When do babies sleep through the night if you don't sleep train?

[BBrush]

Hi,

I have a 5.5 month old and so far have done diddly-squat in terms of sleep training. He's been sleeping in his co-sleeper but often sleeping in the bed with me when he wants a middle-of-the-night feed. As much as I love the cuddles, I'm desperately in need of more sleep. He's also a nightmare to put down for naps and at bedtimes, which has led me to consider sleep training.

I was hoping that he'd just grow up one day and want his own space and to sleep through the night... But will that be when he's 9 months or on his 16th birthday?! He's such a fidget and my partner and I are light sleepers. I fear there is no longevity in our current plan, especially if he wants any siblings!

Any experiences shared would be much appreciated.

We tried various sleep training methods but I wasn't comfortable with any of them and then last month (DS is 16 months) we started putting him in his cot as I'm pregnant and seriously need decent sleep to function ok. He's now slept through 5 nights out of 7 but he still wakes up for drinks from his cup. I'm generally getting better sleep though which is nice.

Hopefully something will work for you. Some babies will settle easily, others won't (like DS)

I doubt he’ll want to sleep with you on his wedding night..

Or when he hits pubity

Each baby's different. DD just before she started weaning. DS1 at 9 months.

To add to the anecdotes - 20 months with first, not yet at 4 with second - though obviously at that age there is a lot more we could do to encourage her. It’s perfectly manageable - not at all the same as a baby waking through the night, so we’re taking the path of least resistance.

That’s 4 years, not months btw.

DS is almost 3, he wakes once in the night, comes through to my bed then immediately falls asleep again. I secretly love the snuggles so I don't mind but I feel like I really should be encouraging him to stay the whole night in his own bed.

3 years

3.5 years

Bedtimes were difficult though until 4 and 4.5 respectively.

Mine slept through from 3 months.

Mine is 10 months old, I never sleep trained! She naps in the day (2x 30mins) but fights it. By 6pm she is exhausted, bath, bottle and bed by 7pm. When she isn't poorly or teething she goes down easily now. But up until she was about 8 months I had to stay and cuddle her to sleep. I'm a single mum and one night I was so exhausted after going back to work, I just put her down and left her to cry it out. I always swore I would never do that, but After a week of teething hell I had to put her down and walk away. She screamed for about 20 mins, I popped in to check she was ok a couple of times. Then she feel asleep.....so I tried it the next night and then next and each night she fell asleep a bit easier. I don't do this when she is sick or teething as I think she needs extra cuddles. Also when I go to bed she often wakes up and I put her in my bed. If I was strict I could probably get her to stay in her cot.....but I don't have a man in my bed and I would rather the sleep and extra baby cuddles you will find a routine, but you will probably have to go through hell first.....I did.....sorry xx know your not alone

My 2 both starting sleeping through the night at approx. 12 months. I did have to do sleep training later on when they both developed a habit of refusing to sleep. However it was 12 months they started sleeping through naturally with no sleep training.

DS started doing it regularly at 13 months, around the time he went from 2 naps to 1. We did no sleep training and we weren't that strict on routine.

18 m

About 4 (years) for each of mine.

DD first slept through from 4 months, which was when we first moved her into a cotbed in her own room. She was too big for the bedside crib. She obviously woke occasionally, but mostly slept through, once we'd won the epic battle to get her to bloody sleep.

Sleep training doesn't have to be cruel. I think a sleep deprived parent for years is more likely to have a negative effect, but that's just my opinion. You've got to do what works for you and your baby, and sleep training worked for us. We were all happier as a result.

My 14mo still won’t sleep on his own. I’ve tried sleep training but he screams till he vomits. I don’t know what else to do except let him sleep with me.

Both of mine were about 2.5years

DC1 - 16 months, the first time was the night I brung DC2 home from hospital.

DC2 - he's 10 and has been in my bed since he was 5 and I finally gave in with the sleep training as I was pregnant & nothing was working. He sleeps through without waking on average once a week!

DC3 - the first time was at a few weeks old but regressed a few times but was sleeping through every night by 9 months ish.

Um.... DC1 4 days and DC2 6 days.
11pm until 6-6.30am. Sorry!
I did wake them to feed at 10.30ish though.
I do realise I was very lucky.

Wow, thanks all! I guess the replies to this post just show that all babies are totally unique and you’ve just gotta do what works for you. Will see how we go! Thanks all :)