Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Complete 0-12 Month Guide 2026

Month-by-month sleep schedules with recommended wake windows, nap counts, total sleep hours, and sample daily routines to help your baby sleep better.

Important Reminder

Every baby is different. These are evidence-based guidelines, not rigid rules. Your baby's sleep needs may vary by 1-2 hours. Follow your baby's cues and consult your pediatrician with concerns.

Sleep Basics: Understanding Baby Sleep

Key Concepts

Wake windows:Time baby can comfortably stay awake between sleeps

Sleep cues:Rubbing eyes, yawning, fussiness, staring off

Overtired:Staying awake too long makes it harder to fall asleep

Undertired:Not enough awake time means baby isn't sleepy

Sleep pressure:Builds during wake times, released during sleep

Newborn: 0-8 Weeks

Survival mode is normal

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:14-18 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:8-9 hours (with multiple wakings)

Daytime sleep:6-9 hours across 4-6 naps

Wake windows:30-90 minutes

Longest stretch:2-4 hours (gradually increases)

What to Expect

No predictable schedule yet—newborns sleep in random patterns

Eat-sleep-poop cycle every 2-3 hours

Day/night confusion common (sleeping more during day)

Frequent night wakings for feeding (every 2-3 hours)

Very short wake windows (30-60 minutes including feeding time)

Sample Newborn Day (Weeks 4-8)

7:00 AMWake, feed

7:45 AMNap 1 (1-2 hours)

9:30 AMWake, feed

10:15 AMNap 2 (1-2 hours)

12:00 PMWake, feed

12:45 PMNap 3 (1-2 hours)

2:30 PMWake, feed

3:15 PMNap 4 (30-60 min)

4:30 PMWake, feed

5:30 PMCatnap (20-30 min)

6:30 PMWake, feed, bedtime routine

7:30 PMBedtime

10:30 PMNight feed

1:30 AMNight feed

4:30 AMNight feed

Note: Times are approximate. Follow baby's hunger cues and sleep cues rather than clock.

Newborn Sleep Tips

Keep wake windows very short (30-90 min including feeding)

Expose baby to bright light during day, darkness at night

Watch for sleep cues before baby gets overtired

Use white noise, swaddle, dark room for better sleep

Don't expect a schedule—survival mode is normal

2-3 Months

Patterns emerging

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:14-16 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:9-10 hours (with 2-4 wakings)

Daytime sleep:4-6 hours across 4-5 naps

Wake windows:60-90 minutes

Longest stretch:4-6 hours

What to Expect

Emerging patterns—more predictable than newborn stage

Bedtime consolidating (moving earlier, around 7-8 PM)

Longest sleep stretch at beginning of night

Day/night confusion resolving

Still feeding 2-3 times per night

Sample Schedule: 3 Months

7:00 AMWake, feed

8:00 AMNap 1 (1-1.5 hours)

9:30 AMWake, feed

10:45 AMNap 2 (1-2 hours)

12:30 PMWake, feed

1:45 PMNap 3 (1-1.5 hours)

3:15 PMWake, feed

4:30 PMNap 4 (30-45 min)

5:15 PMWake, feed

6:15 PMCatnap (20-30 min) if needed

6:45 PMWake, feed, bedtime routine

7:30 PMBedtime

11:00 PMNight feed (dream feed optional)

3:00 AMNight feed

3-Month Sleep Tips

Start establishing consistent bedtime routine

Move bedtime earlier (7-8 PM) as circadian rhythm develops

Practice putting baby down drowsy but awake

Watch for 3-month sleep regression (temporary disruption)

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4-5 Months

Sleep regression alert

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:12-15 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:10-12 hours (with 1-3 wakings)

Daytime sleep:3-4 hours across 3-4 naps

Wake windows:90 minutes to 2 hours

Longest stretch:6-8 hours (some babies)

4-Month Sleep Regression Warning

Around 4 months, baby's sleep cycles mature from newborn sleep to adult-like sleep patterns. This creates more frequent wakings as baby learns to connect sleep cycles. It's developmental, not a problem to "fix." It typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

Survival tips:

Maintain consistent routines

Offer comfort

Be patient—this will pass

What to Expect

4-month sleep regression: Major developmental leap disrupts sleep

Sleep cycles mature (harder to stay asleep between cycles)

More predictable nap schedule emerging

Rolling may disrupt sleep (both ways)

Some babies sleep through night, many still wake 1-2 times

Sample Schedule: 5 Months

7:00 AMWake, feed

8:30 AMNap 1 (1-1.5 hours)

10:00 AMWake, feed

11:45 AMNap 2 (1-2 hours)

1:30 PMWake, feed

3:15 PMNap 3 (45-60 min)

4:15 PMWake, feed

5:30 PMCatnap (20-30 min) if needed

6:00 PMWake, feed

6:30 PMBedtime routine

7:00 PMBedtime

10:00 PMPossible night feed (dream feed)

2:00 AMPossible night feed

6-7 Months

Transitioning to 2 naps

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:12-15 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:10-12 hours (with 0-2 wakings)

Daytime sleep:2.5-3.5 hours across 2-3 naps

Wake windows:2-3 hours

Longest stretch:8-12 hours (many babies sleep through)

Sample Schedule: 7 Months (2-Nap Schedule)

7:00 AMWake, milk feed

8:00 AMBreakfast (solids)

9:30 AMNap 1 (1-2 hours)

11:00 AMWake, milk feed

12:00 PMLunch (solids)

2:30 PMNap 2 (1-2 hours)

4:00 PMWake, milk feed

5:30 PMDinner (solids)

6:30 PMBedtime routine, milk feed

7:00 PMBedtime

7:00 AMWake (many babies sleep 12 hrs straight)

6-7 Month Sleep Tips

Watch for signs baby is ready to drop third nap

Keep wake windows age-appropriate to prevent overtiredness

Maintain consistent bedtime routine

Consider sleep training if desired (consult pediatrician)

8-9 Months

Separation anxiety peaks

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:12-14 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:10-12 hours

Daytime sleep:2-3 hours across 2 naps

Wake windows:2.5-3.5 hours

Longest stretch:10-12 hours

What to Expect

8-10 month sleep regression: Separation anxiety and new skills disrupt sleep

Standing in crib may wake baby (hasn't learned to sit back down yet)

Separation anxiety peaks—harder to leave for naps/bedtime

Two predictable naps per day

Most babies on consistent schedule

Sample Schedule: 9 Months

7:00 AMWake, milk

8:00 AMBreakfast

9:45 AMNap 1 (1-2 hours)

11:30 AMWake, milk

12:00 PMLunch

2:45 PMNap 2 (1-1.5 hours)

4:15 PMWake, milk

5:30 PMDinner

6:30 PMBedtime routine, milk

7:00 PMBedtime

10-12 Months

Most consistent schedule

Sleep Needs

Total sleep:11-14 hours per 24 hours

Nighttime sleep:10-12 hours

Daytime sleep:2-3 hours across 2 naps

Wake windows:3-4 hours

Longest stretch:10-12 hours

Sample Schedule: 12 Months

7:00 AMWake, milk

8:00 AMBreakfast

10:00 AMNap 1 (1-1.5 hours)

11:30 AMWake, snack

12:30 PMLunch

2:30 PMNap 2 (1-1.5 hours)

4:00 PMWake, snack, milk

5:30 PMDinner

6:30 PMBedtime routine, milk

7:00 PMBedtime

Wake Windows by Age (Quick Reference)

Sleep Guidelines at a Glance

Age	Wake Window	Number of Naps
0-4 weeks	30-60 min	4-6 naps
4-8 weeks	60-90 min	4-5 naps
2-3 months	1-1.5 hours	4-5 naps
4-5 months	1.5-2 hours	3-4 naps
6-7 months	2-3 hours	2-3 naps
8-10 months	2.5-3.5 hours	2 naps
11-14 months	3-4 hours	2 naps

Common Sleep Problems & Solutions

Short Naps (30-45 Minutes)

Cause: Baby waking between sleep cycles, can't connect cycles yet

Solutions:

Dark room, white noise

Appropriate wake windows

Practice crib naps (not just contact naps)

Short naps are developmentally normal until 5-7 months

Fighting Bedtime

Cause: Overtired, undertired, or wake windows off

Solutions:

Adjust wake windows

Earlier bedtime if overtired

Consistent routine

Early Morning Waking (Before 6 AM)

Cause: Too much daytime sleep, bedtime too early, room too bright

Solutions:

Cap daytime sleep

Later bedtime

Blackout curtains

Frequent Night Waking

Cause: Sleep associations, developmental leaps, sleep regressions

Solutions:

Practice independent sleep skills

Rule out hunger/discomfort

Stay consistent through regressions

Won't Nap in Crib

Cause: Strong sleep associations with contact/motion

Solutions:

Gradual crib practice

Start with one crib nap per day

Use same sleep environment as nighttime

Safe Sleep Reminders (AAP Guidelines)

Back to sleep for every sleep until age 1

Firm, flat sleep surface (crib, bassinet, play yard)

Nothing in crib (no blankets, pillows, bumpers, stuffed animals)

Room-sharing without bed-sharing for first 6-12 months

No smoking around baby

Pacifier at sleep time (after breastfeeding established)

Avoid overheating (room temperature 68-72°F)

When to Seek Help

Consult your pediatrician if:

Baby is sleeping significantly more or less than age ranges

Baby suddenly stops sleeping well after sleeping well previously

Baby has loud snoring or gasping during sleep

You suspect sleep apnea or breathing issues

Your mental health is suffering from sleep deprivation

Follow Your Baby

These schedules are guidelines, not rules. Your baby may need:

Slightly more or less sleep than listed ranges

Longer or shorter wake windows

Earlier or later bedtime

Different nap transition timing

Watch your baby's cues, track patterns, and adjust schedules based on how YOUR baby responds. A well-rested baby is alert and happy when awake. An overtired baby is fussy and fights sleep.

Track Your Baby's Sleep

Use our sleep calculator to analyze patterns and optimize schedules

Try Our Sleep Calculator

Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Complete 0-12 Month Guide 2026

Sleep Basics: Understanding Baby Sleep

Key Concepts

Newborn: 0-8 Weeks

Sleep Needs

What to Expect

Sample Newborn Day (Weeks 4-8)

Newborn Sleep Tips

2-3 Months

Sleep Needs

What to Expect

Sample Schedule: 3 Months

3-Month Sleep Tips

Get Printable Sleep Schedule Templates

Products to Support Healthy Sleep Schedules

Monitor Baby Without WiFi or Apps

Safe, Comfortable Sleep

Preserve Precious Growth Milestones

4-5 Months

Sleep Needs

4-Month Sleep Regression Warning

What to Expect

Sample Schedule: 5 Months

6-7 Months

Sleep Needs

Sample Schedule: 7 Months (2-Nap Schedule)

6-7 Month Sleep Tips

8-9 Months

Sleep Needs

What to Expect

Sample Schedule: 9 Months

10-12 Months

Sleep Needs

Sample Schedule: 12 Months

Wake Windows by Age (Quick Reference)

Sleep Guidelines at a Glance

Common Sleep Problems & Solutions

Short Naps (30-45 Minutes)

Fighting Bedtime

Early Morning Waking (Before 6 AM)

Frequent Night Waking

Won't Nap in Crib

Safe Sleep Reminders (AAP Guidelines)

When to Seek Help

Follow Your Baby

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