What can I do so my 9-month-old doesn't wake at night?

Night wakings are very common in 9-month-old babies. At this age, they may wake frequently because they're developing new skills (crawling, standing) and their sleep cycles are shorter than adults'.

Here are some approaches to try to reduce night wakings:

• Build a consistent bedtime routine. Doing the same sequence each night (bath, story, quiet talk, dim light) signals "sleep time" to your baby's brain.
• Put your baby down sleepy but awake. If they fall asleep in your arms and then wake when placed in the crib, they may be confused about "how did I get here"; learning to drift off in their own bed makes it easier to fall back asleep when they wake at night.
• Make sure your baby is getting enough daytime sleep and activity — a tired but not overtired baby sleeps better at night.
• When your baby wakes at night, wait a few minutes before picking them up; watch to see if they can calm themselves and fall back asleep.

Remember, one night waking or one feeding at 9 months is still very normal. If it's been happening for more than 2 weeks and is exhausting for everyone, I'd recommend talking to your pediatrician.