Babies (3–12 months): Sleep varies widely. Expect frequent waking, teething disruptions, and changing routines. Gentle soothing and safe sleep practices are key.

Toddlers & Young Children: Consistent routines help children feel secure. Bedtime rituals like bath, story time, and cuddles support restful sleep.

Teenagers: Puberty shifts sleep patterns. Late nights and weekend lie-ins are common. Watch for signs of sleep deprivation like irritability, mood swings, and memory issues.

Your baby will wake frequently to feed in the early days and weeks and while this is tiring for parents it is entirely normal. Talk to your midwife or Health Visitor for tips on how to manage this stage or find out more about baby sleep from Basis, the baby sleep information source

Recreational drugs or alcohol can impair your ability to care for your baby safely, and some medications may make you very drowsy.

It’s important not to co-sleep with your baby if you have taken medication, used drugs, or consumed alcohol, as this significantly increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

It’s dangerous to take illegal drugs while you’re breastfeeding or, indeed, at any time. They can affect your ability to look after your baby safely and can be passed on to your baby through your breast milk so It’s important to talk to a midwife, health visitor or GP if you’re using them.

Every baby is different, and sleep can vary a lot in the first year. Whether your little one is waking frequently, teething, or adjusting to a new routine, we’ve got you covered. Learn what’s typical at each stage, discover gentle ways to soothe your baby, and explore safe sleep tips to help everyone get a better night’s rest.

Typical sleep by age:

3-6 months: 8-17 hours per day.
6-9 months: 14-15 hours per day, including 1-3 daytime naps.
9-12 months: 13-14 hours per day, including at least 1 daytime nap.

3-6 months

• Your baby at this age is developing at a fast rate. They may wake more frequently at night for a feed. This is often due to a growth spurt, which can last for a few days.
• Growth and development of your baby during this time can affect your baby’s sleep pattern.
• Other things that can affect your baby’s sleep include teething and illness.
• By 5 months, a baby could be sleeping up to 8 hours. To support your baby’s sleep, it’s important to try to reduce over-stimulation by having a soothing bedtime. Keep the bedroom dark and use a quiet, soothing voice. This will help your baby recognise the difference between night-time and daytime.

Source: Solihull NHS Foundation Trust

6-12 months

As your baby continues to grow, it’s helpful to know the things that can affect their sleep and how you can support them to develop good sleeping habits.

What can affect sleep at this age?

• Artificial light can stimulate your baby’s brain, making it hard for them to sleep.
• Medical problems (e.g. reflux).
• Minor ailments (e.g. coughs, colds, etc.).
• Teething.
• Growth spurts.
• Changes in routine (e.g. holidays, moving house, parent returning to work, etc.).
• Going into their own room (e.g. at 6 months).

Safe sleeping advice

• Put your child on their back for every sleep, in a clear,
• flat sleep space (free of bumpers, toys, pillows and loose
• bedding). Keep them smoke free day and night.

Source: Safe sleeping advice, Lullaby Trust

Things to try

• Try to have a structure or routine to your day.
• Keep the bedroom dark (e.g. use blackout blinds or curtains).
• Use a quiet voice during settling-down time.
• Limit stimulation before the bedroom routine starts.

Note: It’s normal for babies at this age to still wake during the night.

A consistent bedtime routine can make all the difference. From evening meals to story time, we’ll guide you through a calm and comforting wind-down that helps your child feel safe, settled, and ready for sleep. There are a range of things that you can do to help develop a good sleep routine with your child.

Things to try:

• Keep to a regular bedtime for your child.
• Wake your child at a regular hour each morning.
• Try not to let your child have a nap in the afternoon after 2.30pm.
• Avoid stimulating activities one hour before bedtime. These include TV, tablets, phones, game consoles, etc. The light from these devices can over stimulate your child, making it harder for them to fall asleep.
• Avoid drinks such as fizzy, hot chocolate, tea and coffee before bedtime. Offer your child some warm milk instead.
• Make sure that your child does not go to bed hungry. Avoid foods that are high in sugar or caffeine. If they are hungry, offer them a healthy snack.
• Make sure your child’s bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a suitable temperature. Use quiet voices once in the bedroom.
• Keep your child’s bedroom free of distractions, ideally with any toys in a box, and no electronic devices.
• Keep other noises in the home to a minimum, such as loud TV or music.
• Help your child to fall asleep alone in their bed, without you being there.

Source: Sleep Scotland

Here is an example of a good bedtime routine:

5.30pm Evening meal.
6.00pm Play time.
6.30pm Quiet play: e.g. jigsaw puzzles, train set. A healthy snack if needed.
7.00pm Relaxing bath time.
7.20pm Pyjamas on. Teeth cleaned and into bed.
7.30pm Story time.

See our ‘Five magic kisses’ information for additional ideas to help support your child’s bedtime routine.

Sometimes, sleep difficulties are your child’s way of telling you something. This gentle guide helps you tune into what might be going on behind bedtime battles. Here are some possibilities:

• It’s too noisy / quiet.
• I’m too cold / hot.
• I’m hungry / wet.
• My ears / teeth / tummy hurts.
• I need a cuddle / I want Mummy.
• I’m scared / I had a bad dream.
• I had too much screentime before bed.
• My nose is blocked.
• I don’t like the dark.
• Teddy has gone and I’m sad.
• I’m too excited.
• I’m not tired – I had a a long nap earlier.
• Where am I? I fell asleep on the sofa.

Source: Solihull Approach

A good night starts with a good day. Children thrive on routine, and having a predictable rhythm helps them feel safe and settled. These golden rules offer gentle guidance to help your child wind down and drift off peacefully.

It can help if things happen roughly in the same order and at the same sort of time each day.

Things to know

• After 6 months, most children don’t need milk during the night. Offer water instead.
• Bedrooms should be in darkness or low lighting.
• You should use a quiet voice at night-time.
• Put you child to bed awake so they can learn to self-soothe.
• A good bedtime routine could look like: Quiet play, bath time, teeth-cleaning, story, sleep.
• Having a favourite soft toy or book may help to support your child to go to sleep.
• You may need to return to your child from time to time, for reassurance.
• If your child wakes during the night, try not to take them out of their cot or bed.

See our ‘Good sleep routine’ and ‘Five magic kisses’ information for additional ideas to help support your child’s bedtime routine.

Children can be anxious about being alone in their bedroom. They will get
out of bed to reassure themselves that you are still there.

Five magic kisses is a useful technique to try.

Step 1:

Tell your child that there are five kisses, the last one is magic, and that it lasts all night. After you are finished with your bedtime routine, put your child into bed and give them their first kiss. Tell them you will be back in a few minutes for their second kiss.

Step 2:

Return to your child and give them kiss number two. Tell them you will be back in a few minutes for kiss number three. At this point, make the time in-between kisses slightly longer.

Step 3:

Return to your child and give kiss number three. Increase the amount of time in between kisses by the amount you think your child can manage.

Step 4:

Repeat for kiss number four.

Step 5:

When you return for kiss number five, also leave something that represents the fifth kiss that will last all night, for example, a soft toy. If your child is asleep by the fifth kiss, you can leave the toy with them and when the child wakes, they will know that you came back and gave them the fifth kiss.

If, during this process, the child gets out of bed to find you, return them to their room and remind them that they do not need to get out of bed as you will be back to kiss them.

It’s important to be a boring parent at bedtimes and during the night.

Keep to a quiet voice and low lighting, so the child recognises that it’s night-time and not playtime.

At the beginning you may need the five kisses to be close together, so that your child is able to stay in bed long enough to learn that you will come back. As their confidence grows, you will be able to increase the time between kisses.

As with all techniques, you will need to be consistent and do the same thing every night.

Source attribution: Sleep Scotland

Sleepwalking can happen at any age, from the time a child learns to crawl or walk. In this scenario, there is little to be gained by waking your child.

Things to try:

• Check on your child to be sure they are not injuring themself.
• Talk quietly and calmly to them. They may follow your instructions and return to bed.
• If they do not seem upset when you touch them, you should be able to lead them back to bed calmly. They may want to stop at the bathroom to urinate.
• Although you may be able to wake them, nothing is gained and there is no point in trying

Things to consider:

• Make sure your child get’s enough sleep. It may be worth considering an earlier bedtime. Restart a nap if it was stopped without good reason.
• Try to keep daily routines and sleep fairly regular and consistent.

Agitated sleepwalking:

• If the agitation is marked, restraint will only make the event more intense and longer-lasting.
• Keep your distance. Only hold them if they are starting to do something dangerous.
• When they calm, treat them as you would a calm sleepwalker.

Professional help may be considered if events are frequent and linked to known stresses, or if significant and persistent stresses are present. Contact your 0 to 19 health visiting or school nursing team.

Source: Solihull Approach

Nightmares can be very distressing for parents but it can help to know that they are normal and will usually pass in time.

This may present as extended periods of crying, sobbing, and moaning with wild thrashing. It is typically seen in children aged 6 months to 6 years.

What to do:

• Do not try to wake them.
• Let the screaming subside and then simply let your child return to sleep.
• Do not embarrass them if they wake fully.
• If there is wild running or risk of injury, you may have to intervene, but be careful as both of you could be injured.
• Talk calmly and block access to dangerous areas. Holding may be very difficult and lead to even wilder behaviour.
• Talk to your child during the day and listen out for any worries they may have.

Watch for the relaxation and calm that signals the end of the episode.
Help them to lie down and let them go back to sleep. Don’t make them feel strange or different.

Guidance:

Nightmares and night terrors – how to tell them apart:

Professional help may be considered if events are frequent and linked to known stresses, or if significant and persistent stresses are present. Contact your 0 to 19 health visiting or school nursing team.

Source: Solihull Approach, 2019

Night terrors are most commonly reported between the ages of 3 to 8 years old.

These can include screaming, a look of panic and fear, and possibly wild running. The child may cry out, talk, moan in a seemingly-nonsensical way, and may have a glazed expression.

Source: Solihull Approach

What to do:

• Do not try to wake them.
• Wait for the screaming to subside and then simply let your child return to sleep. They will be able to relax quite quickly and will have no memory of the night terror.
• Do not embarrass them if they wake fully.
• If there is wild running or risk of injury, you may have to intervene, but be careful as both of you could be injured.
• Talk calmly and block access to dangerous areas. Avoid holding them as this can lead to even wilder behaviour.
• Try to stay calm yourself. The most difficult aspect of a night terror is the fact that the child’s sudden arousal, characteristic of night terrors, also wakes you up with alarm and without warning. It is you who is more likely to be in distress, not your child.

Guidance: 

Nightmares and night terrors – how to tell them apart:

Source: Solihull Approach, 2019

Professional help may be considered if events are frequent and linked to known stresses, or if significant and persistent stresses are present. Contact your 0 to 19 health visiting or school nursing team.

• Five Magic Kisses: A comforting bedtime routine that builds trust and helps children feel secure.
• Use soft toys, quiet voices, and gentle touch to soothe bedtime worries.
• Be a “boring parent” at night to avoid overstimulation and encourage sleep.

Sleep deprivation and young people

Look out for signs and symptoms of sleep deprivation during puberty and throughout adolescence. These may include:

• Difficulty getting to sleep (often not before 1-2am).
• Difficulty getting up in the morning.
• Wanting to stay in bed all day at the weekends.
• Irritability.
• Mood swings.
• Decreased confidence.
• Impaired judgement.
• Impaired memory which affects learning.

Sleep Scotland have created a short video on sleep that you can share with parents and young people to help when thinking about changing sleep habits. Running time of 15 minutes.

Whether or not you decide you need help will depend on the intensity and persistence of your child’s sleep problem. Consider help with:

• Persistent nightmares.
• Bedwetting.
• Bed soiling (nocturnal encopresis).
• Smearing.
• Persistent fear associated with going to bed.
• Lack of progress.
• Something that you feel is too complex for you.

If you’re looking for extra help with your child’s sleep, emotional wellbeing, or parenting challenges, Torbay family Hub website and Digital Services has free, expert-led resources available 24/7.

Explore support now:
Torbay Family Hub website
Email: 0 to 19 Torbay
Call: 0300 333 5352 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)
Ask at your local Family Hub for in-person support and signposting

• Parent Talk by Action for Children, advice and chat to a trained practitioner
• Sleep tips for teenagers from Sleep Action
• Information, videos, support and more from the Teen Sleep Hub
• NHS Information and advice on all aspects for sleep
• Scope – Stories about sleep to share with children, Pinterest board
• Cerebra, Sleep information and support