A baby sleep schedule changes fast in the first two years. Newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours a day in short bursts, babies from 4 to 12 months need 12 to 16 hours including naps, and toddlers aged 1 to 2 need 11 to 14 hours, usually with one or two naps. The tables below show typical naps, wake windows and bedtimes for each age.
Want times for your own baby? The baby sleep calculator builds a nap and bedtime plan from your baby’s age and wake-up time.
How Much Sleep Does A Baby Need By Age?
Total sleep in 24 hours falls from about 14 to 17 hours in newborns to 11 to 14 hours by age 2. These ranges come from the National Sleep Foundation for newborns and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for older babies.
| Age | Total sleep per 24 hours | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | 14 to 17 hours | National Sleep Foundation |
| 4 to 12 months | 12 to 16 hours, including naps | AASM consensus |
| 1 to 2 years | 11 to 14 hours, including naps | AASM consensus |
The AASM does not set a range for babies under 4 months, because healthy newborn sleep varies so much. A large review of studies from many countries found infants averaged 12.8 hours, with a normal range of roughly 10 to 16 hours (Galland et al., 2012). If your baby is feeding well, growing and alert when awake, a number outside the table is usually not a worry.
What Does A Baby Sleep Schedule Look Like At Each Age?
Naps fall from several a day in the newborn months to one by around 18 months, while time awake between sleeps grows longer. The nap counts and wake windows below are typical guidance used by parents and health visitors, not research norms, so treat them as a starting point.
| Age | Naps per day | Typical wake window | Typical bedtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | Many, irregular | 45 to 90 minutes | No fixed bedtime yet |
| 4 to 6 months | 3 to 4 | 1.5 to 2.5 hours | 7:00 to 8:30 PM |
| 7 to 9 months | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 hours | 7:00 to 8:00 PM |
| 10 to 12 months | 2 | 2.5 to 4 hours | 7:00 to 8:00 PM |
| 12 to 18 months | 1 to 2 | 3 to 5 hours | 7:00 to 8:00 PM |
| 18 to 24 months | 1 | 4 to 6 hours | 7:00 to 8:00 PM |
A wake window is the time a baby is awake between one sleep and the next. Watching for tired signs, such as rubbing eyes, yawning or turning away, is more reliable than the clock.
What Is A Good Schedule For A Newborn?
Newborns do not follow a schedule yet. They sleep in short stretches through the day and night and wake to feed, and some take much longer than others to sleep for long periods at night (NHS). What helps from the start is showing the difference between day and night: daylight and normal noise in the day, and dim, quiet, calm feeds at night.
Sample Schedule For A 6-Month-Old
This example adds up to about 14 to 15 hours of sleep, within the 12 to 16 hours recommended at this age. Shift every time to fit your baby’s own wake-up time.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Wake and feed |
| 9:00 to 10:00 AM | Nap 1 |
| 12:30 to 2:00 PM | Nap 2 |
| 4:30 to 5:00 PM | Short nap 3 |
| 7:00 PM | Bedtime routine, then sleep (night feeds as needed) |
Sample Schedule For A 12-Month-Old
Most babies take two naps around their first birthday, which adds up to about 13 to 14 hours of sleep.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | Wake |
| 9:30 to 10:30 AM | Nap 1 |
| 2:00 to 3:30 PM | Nap 2 |
| 7:00 PM | Bedtime routine, then sleep |
How Many Times Do Babies Wake At Night?
Night waking is normal, especially early on. The same review found babies aged 0 to 2 months woke anywhere from 0 to about 3 times a night, and 1 to 2 year olds from 0 to about 2.5 times (Galland et al., 2012). Younger babies also need night feeds. A short, calm, dim response helps them settle back.
What Can Throw A Baby Sleep Schedule Off?
Illness, teething, travel, a new carer and big developmental steps such as rolling, crawling or standing can all disturb sleep for a few days or weeks. Keep the same bedtime routine and the same safe sleep space, offer comfort when needed, and return to the usual times once things settle. A schedule that keeps slipping for weeks, or a baby who seems unwell, is worth discussing with your health visitor or doctor.
What Are The Safe Sleep Rules For Babies?
Every sleep, day and night, should follow the safe sleep basics until your baby’s first birthday (NICHD Safe to Sleep):
- Place your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps.
- Use a firm, flat surface in a cot or bassinet, with a fitted sheet and nothing else: no pillows, bumpers, toys or loose blankets.
- Keep the baby in your room, in their own sleep space, when they are asleep.
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and do not overdress your baby; the sleep temperature calculator shows the safe range for a baby room.
Once your baby can roll both ways on their own, you can leave them in the position they choose after placing them on their back.
How Do I Start A Bedtime Routine?
A short, calm routine at the same time each evening helps babies learn that sleep is coming. Many families use a bath, a feed, a nappy change, a song or a book and then bed, all in dim light. Keep it to 20 to 30 minutes and in the same order each night, and adjust bedtime gradually as naps change.
Use the baby sleep calculator to turn these ranges into nap and bedtime times for your baby’s age, and see how much sleep the rest of the family needs with the sleep calculator by age.
Baby Sleep Schedule FAQs
When Do Babies Drop To Two Naps?
Usually somewhere between 6 and 9 months, when the late-afternoon catnap gets harder to fit in before bedtime.
When Do Babies Go Down To One Nap?
Most toddlers move to one midday nap between about 12 and 18 months. Signs include refusing the morning nap or fighting the afternoon one.
What Time Should A Baby Go To Bed?
From around 4 months, many babies settle well between 7:00 and 8:30 PM. The best bedtime fits your baby’s last nap and wake-up time.
Is It Normal For My Baby To Sleep Less Than The Chart?
Often, yes. Healthy babies vary widely. If your baby is feeding, growing and mostly content, a little less sleep than the range is usually fine.
Should I Wake A Sleeping Baby?
For young babies who need regular feeds, or to protect bedtime from a very late nap, a gentle wake can help. Ask your health visitor or doctor for newborn feeding advice.
When Should I Talk To A Doctor About My Baby’s Sleep?
Talk to a doctor if your baby snores loudly, pauses in breathing, is very hard to wake, is not feeding or growing well, or if you are struggling to cope.