Posted by Hayden Chen 
You are not the only worried parent if you’ve ever Googled “How much should my baby be sleeping?” in the middle of the night with one hand while holding a bottle in the other. Baby sleep is one of the most confusing parts of parenting in the early months. Just when you think you’ve figured out a routine, growth spurts, teething, or newfound skills like rolling or standing can shake everything up.
In this guide, you’ll find baby sleep charts by age that outline nap schedules, overnight sleep, wake windows, nap transitions, total sleep needs, and more.
Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
Over the first year or two of a child's life, sleep habits vary greatly. Most of them start to show a more consistent pattern from three to four months of age. By 6 months, many are ready for more structured nap and bedtime routines. To help make sense of the changes, we’ve put together sleep schedule charts organized by age below.
Note: Each baby is unique; hence, see these charts as flexible guides rather than rigid rules. Consult your pediatrician if you ever have doubts or observe anything unusual.
0 to 2 Month Baby Sleep Schedule
During the first eight weeks, your baby’s internal clock is still forming, so sleep cycles can be unpredictable. Nap counts also vary and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and your little one may nod off at any time of day. On average, newborns sleep about 15.5 hours over 24 hours.
Skip a strict timetable for now. Instead, watch for wake windows (typically 30 to 90 minutes) and cues like eye rubbing, yawns, or fussiness. A baby monitor can be helpful here, letting you keep an eye or ear on your newborn while they nap in another room. Since newborns aren’t yet able to self-soothe, you’ll likely be the one helping them fall asleep—whether that’s through feeding, rocking, or holding.
3 to 5 Month Baby Sleep Schedule
By the time your baby hits the 3-month mark, you may notice the first hints of a sleep pattern forming. On average, a baby of this age group sleeps for 14 to 15 hours per day, with daytime naps making up a good chunk of that.
At night, most babies still wake a few times, but you may notice those stretches of uninterrupted sleep getting longer. And if you’ve been following a 3 month old sleep schedule, wake windows also get wider as your baby grows. They’ll likely be able to stay up and engaged for longer periods between naps, especially toward 5 months.
Here’s a 3 to 5-month sleep schedule for a healthy baby:
| Age | Total Sleep | Daytime Naps | Total Nap Time | Wake Window | Night Wake-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 14–17 hours | 4–5 naps | 4–5 hours | 1–2 hours | 2–6 times |
| 4 months | 14.5 hours | 3–4 naps | 3.5–4.5 hours | 1.5–2.5 hours | 1–4 times |
| 5 months | 14–15 hours | 3 naps | 2.5–3.5 hours | 2–3 hours | 1–3 times |
6 to 8 Month Baby Sleep Schedule
Between 6 and 8 months, your baby’s sleep starts to look more settled — most are logging about 14 hours in a full day. By 8 months, many babies begin dropping the third nap as they stretch their wake windows. Nighttime sleep often improves, too, with fewer wake-ups.
At this age, they begin to recognize voices, and hearing you is all it takes to help them drift back to sleep. Here, the VAVA baby monitor can be very handy. Its two-way talk feature lets you soothe your baby with your voice without entering the room.
| Age | Total Sleep | Daytime Naps | Total Nap Time | Wake Window | Night Wake-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 14–17 hours | 4–5 naps | 4–5 hours | 1–2 hours | 2–6 times |
| 4 months | 14.5 hours | 3–4 naps | 3.5–4.5 hours | 1.5–2.5 hours | 1–4 times |
| 5 months | 14–15 hours | 3 naps | 2.5–3.5 hours | 2–3 hours | 1–3 times |
| 6 months | 14 hours | 3 naps | 2.5–3.5 hours | 2.25–3 hours | 1–2 times |
| 7 months | 14 hours | 2–3 naps | 2.5–3.5 hours | 2.5–3.25 hours | 0–2 times |
| 8 months | 14 hours | 2–3 naps | 2–3 hours | 2.75–3.5 hours | 0–1 times |
9 to 12 Month Old Sleep Schedule
From 9 to 12 months, most babies settle into two naps a day. However, the sleep needs don’t shift dramatically. Expect about 13.25 to 14 hours of sleep, with 2 to 3 hours during the day and 11–12 hours overnight. That said, things like teething, crawling, or standing can still throw sleep off temporarily.
This stage also comes with more mobility, so you’ll need to stay alert. Baby monitors can help you very much in this regard. With your baby more active in the crib, a monitor lets you watch sudden movements, attempts to pull up, or unexpected wake-ups without having to step in every time.
| Age | Total Sleep | Daytime Naps | Total Nap Time | Wake Window | Night Wake-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 months | 14 hours | 2 naps | 2–3 hours | 2.5–3.5 hours | 0–1 times |
| 10 months | 13.5 hours | 2 naps | 2–3 hours | 3–4 hours | 0–1 times |
| 11 months | 13.5 hours | 2 naps | 2–3 hours | 3–4.5 hours | 0–1 times |
| 12 months | 13.25 hours | 2 naps | 2–3 hours | 3–4.5 hours | 0–1 times |
13 To 15 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Your toddler can begin showing symptoms indicating they are outgrowing their two-nap schedule between 13 and 15 months. However, we recommend continuing two naps a day for now. If one nap or both are skipped, you can always move bedtime earlier to help avoid overtiredness.
By this age, your child also becomes more aware of their surroundings. Hence, having a familiar bedtime environment paired with a soft blanket or a gentle baby night light can help your little one sleep more quickly.
| Age | Total Sleep | Daytime Naps | Total Nap Time | Wake Window | Night Wake-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 months | 13.25 hours | 2 naps | 2–3 hours | 3.5–4.5 hours | 0–1 times |
| 14 months | 13.25 hours | 1–2 naps | 2–3 hours | 4–5 hours | 0–1 times |
| 15 months | 13 hours | 1–2 naps | 2–3 hours | 4.5–5.5 hours | 0–1 times |
16–18 Month Old Sleep Schedule
Most toddlers are finishing the switch to a single daily nap by this age, usually in the early afternoon. This nap can last for two to three hours, while the average daily sleep falls between 13 and 14 hours.
| Age | Total Sleep | Daytime Naps | Total Nap Time | Wake Window | Night Wake-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 months | 13–14 hours | 1–2 naps | 2–3 hours | 4.5–6 hours | 0–1 times |
| 17 months | 13–14 hours | 1–2 naps | 2–3 hours | 5–6 hours | 0–1 times |
| 18 months | 13–14 hours | 1 nap | 2–3 hours | 5–6.5 hours | 0–1 times |
Key Takeaways
From birth to toddler age, baby sleep demands vary fast, moving from irregular naps to more steady patterns and longer waking hours. Consistent patterns start showing in the first 4 to 6 months, as the total daily sleep declines from around 15.5 hours in the early months to roughly 13 hours by 18 months. Understanding your baby's cues, keeping flexible routines, and changing as developmental milestones emerge may help you both promote healthy sleeping patterns. Remember that the above figures are arbitrary and that your observation can differ.
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