Newborn Sleep Schedule: From Birth to 12 Months

If your baby doesn’t have a sleep schedule, you’re not doing anything wrong. Sleep cycle in the first year is messy, ever-changing, and totally unique from one baby to the next. Still, there are some common trends that show up as your little one grows. And knowing those ahead of time can make the whole process feel a bit less stressful.

This guide covers what you can usually expect from newborn sleep through the first 12 months, including insights on daytime naps, nighttime routines, and the transitions that catch most parents off guard.

What to Expect From Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule in the First Year

Most parents want their baby to sleep well, but it’s hard to know what “well” really means when you’re surrounded by conflicting advice. In this situation, many questions come up fast, like:

• How much sleep is OK for a newborn?
• How long will my newborn sleep?
• How much is too much sleep for a newborn?
• When can a baby start sleeping through the night?
• How long should a baby nap during the day?
• Why does my baby wake up so much at night?

Let’s clear up some of the most common myths first. One big one? The idea that sleep gets better month by month, like some smooth upward trend. In reality, most babies go through ups and downs. A few sleepy nights might be followed by a rough patch, and that’s totally normal. So if your baby is feeding well and growing, let them sleep when they want and wake up when they need to.

Newborn Sleep Schedule from Birth to 12 Months

Here’s how much sleep your baby might get at each stage, from birth through their first birthday.

Birth to 2 Month Old Sleep Schedule

During the first two months, your baby will spend most of their time asleep, around 14 to 18 hours daily. However, sleep comes in short stretches. You can expect your baby to nap in bursts of 1 to 3 hours, day and night. Their internal clock (circadian rhythm) hasn’t developed yet, so there’s no clear separation between AM and PM.

And it’s completely normal for babies to wake several times overnight as well. Some may start sleeping a longer 5–6 hour stretch closer to 3 months, but it’s not typical in the early weeks.

Pro Tip: Newborns need milk every 2–3 hours if breastfed, and every 3–4 hours if formula-fed. A video baby monitor can be helpful during this time, allowing you to watch your baby’s awake time without entering the room, so you can spot when they’re up and ready to feed.

0-2 Month Daily Schedule Snapshot

• Total Sleep: 14–18 hours
• Daytime Sleep: 6–8 hours (split across multiple naps)
• Nighttime Sleep: 8–10 hours (in short chunks)
• Wake Windows: 45–60 minutes at first & 1–2 hours by the second month.

3 to 5 Month Sleep Schedule

By the time your baby reaches 3 months of age, you’ll likely notice longer wake windows during the day and more consistent sleep at night. The average 3 month old sleep schedule includes about 12 to 16 hours of sleep per day.

Around the 4-month mark, sleep may take a temporary hit. Known as the 4-month sleep regression, this phase can involve shorter naps, more frequent night wakings, and increased fussiness. But don’t worry, it’s all part of normal development. However, night egg light and a calming wind-down help maintain some routine.

When the baby hits 5 months, things start to smooth out again. While every baby develops on their own timeline, this month often brings a bit more sleep for parents as well.

3-5 Month Daily Schedule Snapshot

• Total Sleep: 12–16 hours
• Daytime Sleep: 4–6 hours across 2–3 naps
• Nighttime Sleep: 6–8 hours
• Naps: 2–3 per day, each 1 to 2 hours
• Bedtime: Around 8:30-9:00 PM

6 to 8 Month Sleep Schedule

By 6 months, many babies are capable of sleeping about 8 hours through the night without feeding. That said, if your baby still wakes once during the night, it’s completely normal.

During this stage, you’ll likely see your baby move to two or three naps daily, and total daytime sleep usually falls between 3-5 hours.

Teething can ramp up by the 8^th month. It usually causes discomfort, sudden wake-ups, and in some cases, mild fever. If your baby feels warm, use a baby thermometer to check for a temperature and seek medical help quickly.

6-8 Month Daily Schedule Snapshot

• Total Sleep: 12 to 16 hours
• Wake Time: Around 6:00 to 8:00 AM.
• Naps: 2 to 3 naps daily, for 3 to 5 hours.
• Bedtime: Around 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
• Night Sleep: 6 to 10 hours

9 to 12 Month Sleep Schedule

Many 9-10 month babies sleep through the night for 7 to 10 hours, with naps in the morning and afternoon totaling about 3 to 4 hours. By the time you’re settling into an 11 month old sleep schedule, separation anxiety and developmental leaps such as standing, crawling, and walking can temporarily disrupt sleep.

This stage calls for extra care, and once they begin crawling between rooms, the VAVA baby monitor split screen feature can be a big help. It supports up to four camera feeds and displays two views at once, so you can monitor both the nursery and living room simultaneously.

Afterward, most one-year-olds (12 months) continue with two naps totaling 2 to 4 hours and sleep through the night for about 7 to 10 hours.

9-12 Month Daily Schedule Snapshot

• Total Sleep: 12 to 16 hours
• Wake Time: Around 6:00 and 7:00 AM.
• Naps: Two naps per day, each of 2 hours
• Bedtime: Around 7:00 and 9:00 PM.
• Night Sleep: 7 to 10 hours

Ending Remarks

Every baby follows their own pace when it comes to sleep, so try not to get too caught up in rigid schedules. You’ll deal with growth spurts, regressions, teething, and bursts of independence. What matters most is staying informed and being flexible. And don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Even a 10-minute walk outside, a quick call with a friend, or a moment to breathe can help reset your energy. A baby monitor can help you a lot during the first year. You can keep an eye on your baby’s activities without constantly hovering. With the right tools, a bit of routine, and some grace for yourself, everything gets better.