5 month old sleep: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to see the pediatrician

Changes around 5 months

Your baby is nearing the CDC’s 6-month milestones: rolling from tummy onto back, pushing up on straight arms, and propping on their hands while sitting. Extra strength brings extra movement in the crib, and more ways to end up stuck awake.

Teething may play a part. According to the AAP, teething usually begins by about 4 to 7 months, though the timing varies widely. Curiosity about the world also surges, which makes feeds short and distracted.

Equipment check at 5 months	Guidance	Source
Bassinet or cradle	Not meant for use past about 5 months, or after your baby can push up onto hands and knees	CPSC
Mobile or hanging crib toys	Take down at 5 months or when your baby gets onto hands and knees, whichever happens first	AAP
Crib mattress	Lower it before your baby is able to sit up unaided	MedlinePlus, AAP
Swaddle	Stop once your baby shows signs of attempting to roll	AAP
Crib itself	Slats spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart; crib manufactured after June 2011	AAP

At five months, the short naps and broken nights that began at 4 months often harden into a pattern. Swapping equipment is easy; changing the sleep pattern isn’t, because it hinges on how your baby falls asleep. Actually Sleeping works on exactly that, through a plan Dr. Sam writes for your baby.

The hardest parts for parents

Short naps. Waking after one sleep cycle is common now, and it usually shares a root with night waking.
Waking very early. Light, bedtime and the spacing of the day can each cause early waking, and which one it is varies by baby.
First nights in the crib. A new sleep space can mean unsettled nights, particularly for a baby used to being held to sleep.
Distracted feeds during the day. Calories may shift to the night. Your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age.

Keeping sleep safe at 5 months

Place your baby on their back for every sleep until the first birthday, even if they roll afterward.
Room-share with your baby in a crib or play yard beside your bed, ideally until at least 6 months. Never sleep together on a couch or armchair.
Keep the crib empty: no bumpers, pillows, blankets or soft toys. Federal law bans crib bumpers.
Don’t use weighted sleep sacks or weighted blankets.

Night feeds

Some 5 month olds still feed once or twice a night, and others more often. Your pediatrician decides whether that should change, and also when to start solids.

When to see the pediatrician

A fever over 101°F (38.3°C): according to the AAP, that isn’t teething.
Snoring most nights, gasping, or pauses in breathing while asleep.
A sudden shift in sleep together with refusing feeds, vomiting or fewer wet diapers.
No rolling, or no pushing up on straight arms, as 6 months gets close.

Next steps

When nights turn into a string of brief wake-ups that each need feeding or rocking, the usual cause is how your baby falls asleep rather than too little sleep pressure. Generic fixes tend to fall short here because they don’t take your baby’s feeds or temperament into account. Actually Sleeping writes plans for this age and coaches you bootcamp-style before night one. Your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Families describe what changed in our 4 to 6 month reviews. See also: short 30-minute naps, the 5-month schedule, and when a baby will not sleep in the crib. Start with a free consultation with Dr. Sam.

Want your baby sleeping like this?

With Actually Sleeping you get 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, we coach you bootcamp-style before the first night, and we check in daily until it is working. We have coached 700+ families, collected 129 video reviews, and put our guarantee in writing: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → Hear from families

Common questions

Is it time for my 5 month old to leave the bassinet?

Usually, yes, or soon. According to the CPSC, a bassinet or cradle isn’t meant for use past about 5 months, or after a baby can push up onto hands and knees. Your product’s limit may be lower, so read the label. Putting a crib in your room lets room-sharing continue.

How many hours of sleep does a 5 month old need?

For babies aged 4 to 12 months, the AASM advises 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours, counting naps, and the AAP backs that range. Healthy babies land at different places within it.

At what point should I lower the crib mattress?

MedlinePlus and the AAP say to do it before your baby can sit up unaided, then drop it to the lowest setting before your baby can stand. Lots of families lower it once rolling and pushing up begin, so they stay ahead of the milestone.