This might be the single most-Googled question by exhausted new parents at 2 a.m. The honest answer: it depends -- and "sleeping through the night" probably doesn't mean what you think it means.
What "Sleeping Through the Night" Actually Means: In research and pediatric terms, sleeping through the night often means a 5 to 6 hour stretch -- not 8, and definitely not 10. Most babies achieve this somewhere between 3 and 6 months, though many take longer, and that's completely normal.
Why Newborns Wake at Night: Newborn stomachs are tiny and empty fast -- they genuinely need to feed every 2 to 3 hours. Night waking isn't a problem to fix; it's a biological necessity.
The Timeline (Rough Estimates): 0-3 months: waking every 2-4 hours is normal. 3-6 months: many babies start doing one longer stretch (4-6 hours). 6-12 months: many (not all) start sleeping 6+ hours. After 12 months: most children can sleep longer stretches, though night waking still happens during illness, teething, or developmental leaps.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician: If your baby over 6 months is still waking every 1-2 hours consistently, it's worth a conversation -- not because something is necessarily wrong, but because there may be strategies that help.
Quick Takeaways: "Sleeping through" means 5-6 hours, not 8. Most babies achieve this between 3-6 months, some later. Night waking before 3 months is biologically normal. Compare your baby to their own trajectory, not someone else's baby.
