An 11 month old baby is nearing their first birthday. You may notice them being active throughout the day without getting bored. Some toddlers skip their morning nap and sleep only once a day. Parents accept this and assume they have transitioned to one nap. Toddlers need two naps daily for better physical and brain development. Setting up an 11-month-old baby’s sleep schedule becomes pertinent at this stage.
It is important for parents to remember that babies, or rather toddlers, are more active and may need nap times to ensure that there is a balance between their activity levels at rest. As far as possible, let them have at least two naps during the day to avoid exhaustion and crankiness during bedtime at night. In this article, let us discuss more aspects of an 11-month-old baby’s sleep schedule.
How Much Should an 11-Month-Old Sleep?
Infants between the ages of 4 to 12 months are recommended to receive 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24-hour period, including naps, to support their optimal health and development. Thus, an 11-month-old baby requires approximately 14 hours of sleep a day (1). Some babies might sleep a bit more or less. Any time between 12 to 16 hours is considered standard sleeping hours. Toddlers continue with two naps in the daytime for one to two hours. Some may transition to a single nap.
Ensure that the time between two naps is around 3 to 4 hours. Also, encourage your little one to have one or two naps a day. They are still too early to transition to a single daytime nap.
Can You Sleep Train an 11-Month-Old Baby?
Yes, you can. Sleep training can be given as early as 4 months. Experts recommend that early sleep training is better. During the earlier months, babies adapt to the environment more quickly than later.
Better late than never. In the 11th month, your little one might find it challenging to adapt to sleep training. But do not stop. Keep encouraging them to sleep better, and they will pick it up soon.
You can choose any sleep training method like Cry It Out (CIO), Ferber, or the Chair. Make sure to choose the one that suits your baby and the family. Every baby is different, and so is their sleep schedule. If any of the methods suit another baby and do not suit yours, do not force. Find what suits best for your little one.
[Read: Sleep Training a Baby – Right Age, Tips and Techniques]
11-Month-Old Baby Sample Sleep Schedule
An 11-month-old baby takes two naps during the day, and the awake time between two naps is around 3 to 3.5 hours. The following is a sample schedule of an 11-month-old.
| Sample Time | Awake/Nap/Bedtime |
| 07:00 AM | Stays Awake |
| 10:00 AM | Nap Time |
| 11:15 PM | Stays Awake |
| 02:45 PM | Nap Time |
| 04:00 PM | Stays Awake |
| 07:00 PM | Bedtime Routine |
| 07:30 PM | Bedtime |
It is important to note that the sleep time during the day reduces by 50 percent between the fourth and eleventh months. If your little one faces sleep problems during the day, try increasing the time gap between two naps instead of forcing him to sleep. They will automatically go to sleep.
Many doctors also suggest following a clock time nap schedule. It means putting the baby to sleep at the same time every day, regardless of when the little one wakes up, even if they are early or late by a few minutes.
What Is Sleep Regression In An 11-Month-Old Baby?
11-month sleep regression is nothing new to the parents. You might have gotten used to the continuous sleep regression by this time. Your 11-month-old may start refusing naps at night. They may not sleep continuously throughout the night. You might start experiencing the initial parenting days again. Sometimes your little one might wake up at night crying uncontrollably. They may also wake up at regular intervals.
[Read: Why Your Baby Won’t Sleep]
Top Sleep Problems Expected From an 11-Month-Old Baby
It is common for your 11-month-old to face sleep problems. You, as a parent, must act as a support system and help them cope with the problems. The following are some sleeping problems you can expect from an 11-month-old baby.
1. Milestones
Your little one is growing every day and marching towards achieving developmental milestones. Meeting the milestones on time is so exciting for the parents. But it creates a lot of stress and restlessness among the children. That may result in sleepless nights and frequent wakings among them.
2. Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety may affect your little one adversely. As they grow, they start understanding the environment, even in sleep. You may find them waking up as soon as you leave the bed.
3. Teething
Teething could be rigorous, and the little pearls might sprout up at a faster pace. This could cause pain and discomfort for your little one. Try offering a teething ring for comfort. If that does not work, seek the help of a pediatrician.
[Read: Does Teething Cause Sleep Disturbance In Babies?]
4. Disturbed Sleep Schedules
Your little one might have sleep problems if the cycle is not correct. If you notice that your little one wakes up earlier than they should, you must realize that it is time for you to intervene in their sleep cycle.
4. No Sleep Training
If you have not yet sleep trained, your little one may find falling asleep challenging. It is high time for you to sleep train your little one so that they learn how to naturally soothe themselves to sleep..
Top 6 Tips to Help Your Eleven-Month-Old Baby Sleep
With so much anxiety and stress towards achieving the milestones, there are specific ways in which you can help your little one to sleep better. Here is how you can help your little one sleep.
- Follow a proper bedtime routine. Give them a warm bath, a hearty feed, a bedtime story, or a lullaby to enable them to understand that it is time to sleep.
- If your little one faces separation anxiety, offer them a snuggly toy or a pillow that can comfort them.
- When the little one cries in the middle of the night, offer them consistent comfort. Do not engage them in any new activities.
- Many parents believe that skipping a daytime nap would help them sleep better during the night. But an overtired baby finds it difficult to sleep at night. So, do not encourage dropping the daytime nap.
- Too much sleep during the day may also hinder sleep at night. Ensure they sleep for a reasonable time and avoid sleeping for many hours.
- Whenever your little one sleeps, make sure you put them to sleep in a comfortable space.
[Read: Signs And Cues That Your Baby Is Tired]
When Should You Consider Calling a Doctor?
If you find it difficult to cope with the regressions of your little one, it is better to contact your doctor for assistance. Any illness, sickness, or too much difficulty while teething must all be mentioned to the doctor if you find your toddler is having difficulty coping.
The 11-month-old baby’s sleep schedule is a vital and critical one. It is when they are making a transition to sleeping through the night and getting more sleep. The parents should be aware of this and try to help them with this transition by being more understanding of what their baby needs and wants.
FAQ’s
1. What Should the Number of Naps and Nap Duration Be for an 11-Month-Old Baby?
An 11-month-old baby can sleep for 12 to 16 hours a day and take two naps during the day.
2. What Are the Average Daytime Sleep Hours For an 11-Month-Old Baby?
An 11-month-old baby can sleep for 30 minutes to 1.5 hours during the day.
3. What Are the Average Nighttime Sleep Hours For an 11-Month-Old Baby?
An 11-month-old baby can sleep for 14 hours during the night. This may also range between 12 to 16 hours.
4. At a Stretch, How Much Should an 11-Month-Old Baby Sleep at Night?
At a stretch, an 11-month-old can sleep for 10 to 11 hours at night.
5. What Are The Average Total Sleep Hours Per Day For An 11-Month-Old Baby?
In a day, an 11-month-old can sleep for 14 hours. Some babies might sleep for anywhere between 12 to 16 hours.
Read Also: 12-Month-Old Baby Sleep Schedule – Sample Schedule, Problems and Tips
Reference
- Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, Hall WA, Kotagal S, Lloyd RM, Malow BA, Maski K, Nichols C, Quan SF, Rosen CL, Troester MM, Wise MS. Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for Healthy Children: Methodology and Discussion – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27707447/
