Your 7 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to ask for help

Development around 7 months

Your baby is on the way to the CDC’s 9-month milestones: getting into a sitting position without help, sitting unsupported, and passing objects from one hand to the other. New motor skills often get rehearsed in the crib.

Emotional development is moving too. According to the AAP, separation anxiety can start in the second half of the first year and may disturb sleep for several months, with babies waking and crying anxiously for a parent.

The first tooth might show up as well. The AAP says teething usually begins by about 4 to 7 months and can bring a slight rise in temperature, though never above 101°F (38.3°C). A fever higher than that is not from teething.

When a baby who had been sleeping better begins waking again at 7 months, the first few weeks shape a great deal: whatever response gets everyone through the rough patch often turns into the new habit. Actually Sleeping gives you a single consistent response, written for your baby by Dr. Sam, with daily 1:1 check-ins while it settles in.

Source: a systematic review of observational studies (Galland 2012). The slight uptick at 7 to 11 months fits what many parents see: a baby who had been sleeping longer stretches begins waking again.

The hardest parts for parents

• Fresh night wakings. Frequently linked to new skills or separation anxiety, and quick to become a habit if the response varies from night to night.
• Sitting up or rolling and getting stuck, which stretches a short waking into a long one.
• Resisting the third nap. Studies found babies 6 to 11 months averaged roughly 2 naps a day. Many let go of the late catnap around now, and the weeks in between are often messy.
• Waking early. Light creeping in and a bedtime that is too late are common culprits.

Keeping a 7 month old safe during sleep

• Place your baby on their back to sleep until the first birthday; once they roll both ways, let them settle wherever they end up, in a bare crib.
• The mattress should already be lowered now that your baby sits. Drop it to the lowest setting before your baby can pull up to stand.
• Position the crib away from windows, blind cords and anything your baby could climb.
• No pillows, blankets or soft toys yet. The AAP’s safe sleep recommendations apply up to age 1.

Feeds overnight

More waking at 7 months does not automatically mean hunger, and it does not automatically rule hunger out. Before you change anything, ask your pediatrician whether night feeds are still needed.

When to check in with the pediatrician

• Waking along with fever, ear pulling, vomiting, a rash, or a cough that gets worse lying down.
• Snoring most nights, or breathing that seems like hard work.
• A fever over 101°F (38.3°C) being put down to teething: the AAP says teething does not cause that.
• Your baby is not rolling yet, or not taking weight on their hands while sitting.

Next steps

A clear response to night waking that you can repeat counts for more than any one trick, and the right response hinges on your baby’s temperament, feeds and current way of falling asleep. Actually Sleeping builds it into a plan written for your baby, with bootcamp-style coaching before night one. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents talk through the process in our 7 to 9 month reviews. See also: the 7-month schedule, nap transitions, and early morning waking. Whenever you are ready, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam.