7 Month Old Nap Schedule
Near the beginning of this age range, you may find that you’re still trying to work towards certain sleep, nap, and feeding patterns that apply to 6 month old babies. That’s fine! Every baby will progress at their own pace, depending on their unique preferences and growing bodies. Around 7 months, they’ll probably still be napping for 2-4 hours in total during the day.
7 Month Old Feeding Schedule
You may have started feeding your baby solid foods a month ago (or perhaps longer) — but if not, now is definitely the time to introduce some fun (and nutritional) foods! Some babies will want to devour everything you put in front of them (unfortunately, these babies are in the minority), some will be a little picky about the different tastes and textures (the majority, of course) and some may still not have the hang of it just yet…and that’s totally fine and normal. It’s a learning process. Whichever category your baby falls into, your baby should now be attempting 3 meals a day at 7 months. This may seem futile if your baby is still struggling to move the food to the back of their mouth and swallow, but the mouth is a muscle after all, and practice makes perfect.
Nighttime feeds should be gone at this point. Your baby is capable of lasting through the night without food — what they need more than anything at this age, is a good night’s rest! Early on, your baby will likely still be taking about 4 breast milk or formula feeds a day. Between 12 and 14 months, you may wish to switch your baby to cow’s milk instead of formula or breast milk, though you’re welcome to keep breastfeeding.
7 Month Old Wake Windows
A 7 months old baby is likely settling into more distinct wake windows, making it a great time to establish a consistent sleep schedule. Pay attention to your baby's sleep cues and adjust these wake windows accordingly, keeping in mind that flexibility is key. Engage in soothing activities before bedtime to help create a calming environment, promoting healthy sleep habits that will benefit both your baby and you.
How Long Should A 7 Month Old Sleep?
Between 7 and 15 months, your baby will probably still be sleeping around the same amount of time overall. Naps will likely be fairly consistent at this age. In the evenings, you can still expect your little one to sleep for 11-12 hours.
As you begin to see an increase in your baby’s gross motor skills, social awareness, language awareness, etc. you’ll notice the importance of routine, dependable transitions, and consistency. This helps your baby make sense of the world and get the sleep they need. Though they may not be able to consciously explain or even comprehend why they need to sleep, their mental and physical development is leading them in that direction. (Kinda cool right?)
There will probably be some milestones that your baby reaches during these ages, so get excited! Learning how to sit or stand may be easy, thanks to their personal gym, aka crib. It is possible that these movements will cause a disruption in sleep, but don’t worry! You just need to be consistent when dealing with the aftermath. Beware, your baby may quickly realize that this is a game — if they sit up, and your response is to rush over and lie them down, they’ll know to continue doing that. Avoid this silly game by showing them how to lie down (instead of just picking them up) and giving them the time and space to figure it out on their own. Lots of practice with these kinds of moments during the day will make this no biggie.
7 Month Old Schedule
Wake and Milk Feed6:30 AM |
If your baby hasn't fed overnight, this first feed of the day will be a big one. On the other hand, if the little one is not really hungry due to an overnight feed, it might be time to start cutting back on those nighttime feeds. If you're breastfeeding, you'll probably feel pretty full first thing in the morning. After baby's been fed, pump off some of that extra milk for later. |
Breakfast7:30 AM |
It's time for a solid breakfast. You're most likely going to puree any foods at this age, but this is a good opportunity to start experimenting with flavors. Your little one might like sweet potato pureed with oatmeal and apple, pureed avocado and rice cereal, or pureed quinoa with banana and squash (yum!). |
Nap time8:30 AM - 9:30 AM |
Your baby will most likely ~love~ this nap. Just make sure that they're up within half an hour of this time. |
Milk Feed10:30 AM |
Once your baby is more comfortable on solid food, this feed may need to cut back a bit, especially if they're not hungry by 10am. Feel free to push back 30 minutes depending on when they awake from their nap, and maybe cut down on how much baby food you feed. |
Lunch12:00 PM |
Time for a solid lunch! Experiment with flavors and textures, much like during breakfast. |
Nap time12:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Someone's ready for their afternoon nap! Your baby will appreciate this long time to rest. Enjoy some you time. |
Milk Feed2:30 PM |
Your baby will need to be fed milk once they wake up from their nap. |
Dinner5:00 PM |
Every meal is an opportunity to experiment with flavors and textures. |
Bath5:45 PM |
Splish-splash! It's time for a bath! |
Bottle and Book6:15 PM |
Let's try not to make the feed the absolute last thing the baby does before bed! Maybe break up the feed and bedtime with a song or story. |
Bed time6:30 PM |
Time for bed. Sweet Dreams! |