Baby Sleep Schedule by Age, Month and Week: 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.
A baby sleep schedule by age: newborns sleep 14 to 18 hours a day in 4 to 6 naps with 30 to 90 minute wake windows, and by 8 to 10 months most babies sleep 12 to 14 hours with 2 naps and 2.5 to 3.5 hour wake windows. Use the chart as a guide and follow your baby's sleep cues. Updated 2026.
| Age | Total sleep per 24 hours | Wake window | Naps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-8 weeks (newborn) | 14-18 hours | 30-90 minutes | 4-6 naps |
| 2-3 months | 14-16 hours | 1-1.5 hours | 4-5 naps |
| 4-5 months | 12-15 hours | 1.5-2 hours | 3-4 naps |
| 6-7 months | 12-15 hours | 2-3 hours | 2-3 naps |
| 8-9 months | 12-14 hours | 2.5-3.5 hours | 2 naps |
| 10-12 months | 11-14 hours | 3-4 hours | 2 naps |
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.
The Two Monitors Parents Pair with These Schedules
A video monitor is what makes wake-window tracking practical: you can confirm your baby is actually asleep without opening the door. These two are the picks we recommend most:
Parent-Favorite Video Monitor
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor
5-inch HD screen, no WiFi required, active noise reduction. The long-running favorite dedicated video monitor.
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Monitor Baby Without WiFi or Apps
HelloBaby No WiFi Baby Monitor (5" Screen)
30-hour battery, night vision, 2-way talk, and 1000ft range. No WiFi or app required - completely private.
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Sleep Basics: Understanding Baby Sleep
Key Concepts
Newborn: 0-8 Weeks
Survival mode is normal
Sleep Needs
What to Expect
Sample Newborn Day (Weeks 4-8)
Note: Times are approximate. Follow baby's hunger cues and sleep cues rather than clock.
Newborn Sleep Tips
2-3 Months
Patterns emerging
Sleep Needs
What to Expect
Sample Schedule: 3 Months
3-Month Sleep Tips
Products to Support Healthy Sleep Schedules
These products help maintain consistent, age-appropriate sleep schedules and monitor your baby's rest:
Safe, Comfortable Sleep
Best OverallHip-healthy, buttery soft bamboo sleep sack replaces loose blankets for safe sleep. Machine washable.
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Beautiful modern baby book to document special moments, milestones, and growth from pregnancy through age 5.
View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These products support safe and consistent sleep routines.
4-5 Months
Sleep regression alert
Sleep Needs
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:
What to Expect
Sample Schedule: 5 Months
6-7 Months
Transitioning to 2 naps
Sleep Needs
Sample Schedule: 7 Months (2-Nap Schedule)
6-7 Month Sleep Tips
8-9 Months
Separation anxiety peaks
Sleep Needs
What to Expect
Sample Schedule: 9 Months
10-12 Months
Most consistent schedule
Sleep Needs
Sample Schedule: 12 Months
Baby Sleep Schedule by Week (Weeks 1 to 12)
Newborn sleep changes fast, so week-by-week is the right lens for the first three months. There is still no clock schedule at this age: feed on demand, watch the wake window and put your baby down at the first sleep cues.
| Week | Wake window | Naps per day | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 30-45 minutes | 4-6 | Sleep comes in 2 to 4 hour stretches around feeds, day and night are not yet different |
| Weeks 3-4 | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 | A growth spurt around week 2 to 3 can mean extra feeds and fussy evenings |
| Weeks 5-6 | 45-75 minutes | 4-5 | Crying often peaks around 6 to 8 weeks (the Period of PURPLE Crying), then eases |
| Weeks 7-8 | 60-90 minutes | 4-5 | Some babies start a 3 to 5 hour night stretch; keep nights dark and quiet, days bright |
| Weeks 9-10 | 60-90 minutes | 4-5 | A simple bedtime routine (bath, feed, song) starts to anchor the evening |
| Weeks 11-12 | 1-1.5 hours | 4-5 | Naps are still short and unpredictable; the first sleep regression can show up near 4 months |
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)
Solutions:
Short naps are developmentally normal until 5-7 months
Fighting Bedtime
Solutions:
Early Morning Waking (Before 6 AM)
Solutions:
Frequent Night Waking
Solutions:
Won't Nap in Crib
Solutions:
Safe Sleep Reminders (AAP Guidelines)
When to Seek Help
Consult your pediatrician if:
Follow Your Baby
These schedules are guidelines, not rules. Your baby may need:
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.
Baby Sleep Schedule FAQ
What is a good baby sleep schedule by month?
Newborns sleep 14 to 18 hours a day. By 2 to 3 months it is 14 to 16 hours, at 4 to 7 months about 12 to 15 hours, and at 8 to 12 months 11 to 14 hours. Naps drop from 4 to 6 a day in the newborn weeks to 2 a day by about 8 months. See the month-by-month chart above for wake windows.
What is a newborn sleep schedule by week?
In the first 4 weeks, newborns stay awake only 30 to 60 minutes between sleeps, and from 4 to 8 weeks the wake window grows to 60 to 90 minutes. There is no fixed clock schedule yet: feed on demand, watch for sleep cues, and expect wakings every 2 to 3 hours.
What is the infant sleep schedule for a 3 month old?
At 2 to 3 months, babies need about 14 to 16 hours of sleep, spread over 4 to 5 naps with 1 to 1.5 hour wake windows, and the longest night stretch reaches about 4 to 6 hours.
How many naps does a baby need?
Newborns take 4 to 6 naps a day. Babies take 3 to 4 naps at 4 to 5 months, 2 to 3 naps at 6 to 7 months, and 2 naps from about 8 months until the move to one nap in the toddler years.
Is there a baby sleep chart by age?
Yes. The chart at the top of this page shows total sleep, wake windows, and nap counts for every stage from birth to 12 months. Sleep needs vary by 1 to 2 hours between healthy babies.
How many hours should a baby sleep in 24 hours?
Newborns need about 14 to 17 hours (the National Sleep Foundation range) and babies 4 to 12 months need about 12 to 16 hours including naps (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics).
What are baby wake windows?
A wake window is how long your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleeps. It starts at 30 to 60 minutes for a newborn, reaches 1.5 to 2 hours at 4 to 5 months and 3 to 4 hours by 10 to 12 months. See the wake window table above.
Where These Baby Sleep Numbers Come From
- Total sleep per day: the National Sleep Foundation's sleep duration recommendations (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015) give 14 to 17 hours for newborns and 12 to 15 hours for infants 4 to 11 months. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus statement, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours including naps for babies 4 to 12 months (Paruthi et al., 2016).
- Safe sleep: the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on sleep-related infant deaths (2022): back to sleep, a firm flat surface, nothing else in the crib, and room-sharing without bed-sharing.
- Wake windows and nap counts: these are common clinical and sleep-consultant ranges, not a published standard. They are a starting point for reading your baby's cues. Babies vary by 1 to 2 hours a day and still be healthy.
This guide is general education, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician if your baby is not gaining weight, seems unusually sleepy or hard to wake, or snores or struggles to breathe in sleep.
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Related Calculators
The companion book
Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
by Casey Morgan
Wake windows, nap schedules, and gentle fixes for night waking, from newborn to age three. The companion book to our sleep schedule calculators.
Nap Window
Know exactly when your baby should nap, in seconds.
No tracking. No logging. No accounts. Ages 0–36 months.
Download on the App StoreFrom the makers of ParentCalc
Track Your Baby's Sleep
Use our sleep calculator to analyze patterns and optimize schedules
Try Our Sleep Calculator