# Your 2 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to call the pediatrician

> At 2 months sleep is still irregular and night feeds are normal. Typical stretches, the swaddle and rolling, safe sleep, and when to call the doctor.

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-2-months/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

Around 2 months, plenty of babies start offering one slightly longer stretch of sleep, though sleep overall is still irregular and waking to feed at night is normal. The AASM sets no sleep target before 4 months. The major safety shift is rolling: according to the AAP, some babies begin working on it as early as 2 months, and swaddling has to end at the first sign of it. 

**Up reading this at 3 a.m.?** Tomorrow night can be different. Actually Sleeping writes a plan for your baby, coaches you intensively before night one so you start confident, and checks in 1:1 every day until they are sleeping through, with a full-refund guarantee. [Book a free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) 

## Changes you will notice at 2 months 

The CDC’s 2-month milestones include lifting the head during tummy time, moving both arms and both legs, making sounds besides crying, and returning your smile. With more control and more awareness, your baby is now easier to engage, and easier to overstimulate too. 

Research shows huge variation in the longest stretch. Pooling observational studies, one review found that the longest sleep period for babies 0 to 5 months averaged 5.7 hours, with a normal range running from about 2 hours to almost 10. Some 2 month olds already manage a 5 hour block, and many are not there yet. Either is normal.  
| At 0 to 5 months | Study average | Normal range | 
|---|---|---|
| Longest single stretch of sleep | 5.7 hours | Roughly 1.8 to 9.6 hours | 
| Daytime sleeps each day | 3.1 | Roughly 1 to 5 | 
| Night wakings, 0 to 2 months | 1.7 | 0 to roughly 3 | 
 

Behind those averages sit very different babies, which is why a plan lifted from a chart so often falls apart at 2 months. Actually Sleeping supports families starting in the newborn stage: Dr. Sam writes a plan around your baby’s feeds, naps and temperament, and the 14-day guarantee clock begins on the 10-week birthday, only a few weeks off. 

These numbers are parent reports combined across many studies, so read them as a snapshot of how varied normal is rather than as goals. The number of daytime sleeps is a common pattern, not a rule. 

## The hardest parts for parents  
- **Whether to keep swaddling.** Plenty of babies still settle best in a swaddle right as they begin wriggling onto their side. Keep a close eye out for attempts to roll. 
- **Depending on motion.** Swings and drives do the trick, but the AAP does not recommend sitting devices for routine sleep, particularly under 4 months. 
- **Bedtimes that run late and vary.** Because the body clock is still developing, bedtime tends to drift later. 
- **Brief naps.** A single sleep cycle and then awake is typical now, which makes each day look nothing like the one before. 
 

## Keeping 2 month olds safe during sleep  
- The moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll, stop swaddling. The AAP notes that some babies begin working on rolling as early as 2 months, and each baby is different. A swaddled baby who rolls onto the stomach is unable to push up. 
- Avoid weighted swaddles, weighted sleep sacks and weighted objects entirely. The AAP says they are not safe. 
- Put your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat surface. Continue room-sharing without bed-sharing. 
- The NICHD reports that most SIDS deaths occur between 1 and 4 months. Your baby is right in the middle of that window. 
 

## Feeding at night 

Expect night feeds. Whether your baby can stretch longer between them is a decision your pediatrician makes at the 2-month visit based on growth, so ask about it directly at that appointment. 

## Reasons to call the pediatrician  
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above: at this age, call right away. 
- Your baby is not yet smiling back, responding to loud noises or lifting their head in tummy time. These are on the CDC’s 2-month list, so raise any worries early. 
- Crying that is getting worse rather than better, or that comes with poor feeding or vomiting. 
- Regular snoring, or breathing in sleep that sounds like hard work. 
 

## Preparing for what comes next 

You can begin on foundations now. Which ones matter most for your baby depends on how they feed, how they fall asleep and what your evenings look like, and that is what Dr. Sam figures out in a custom plan, followed by daily 1:1 check-ins. How night feeds are handled depends on your baby’s age and is set in your custom plan. The 14-day guarantee clock begins at the 10-week birthday, which is coming up soon: 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 share how it went on our [newborn to 3 month reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/newborn-0-3-months/). See also the [2-month schedule guide](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/2-month-old-sleep-schedule/), [dropping the swaddle](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/swaddle-transition/), and [the best age to sleep train](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/best-age-to-sleep-train/). Book a free consultation to get your baby’s plan started. 

## Related guides
- [Baby sleep at 11 months: what is normal, what is tricky, and when to call the pediatrician](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-11-months/)
- [5 month old sleep: what’s normal, what’s hard, and when to see the pediatrician](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-5-months/)
- [Toddler sleep at 2½ years: what is normal, what is tricky, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-30-months/)
- [Sleep at 2 years: what’s typical, what’s tough, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-24-months/)
- [Newborn sleep, weeks 0 to 4: what’s typical, what’s tough, and when to call the pediatrician](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/newborn-sleep-0-to-4-weeks/)
 

## Ready to have this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style coaching before night one, and we check in daily until it is working. With 700+ families coached and 129 video reviews, we offer a written guarantee: 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) [Hear from families](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Common questions 

### When do I stop swaddling my 2 month old?

The moment your baby shows any sign of trying to roll over. According to the AAP, some babies begin working on rolling as early as 2 months. Until that point, swaddle only for back sleeping, leave room at the hips, and never use a weighted swaddle. 

### How many hours should a 2 month old sleep at night?

No official target exists before 4 months. One review of studies found that the longest stretch for babies 0 to 5 months averaged 5.7 hours, with a range from under 2 to almost 10 hours. A shorter stretch at 2 months is common and is not a problem on its own. 

### Is 2 months too young to start sleep training?

Avoid anything that cuts feeds or leaves your baby crying. Foundations are fine at this age, and Actually Sleeping supports families from the newborn stage. How night feeds are handled depends on your baby’s age and is set in your custom plan. Check with your pediatrician about feeding before you change anything overnight.  

## References
1. [CDC. Milestones by 2 Months.](https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/2-months.html)
2. [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)
3. [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)
4. [American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Updates Safe Sleep Recommendations: Back is Best (news release, 2022).](https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/american-academy-of-pediatrics-updates-safe-sleep-recommendations-back-is-best)
5. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Swaddling: Is it Safe for Your Baby?](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Swaddling-Is-it-Safe.aspx)
6. [NICHD Safe to Sleep campaign. SIDS by Baby's Age (text alternative).](https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/resources/social-digital/sids-by-babys-age-infographic-text-alternative)
7. [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)
8. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Fever and Your Baby.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Fever-and-Your-Baby.aspx)