• 10:00 PM Dreamfeed

Sample Schedules: Weeks 17–20 (4 Months)

Week 17 marks the four-month milestone and with it, possible sleep disruption. Kaitlyn’s schedule at this age shows she had already moved to solids three times a day. McKenna’s schedule during this window still shows some irregularity — the 4-month disruption in action. Brinley’s schedule shows a slightly different wake-time pattern and longer intervals by week 17.

Key things happening at 4 months: babies move to 4–6 feedings per day, bedtime settles into the 7:00–8:00 PM window, and independent playtime (blanket time) can begin. By week 20, McKenna had started rice cereal and sweet potatoes.

Week 17 — Four Months

Kaitlyn

• 7:30 AM Nurse + solids
• 8:30 AM Nap
• 10:30 AM Nurse
• 11:30 AM Nap
• 1:30 PM Nurse + solids
• 2:30 PM Nap
• 4:30 PM Nurse
• 6:30 PM Nurse + solids then bed
• 9:45 PM Dreamfeed, then bed. Beginning to move back to drop it

McKenna

• 5:30–6:00 AM Eat (one side)
• 8:00 AM Wake and eat
• 8:50 AM Nap
• 11:00 AM Eat
• 12:00 PM Nap
• 2:00 PM Eat
• 3:00 PM Nap
• 4:30 PM Eat
• 5:45 PM Nap
• 7:00 PM Eat then straight to bed
• 10:00 PM Dreamfeed

Brinley

• 7:30 AM Feed
• 8:35 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Feed
• 12:45 PM Nap
• 2:30 PM Feed
• 3:45 PM Nap
• 5:00–5:30 PM Feed
• 6:30 PM Nap (80 min after waking)
• 7:30 PM Feed then bedtime
• 9:45 PM Dreamfeed

Week 20

Solids begin: By week 20, McKenna had started rice cereal and sweet potatoes. Brinley’s schedule shows solids at three feeds per day by this point.

McKenna

• 7:15 AM Wake, nurse, rice cereal
• 8:10 AM Nap
• 10:30 AM Nurse + rice
• 11:30 AM Nap
• 1:30–2:00 PM Nurse
• 2:40–3:10 PM Nap (70–90 min later)
• 4:40–5:00 PM Nurse + sweet potatoes
• 7:00–7:20 PM Nurse then straight to bed
• 10:30 PM Dreamfeed

Brinley

• 7:30 AM Feed + solids
• 8:45 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Feed + solids
• 1:00 PM Nap
• 3:30 PM Feed
• 5:00 PM Nap
• 5:30 PM Feed + solids
• 7:30 PMF eed then bedtime

Sample Schedules: Weeks 21–24 (5 Months)

By 5 months, schedules look meaningfully different from week 13. McKenna is now on 3 naps with longer wake windows (75–90 minutes between feeds). Solids are established at multiple meals. The dreamfeed is starting to taper for some babies. Brinley’s schedule shows a very consistent 3-nap pattern by this point.

Week 24 shows McKenna on an unusually flexible schedule due to house renovations — a good example of how a well-established routine can adapt to disruptions while staying generally on track.

Week 21 — Five Months

McKenna

• 7:30 AM Wake, nurse, solids1T rice + 4T bananas
• 8:30 AM Nap
• 11:00–11:30 AM Nurse + solids
• 12:00–12:30 PM Nap
• 2:00–2:30 PM Nurse
• 3:15–3:45 PM Nap (75–90 min later)
• 4:30–5:00 PM Nurse + solidsSweet potatoes
• 7:00 PM Nurse then straight to bed

Brinley

• 7:30 AM Feed + solidsHalf banana + 2T oatmeal
• 8:45 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Feed + solids4T pears + 2T oatmeal
• 1:00 PM Nap
• 3:30 PM Feed
• 5:00 PM Nap
• 5:30 PM Feed + solidsBanana + oatmeal + sweet potato
• 7:30 PM Feed then bedtime

Weeks 22–24

McKenna — Wk 22

• 8:00 AM Wake, nurse, 2T oatmeal + 2T fruit
• 9:00 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Wake, nurse, veggie + fruit
• 12:30 PM Nap
• 3:00 PM Wake, nurse
• 4:30 PM Nap
• 5:30 PM Wake, nurse, fruit + veggie + oatmeal
• 7:30 PM Nurse then bed
• 10:20 PM Dreamfeed

McKenna — Wk 24

• 8:00 AM Wake, nurse, fruit + oatmeal
• 9:00 AM Nap
• 12:00 PM Wake, nurse, peas + banana3-hr nap this week
• 1:15–1:30 PM Nap
• 4:00 PM Wake, nurse, yellow veggie + fruit + oatmeal
• 6:00 PM Nap
• 8:00 PM Wake, nurse then bed
• 10:20–10:30 PM Dreamfeed

Brinley — Wks 22–24

• 7:30 AM Feed + solids
• 8:45 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Feed + solids
• 1:00 PM Nap
• 3:30 PM Feed
• 5:00 PM Nap
• 5:30 PM Feed + solidsAlternating squash / sweet potato
• 7:30 PM Feed then bedtime

Sample Schedules: Weeks 25–29 (6 Months)

By 6 months, the schedule has opened up considerably. Kaitlyn dropped the dreamfeed at week 26. McKenna is on a clear 3-nap schedule with 3 full solid meals. Brinley’s schedule shows a slightly later start time. Feeding intervals are approaching 3.5–4 hours. Note that some babies this age will start showing signs of readiness to move to 2 naps — but the average age for that transition is 7–8 months, so don’t rush it.

Week 26 — Six Months

Kaitlyn

• 7:30 AM Nurse + solids
• 8:45 AM Nap
• 11:00 AM Nurse
• 12:15 PM Nap
• 2:00 PM Nurse + solids
• 3:15 PM Nap
• 5:00 PM Nurse
• 7:00 PM Nurse + solids then bed
• —No dreamfeed. Dropped this week — started refusing it

McKenna

• 8:00 AM Wake, nurse, fruit + oatmeal
• 9:10 AM Nap
• 12:00 PM Wake, nurse, green veggie + banana
• 1:30 PM Nap
• 4:00 PM Wake, nurse, yellow veggie + fruit + oatmeal
• 6:00 PM Nap
• 8:00 PM Wake, nurse, PJs, story, bed
• 10:10 PM Dreamfeed

Brinley

• 7:30 AM Feed + solids
• 8:45 AM Nap
• 11:30 AM Feed + solids
• 1:00 PM Nap
• 3:45 PM Feed
• 5:15 PM Nap
• 6:00 PM Solids
• 7:30 PM Feed, then bedtime

Weeks 27–29

McKenna — Wk 28–29

• 8:15–8:20 AM Wake, nurse, fruit + oatmeal
• 9:20–9:30 AM Nap
• 12:15–12:20 PM Wake, nurse, green veggie + fruit
• 2:00 PM Nap
• 4:30 PM Wake, nurse, orange/yellow veggie + fruit
• 6:00–6:30 PM Nap
• 7:50–8:00 PM Wake, nurse, PJs, story, bed
• 10:00 PM Dreamfeed (half the week in wk 28)

Brinley — Wks 27–29

• 8:00 AM Feed + solidsPrunes + oatmeal; sometimes yogurt
• 9:15–9:20 AM Nap
• 12:00 PM Feed + solidsPears/peaches + oatmeal + green beans/peas
• 1:30 PM Nap
• 4:00 PM Feed + solidsBanana + oatmeal + squash or sweet potato
• 5:30 PM Nap
• 7:30 PM Feed, then bedtime

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Frequently Asked Questions

My 3-month-old is still waking once at night. Is that normal?

Yes — completely. Many babies at 13–16 weeks still have one early morning feeding (typically between 4–6 AM) that they genuinely need. This is not a sleep problem. As daytime feeding becomes more efficient and consolidated, most babies drop this feed on their own between 3.5 and 5 months. Kaitlyn dropped her early morning feed around 4 months; McKenna still had occasional nights with one early feeding through week 17. Focus on getting daytime calories in and the night feed will typically resolve itself.

How do I know when to extend the feeding interval from 3 to 3.5 or 4 hours?

The clearest sign is baby being consistently uninterested in feeding at the usual time — turning away, not nursing efficiently, or drinking much less than usual. Another sign is baby naturally stretching herself by waking later or sleeping through a scheduled feed. Don’t extend the interval just because another baby the same age is on a longer schedule; extend when your baby shows she’s ready. And as noted above, don’t extend the daytime schedule while nighttime waking is still happening — solve the night first.

When should I drop the dreamfeed?

Most babies are ready to drop the dreamfeed somewhere between 4 and 6 months, but the timing varies (some are even older!). Signs it’s time: baby takes very little at the dreamfeed, baby is too deeply asleep to latch well, or baby is sleeping through to morning anyway with or without it. Kaitlyn essentially refused to wake for it and that was the natural end. You can drop it cold turkey or reduce the amount gradually over a week. Don’t drop it while baby is still waking in the early morning unless you’re confident she doesn’t need the calories.

What is the 4-month sleep regression and how long does it last?

Around 16–17 weeks, baby’s sleep architecture permanently shifts to become more adult-like — with clearly defined light and deep sleep cycles. This means she now wakes more fully between sleep cycles. It’s not truly a regression; it’s a developmental change that requires her to learn (or re-learn) how to self-settle between cycles. The acute disruption typically lasts 2–4 weeks. The best response is to focus on independent sleep skills during the day — don’t drop naps, don’t make dramatic schedule changes, and give it time to settle.

When should I start solid foods?

The AAP currently recommends around 6 months, though some babies show readiness signs earlier. The key readiness signs are: sitting with support, good head and neck control, showing interest in food, and loss of the tongue-thrust reflex. Always check with your pediatrician before starting. The schedules in this post show McKenna beginning rice cereal at week 20 and Brinley starting slightly earlier — both were showing readiness signs at that time. Earlier is not always better; starting too soon before readiness can make the experience frustrating for everyone.

How many naps should my baby be taking at 5 months?

Three naps is typical at 5 months. Most babies transition from 4 naps to 3 somewhere between 3.5 and 5 months as wake windows lengthen. By 5 months, a fourth nap is usually no longer needed. The transition to 2 naps typically comes later — average is around 7–8 months, though some babies are ready as early as 6 months. Don’t try to push to 2 naps at 5 months; the schedule will tell you when it’s time.

My baby’s schedule doesn’t match any of the samples in this post. Am I doing something wrong?

Almost certainly not. The schedules in this post represent three different babies — and even between them, the variation is significant. Kaitlyn had a 7:30 AM start time; McKenna ran on an 8:00 AM start; Brinley’s week 27 schedule starts at 8:00 AM. Wake times, interval lengths, and nap timing all vary by baby. What matters is that the underlying structure is sound: feedings are frequent enough that baby isn’t hungry, wake windows are appropriate for the age, nap count matches developmental stage, and bedtime is consistent. The specific times on the clock are far less important than the pattern.

Conclusion

Three to six months is a period of constant motion. The schedule that works perfectly one week will need adjusting the next as your baby’s wake windows lengthen, her nap count drops, and her nutritional needs evolve. That isn’t a sign that things are going wrong — it’s exactly what healthy development looks like.

Use the sample schedules in this post as benchmarks, not blueprints. Look for the pattern that matches where your baby is right now, identify what’s likely coming next, and adjust gradually rather than all at once. The goal isn’t to hit exact times — it’s to understand the logic well enough that you can adapt confidently as your baby keeps growing.

By the time you reach 6 months, you’ll look back at the newborn chaos and realize how far you’ve come. The schedule will keep changing, but so will you.

Related posts

• Schedule Overview: The Newborn Weeks
• Babywise First Year Overview
• Reader Sample Schedules 0–12 Months
• Sample Schedules: 9 Months Old
• The Vital Importance of the Morning Nap
• Dropping the Morning Nap: Full Guide
• The Basics of the Dreamfeed
• Cluster Feeding Guide
• Baby Wake Windows by Age
• Optimal Wake Time Lengths
• Troubleshooting Short Baby Naps
• Starting Solid Foods: Finger Foods Basics

This post first appeared on this blog in June of 2016