Waking up at 5am? Fighting bedtime? Your baby’s sleep schedule might need a small adjustment. Here’s how to better align their bedtime and morning routine with their natural rhythms.
What’s a normal wake-up time for babies?
Babies are naturally early risers. A wake-up between 6:00 and 7:00am is biologically normal — that’s when their circadian rhythm resets each day.
If your baby is consistently waking before 6am, it may be a sign their sleep schedule needs some tweaking.
🥱 Common reasons for early wake-ups:
Bedtime is too late (yes, really!) Too much daytime sleep First nap of the day is too early Room is too bright in the early morning Baby is overtired from the previous day
🌙 How to help your baby sleep later:
Move bedtime earlier An overtired baby often wakes up earlier, not later. Try moving bedtime earlier by 15–30 minutes — even as early as 5:30pm for recovery days. Make the room pitch dark Light signals “wake up” to the brain. Use blackout curtains (or even trash bags/tinfoil as a quick fix) to block early morning light. Don’t reinforce early wake-ups If your baby wakes at 5:00am, wait to feed or start the day until at least 6:00am, so they don’t learn to expect it.
Is 8:00pm too late for bedtime?
Not necessarily — it depends on what time your baby wakes up and how naps went.
Here’s a helpful guide:
Wake-up at 7:00am → Bedtime between 7:00–8:00pm Wake-up at 6:00am → Bedtime between 6:00–7:00pm
- If naps were short or your baby seems overtired, go with the earlier end of the range
- If naps were long and restful, the later end is likely fine
Should I wake my baby in the morning?
Yes, if you’re trying to keep a consistent routine.
Waking your baby at the same time each day (e.g., 7:00am) helps regulate their internal clock and stabilize nap times.
If you need to regularly wake your baby earlier than 6:00am (e.g. for daycare), shift bedtime earlier to protect their total sleep needs.
Will the app adjust bedtime automatically?
Yes — the Smart Sleep Coach app recalculates bedtime each day based on your baby’s naps and total sleep needs.
If the suggested bedtime ever feels too early or too late, just reach out and we’ll take a look together.