Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Quick Answer
A baby sleep schedule changes quickly during the first year. Newborns sleep 14–17 hours in short 45–60 minute wake-window cycles with no day/night pattern. By 2–3 months, day-night patterns begin forming. At 4–6 months most babies take 3 naps. Most 6–12 month olds move to 2 naps with bedtime between 7–8 pm and total sleep of 12–15 hours.
Jump to your baby's age:
Quick answer: baby sleep schedule by age
Newborn (0–3 months): 14–17 hrs, 4–6 naps · 4–6 months: 13–15 hrs, 3 naps → 2 naps · 6–9 months: 13–14 hrs, 2 naps · 9–12 months: 12–14 hrs, 2 naps · 12–18 months: 12–14 hrs, 2→1 nap transition · 18 months–3 years: 11–14 hrs, 1 nap
In this article Kick counting that starts at 28 weeks is an early version of pattern recognition — the same skill used to read newborn sleep cues.
One of the most common questions new parents ask is: "What should my baby's sleep schedule look like?" The answer changes significantly every few months in the first year and a half — because your baby's sleep needs, wake windows, and nap requirements are in constant flux as their brain and nervous system develop. Sleep preparation begins before birth — by 38 weeks pregnant most women are already experiencing the fragmented sleep pattern that continues postpartum.
This guide provides evidence-based sleep schedules for every stage from newborn through 3 years, including sample daily schedules, wake windows by age, and a complete guide to nap transitions. Use these as guides, not rules — all babies vary by 1–2 weeks in developmental readiness, and normal ranges are wider than most sleep content suggests.
💡 Important Note
These schedules are guidelines based on typical development. Every baby is individual. Ranges of 1–2 weeks on either side of developmental transitions are completely normal. If your baby's schedule differs somewhat from what's shown here, that is almost certainly fine — consult your pediatrician if you have specific concerns.
| Age | Total sleep | Naps | Wake window | Bedtime | Key change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 14–17 hrs | 5–8 naps | 45–60 min | Variable (9–11 PM) | No day/night pattern |
| 1 month | 14–16 hrs | 4–5 naps | 60–75 min | 8–10 PM | Slightly longer stretches at night |
| 2 months | 14–16 hrs | 4 naps | 75–90 min | 8–9 PM | Day/night distinction begins |
| 3 months | 14–15 hrs | 3–4 naps | 1.5–1.75 hrs | 8–8:30 PM | Predictable patterns emerge |
| 4 months | 14–15 hrs | 3–4 naps | 1.5–2 hrs | 7:30–8:30 PM | 4-month regression disrupts sleep |
| 5 months | 14–15 hrs | 3 naps | 1.75–2.25 hrs | 7–8 PM | Naps consolidating |
| 6 months | 13–15 hrs | 2–3 naps | 2–2.5 hrs | 7–8 PM | 3→2 nap transition begins |
| 7 months | 13–14 hrs | 2 naps | 2.5–3 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | 2 naps solidified |
| 8 months | 13–14 hrs | 2 naps | 2.5–3 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | Developmental regression common |
| 9 months | 13–14 hrs | 2 naps | 3 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | Separation anxiety peaks |
| 10 months | 12–14 hrs | 2 naps | 3–3.5 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | Night waking from developmental leaps |
| 11 months | 12–14 hrs | 2 naps | 3–3.5 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | Some babies show readiness for 1 nap |
| 12 months | 12–14 hrs | 1–2 naps | 3.5–4 hrs | 7–7:30 PM | 1-nap transition starts ~15 months |
A wake window is the amount of time a baby can comfortably stay awake between sleep periods before becoming overtired — and it is the single most useful concept for building a baby sleep schedule. Wake windows replace rigid clock-based scheduling in the early months when babies have no circadian rhythm and can't be scheduled by the clock.
The key principle: put baby down at the end of the age-appropriate wake window, when early tired cues appear (rubbing eyes, losing interest in play, yawning). For the complete age-by-age wake window chart and the science behind why they work, see the dedicated guide: Wake Windows by Age: Complete Guide →
The per-age schedules below include the relevant wake windows for each stage — use those as your primary reference, and the guide above when you need the full context.
Newborns do not have an established circadian rhythm. They cannot distinguish day from night, they have no concept of "bedtime," and their sleep is governed almost entirely by hunger and the newborn ultradian cycle (approximately 50-60 minute sleep cycles, with significant time in active/REM sleep). The goal in the newborn period is not to impose a schedule — it is to follow the baby's cues while beginning to build the foundations of a circadian rhythm through light exposure and feed-wake-sleep patterns.
| Metric | 0–4 Weeks | 4–8 Weeks | 8–12 Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nighttime sleep | 8–9 hrs (fragmented) | 8–9 hrs (fragmented) | 9–10 hrs (beginning to consolidate) |
| Naps | 5–8 naps, 20 min–2 hrs | 4–5 naps | 4 naps |
| Total sleep | 16–17 hours | 15–16 hours | 14–16 hours |
| Wake windows | 45–60 min | 60–75 min | 75–90 min |
| Suggested bedtime | Whenever sleep comes | 9–11 PM (early days) | 8–10 PM |
Jump to your baby's age-specific nap schedule:
Between 3 and 6 months, the circadian rhythm begins to consolidate. Night sleep lengthens, a predictable bedtime begins to emerge (usually 7–8 PM), and the number of naps typically drops from 4–5 to 3. The 4-month sleep regression occurs during this window and can temporarily disrupt the emerging schedule — this is normal and resolves with consistency.
| Metric | 3–4 Months | 4–5 Months | 5–6 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nighttime sleep | 10–11 hours | 10–11 hours | 10–11 hours |
| Naps | 3–4 naps | 3 naps | 3 naps |
| Total daytime sleep | 4–5 hours | 4–5 hours | 3.5–4.5 hours |
| Total sleep | 14–16 hours | 14–15 hours | 14–15 hours |
| Wake windows | 1.5–2 hours | 1.75–2.25 hours | 2–2.5 hours |
| Suggested bedtime | 7:30–8:30 PM | 7–8 PM | 7–8 PM |
The 6–9 month window typically sees the transition from 3 naps to 2 naps (usually between 6 and 8 months). Nighttime sleep continues to consolidate, and many babies are capable of sleeping 10–12 hours overnight with few or no feeds, depending on nutrition and individual development. Solid foods begin during this period, which can affect sleep either positively (more caloric density) or negatively (new foods causing digestive discomfort).
| Metric | 6–7 Months | 7–8 Months | 8–9 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nighttime sleep | 10–11 hours | 10–11 hours | 10–12 hours |
| Naps | 2–3 naps | 2 naps | 2 naps |
| Total daytime sleep | 3–4 hours | 3–3.5 hours | 2.5–3.5 hours |
| Total sleep | 13–15 hours | 13–14 hours | 13–14 hours |
| Wake windows | 2–2.5 hours | 2.5–3 hours | 2.5–3 hours |
| Suggested bedtime | 7–8 PM | 7–7:30 PM | 7–7:30 PM |
The 9–12 month window is typically a period of relatively stable 2-nap sleep. Wake windows extend to 3–3.5 hours, and most babies in this range are sleeping 10–12 hours overnight. The 8–10 month period often includes a developmental regression driven by pulling to stand, crawling, and the early stages of separation anxiety — similar in character to the 4-month regression but behavioral rather than architectural in nature.
| Nighttime sleep | Number of naps | Nap length | Wake windows | Total sleep | Suggested bedtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–12 hours | 2 naps | 1–1.5 hours each | 3–3.5 hours | 13–14 hours | 7–7:30 PM |
The 12–18 month period contains one of the biggest schedule transitions of the first two years: the move from 2 naps to 1 nap. Most babies are ready to make this transition between 14 and 18 months, though many begin fighting the second nap around 12 months during the 12-month sleep regression. The challenge: a 12-month-old who is fighting the second nap is probably not ready to go to one nap — they need the second nap but are protesting due to developmental pressure.
| Metric | 12–14 Months | 14–16 Months | 16–18 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nighttime sleep | 10–12 hours | 10–12 hours | 10–12 hours |
| Naps | 2 naps | 1–2 naps (transition) | 1 nap |
| Daytime sleep | 2–3 hours | 1.5–2.5 hours | 1.5–2 hours |
| Total sleep | 13–14 hours | 12–14 hours | 12–13 hours |
| Wake windows | 3–3.5 hours | 3.5–5 hours | 5–5.5 hours |
| Suggested bedtime | 7–7:30 PM | 7–7:30 PM | 7–7:30 PM |
From 18 months through 3 years, most toddlers are on a single midday nap. The nap gradually shortens and may become more resistive toward the end of this period as some toddlers begin showing readiness to drop the nap entirely — typically between 2.5 and 3.5 years, though some toddlers nap happily through age 4 and some drop the nap at 2. The 18-month regression occurs during this period. The 2-year sleep regression (less commonly discussed but real) occurs around 24 months and is driven by language explosion, molar eruption, and growing emotional awareness.
| Metric | 18–24 Months | 2–3 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime sleep | 10–12 hours | 10–12 hours |
| Nap | 1 nap, 1–2 hrs | 0–1 nap, 1–1.5 hrs |
| Total sleep | 12–14 hours | 11–14 hours |
| Wake windows | 5–6 hours | 5–7 hours |
| Suggested bedtime | 7–7:30 PM | 7–8 PM |
Nap transitions are some of the most confusing moments in baby sleep — they are often mistaken for regressions and vice versa. Here is a complete overview of every nap transition from birth through preschool age.
Signs of readiness: baby consistently fights the 4th nap, nap 3 falls so late it pushes bedtime past 9 PM, or baby is taking very short 4th naps. How to transition: simply extend the 3rd nap slightly and move bedtime earlier to compensate. This typically coincides with the 4-month sleep architecture change.
Signs of readiness: baby fights the 3rd nap for 2+ weeks, wake window before the 3rd nap has extended naturally, and baby holds together until bedtime without it. How to transition: cap the 2nd nap so it ends by 3–3:30 PM, then use an earlier bedtime (6:30–7 PM) to bridge the longer wake window. This transition takes 1–2 weeks to fully establish.
Signs of readiness: consistently fighting one or both naps for 2+ consecutive weeks, taking 30+ minutes to fall asleep at nap time, napping fine but then difficult to settle at bedtime. How to transition: move the single nap to midday (11:30 AM–12:30 PM), cap it at 2 hours, and use an earlier bedtime (7 PM) during the transition month while the baby adjusts to the longer wake window.
Signs of readiness: taking 45+ minutes to fall asleep at nap time for 2+ weeks, napping but then unable to fall asleep at bedtime before 9–10 PM, going several days per week without needing the nap. How to transition: implement a "quiet time" instead — 45–60 minutes in the bedroom with books or quiet play. Some children will still nap on some days. Move bedtime 30 minutes earlier to compensate for lost daytime sleep.
⚠️ Regressions vs. Nap Readiness
Never drop a nap during a sleep regression. Regressions cause temporary nap resistance that looks exactly like readiness to drop a nap — but it isn't. Wait until the regression has resolved (2–6 weeks) and the nap resistance continues consistently before concluding the baby is genuinely ready for the transition.
Most babies do not follow a textbook schedule, and that is completely normal. Sleep schedules are averages, not prescriptions. The ranges published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) represent typical development — not milestones your baby must hit on a specific date.
If your baby is sleeping less than the table suggests:
If your baby is sleeping more than the table suggests:
Most sleep challenges are developmental and self-resolving. These are the specific situations where a provider conversation is warranted:
Call your pediatrician if: