top of page

Baby Sleep Needs By Age

Writer's picture: Harlee MaddocksHarlee Maddocks

A smiling baby looking at the camera

in this post, you'll learn baby sleep needs at:



Babies have roughly similar sleep needs (based on averages) at each age. As always, use this as a starting point and then adjust according to your baby's mood and behavior.


Continually assess:


  • Are they fighting naps?

  • Are they taking short naps?

  • Are they taking 20+ minutes to fall asleep?

  • Are they waking a lot in the night and awake for 30+ minutes?

  • Are they waking early?

  • Has this been going on for 7-10 days?


If you answered yes to any of these questions and the last one, it's time to make some adjustments.


Baby Sleep Needs From 0-12 Weeks


Wake Window: 45-60 minutes

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 16-20 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 4+

Limit Any One Nap At: 3 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: N/A


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 3 months


Wake Window: 1.5 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 15.5-18 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 4

Limit Any One Nap At: 3 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: N/A


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 4 months


Wake Window: 1.75-2 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 15.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 4-3

Limit Any One Nap At: 2.5 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 4.5 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 5 months


Wake Window: 2 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 15 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 3

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 4 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 6 months


Wake Window: 2.5 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 14.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 3-2

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3.5 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 7 months


Wake Window: 2.75 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 14-14.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 3-2

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3.25 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 8 months


Wake Window: 3 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 14-14.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 3-2

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3.25 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 9 months


Wake Window: 3 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 14 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 2

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 10-11 months


Wake Window: 3-4 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 14 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 2

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 12-14 months


Wake Window: 3-4 hours on a 2-nap schedule; 4.5-6 hours on a 1-nap schedule

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 13.5-13.75 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 2-1

Limit Any One Nap At: 2 hours on a 2-nap schedule; 3 hours on a 1-nap schedule

Max Total Day Sleep: 3 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 15-18 months


Wake Window: 5-6.5 hours

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 13-13.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 1

Limit Any One Nap At: 3 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 3 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 19-23 months


Wake Window: Same wake, nap, and bed time every day

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 12-12.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 1

Limit Any One Nap At: 1.5-2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 2 hours


 

Baby Sleep Needs At 2 Years


Wake Window: Same wake, nap, and bed time every day

Average Daily Sleep Needs: 12-12.5 hours

Typical Number of Naps: 1

Limit Any One Nap At: 1-2 hours

Max Total Day Sleep: 1-2 hours


 

Ready for sleep?


Harlee's headshot

If you're overwhelmed with the information, or just not sure how to get started, there are resources to help. I'm going to help you get there and make it as easy as possible so you can thrive in motherhood and your baby can be happy, healthy, and ditch the cycle of being cranky + overtired.


Select the style that fits your family best:


This 60-page eBook teaches you everything you need to know about setting a foundation to make sleep teaching easiest on your baby, responding in a supportive way that promotes independence, and maintaining these new skills.


Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page