# Sleep at 10 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out

> At 10 months the AASM range is 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24, naps included. Why pulling up, cruising and separation anxiety disrupt sleep, and what helps.

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-10-months/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

Naps included, the AASM range at 10 months is 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours. Pulling up and cruising disrupt sleep more than anything else right now, and according to the AAP, separation anxiety typically peaks between 10 and 18 months. Two naps remain the common pattern for most babies. Before your baby can stand, the mattress needs to be on its lowest setting. 

**Up at 3 a.m. reading this?** Tomorrow night doesn’t have to look the same. Actually Sleeping writes a plan around your baby, coaches you thoroughly before night one so you walk in confident, and checks in with you 1:1 every day until they sleep through, all backed by a full-refund guarantee. [Book a free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) 

## Changes at 10 months 

The CDC includes pulling up to stand and walking while holding onto furniture among its milestones by 12 months. Plenty of 10 month olds already manage both, and a crib rail makes an ideal handhold. The AAP identifies the stretch from 10 to 18 months as when separation anxiety usually peaks. 

Language is emerging as well. The CDC’s 12-month milestones include understanding “no” and calling a parent “mama” or “dada”. Once babies can call for you, they will. 

Lots of babies learn to pull up well before they learn to get back down, so a short waking becomes a long one. Make sure the mattress is already at its lowest position before your baby learns to stand (AAP, MedlinePlus). 

Standing protests are a common sticking point, since every response seems to drag the following night out further. Actually Sleeping gives you a single response suited to your baby, written by Dr. Sam, with bootcamp-style coaching before night one and daily 1:1 check-ins. We don’t use cry it out, and we don’t use wait it out. 

## What counts as normal 

Across a review of studies, babies aged 7 to 11 months woke 1.1 times a night on average, and anything from 0 to about 3 wakings was within the normal range; babies aged 6 to 11 months averaged roughly 2 naps a day. A short-lived dip during a big motor leap is common. Total sleep stays stable: in that same review, babies from 9 months averaged 12.6 hours per 24 hours. 

## The hardest parts for parents  
- **Standing protests at bedtime** that drag settling out to an hour. 
- **Short second naps** or refusing naps altogether. A large review found that two-nap days fall off sharply between 12 and 18 months, so most 10 month olds aren’t ready for one nap. 
- **Waking early** because daylight and noise rouse a lighter sleeper. 
- **Getting sick.** Colds and ear infections frequently begin around daycare age and can reset sleep habits. 
 

## Safe sleep for 10 month olds  
- Mattress at the lowest position, and the crib kept away from windows and blind cords. 
- The crib stays empty: the AAP’s recommendations hold until the first birthday. 
- Put your baby down on their back. If they roll or sit up, you don’t need to reposition them. 
- Anchor any furniture near the crib so it can’t tip over. 
 

## About night feeds 

Your custom plan sets how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age. Bring any concern about growth or feeding to your pediatrician. 

## Signs it’s time to call the pediatrician  
- Snoring on most nights, gasping, or restless sleep with heavy breathing. 
- Waking suddenly with crying that points to pain, particularly alongside a fever. 
- As the first birthday nears, your baby isn’t pulling up yet or isn’t babbling. 
- Repeated screaming episodes early in the night during which your baby doesn’t seem to be awake. 
 

## Next steps 

The response that calms one 10 month old’s standing protests can make another’s worse, so a plan needs to begin with your baby’s temperament and the way they currently fall asleep. Actually Sleeping writes that plan and keeps coaching naps until they are solid. 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 share how things went in our [10 to 12 month reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/10-12-months/). See also the [10-month schedule](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/10-month-old-sleep-schedule/), [the 8 to 10 month regression](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/8-to-10-month-sleep-regression/) and [early waking](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/early-morning-waking/). To get started, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam. 

## More guides like this
- [Sleep at 9 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-9-months/)
- [Your 7 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to ask for help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-7-months/)
- [Your 6 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-6-months/)
- [4 month old sleep: what to expect, common struggles and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-4-months/)
- [Sleep at 3 years: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when should you get help?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-36-months/)
 

## Ready to solve this for your own baby?

With Actually Sleeping you get 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your specific 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 →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [See what families say](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Common questions 

### My 10 month old stands up in the crib and won’t lie back down. What should I do?

Start by checking that the mattress sits at its lowest setting. Standing is a brand-new skill, and lots of babies can pull up before they know how to get down. Actually Sleeping writes a consistent night response suited to your baby into their plan. 

### Is it time for my 10 month old to move to one nap?

Generally not yet. In a review of napping studies, the big drop in two-nap days came at 12 to 18 months, while babies aged 6 to 11 months averaged around 2 naps a day. Brief stretches of nap refusal are common at this age. 

### Does separation anxiety get worse at 10 months?

It may. According to the AAP, separation anxiety typically peaks between 10 and 18 months and can unsettle sleep for several months. A predictable bedtime routine helps children cope with the separation.  

## References
1. [Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785–786.](https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/pediatricsleepdurationconsensus.pdf)
2. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/healthy-sleep-habits-how-many-hours-does-your-child-need.aspx)
3. [CDC. Milestones by 1 Year.](https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/1-year.html)
4. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Emotional and Social Development: 8 to 12 Months.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/pages/Emotional-and-Social-Development-8-12-Months.aspx)
5. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Separation Anxiety & Sleeping Trouble in Young Children.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/separation-anxiety-and-sleeping.aspx)
6. [MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Crib safety tips.](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000542.htm)
7. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Make Baby's Room Safe: Parent Checklist.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Make-Babys-Room-Safe.aspx)
8. [Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med Rev. 2012;16(3):213–222.](https://www.nationaljewish.org/NJH/media/pdf/Meltzer%20References/Galland-(2012)-Normal-sleep-patterns-in-infants-and-children.pdf)
9. [Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Med Rev. 2020;50:101247.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9704850/)
10. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep.](https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/A-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx)
11. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Big Kid Beds: When to Switch From a Crib.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Big-Kid-Beds-When-To-Make-the-Switch.aspx)