Did you ever think about how strange it is that as fast as a baby is growing, they are only sleeping in 3-4 hour chunks (if you’re lucky)? With all of this work, wouldn’t your baby do better with a solid night’s sleep—what some refer to as sleep consolidation? Unfortunately, the answer is no … for now.

Sleep consolidation happens as your baby’s sleep patterns become more organized and extended. During this time, babies' sleep starts to consolidate into more extended periods as they can go longer without feeding1.

One of the biggest myths surrounding infant sleep is that babies need consolidated sleep for healthy brain development. However, the truth is that total sleep, rather than consolidated sleep, is what matters for a baby's development. We all naturally wake up between sleep cycles1.

Rest assured that your baby will begin to consolidate their sleep cycles in time. Comparing your baby's sleep patterns to others can lead to unnecessary stress. Focus on creating a safe, comfortable sleep environment and establishing consistent sleep routines, and remember that ebbs and flows in sleep overall is par for the course!