Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Month-by-Month Charts (0–12)
Here's the short answer: newborns sleep in short bursts around the clock, babies settle into 3 naps around 5 months, 2 naps around 7–9 months, and most are heading for one nap by their first birthday — with bedtime landing between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. from about 4–5 months on — on 14–17 hours of total sleep as a newborn, settling to 12–16 hours (naps included) from 4 to 12 months. The month-by-month chart below gives you the wake times, naps and bedtimes for every stage.
Two things to keep in mind before you read the chart. First, every number below is a typical range, not a target — healthy babies vary by 30–60 minutes on clock times, and by 1–2 hours on total sleep. Second, the shape of the day matters more than any single clock time: a steady wake-up, naps spaced by age-appropriate wake windows, and a bedtime that isn't too late.
The month-by-month sleep schedule chart
| Age | Total sleep (24 hrs) | Wake-up | Wake window | Naps | Typical nap lengths | Bedtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | 14–17 hrs | No set time yet | 30–90 min | 4–6+ | 20 min–2 hrs, scattered (occasionally 3–4 hrs in the first weeks) | No set time yet |
| 2 months | 14–17 hrs | ~7:00 a.m. | 60–90 min | 4–5 | 30 min–2 hrs | ~8:00–10:00 p.m., moving earlier |
| 3 months | 14–17 hrs | ~7:00 a.m. | 75–120 min | 3–4 (many still 4–5) | 30 min–2 hrs | ~7:30–9:00 p.m. |
| 4 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~7:00 a.m. | 1.5–2.5 hrs | 3–4 | 30 min–2 hrs (most 45–90 min) | ~7:30–8:30 p.m. |
| 5 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~7:00 a.m. | 2–2.5 hrs | 3 | 30 min–1.5 hrs (30–45-min naps still normal) | ~7:00–8:00 p.m. |
| 6 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~7:00 a.m. | 2–3 hrs | 2–3 | 1–1.5 hrs (3rd nap: 30–45-min catnap) | ~7:00–7:30 p.m. |
| 7–8 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~6:30–7:00 a.m. | 2.5–3.5 hrs | 2 (3rd nap dropping at 7 months) | 1–1.5 hrs each | ~7:00–7:30 p.m. |
| 9–10 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~6:30–7:00 a.m. | 3–4 hrs | 2 | 1–1.5 hrs each | ~7:00–7:30 p.m. |
| 11–12 months | 12–16 hrs (incl. naps) | ~6:30–7:00 a.m. | 3–4 hrs | 2 (some try 1) | 1–1.5 hrs each | ~7:00–7:30 p.m. |
Totals are the AASM recommendations endorsed by the AAP and listed by the CDC; the AASM gives no set total under 4 months because newborn sleep varies so widely. Wake windows are clinical/sleep-consultant ranges, not an AAP/CDC standard — the companion guide shows how to adjust them for your baby.
Keep the chart on your fridge
The free Wake Window Cheat Sheet puts the 0–6 month chart and the sleepy cues on one printable page.
Get the free cheat sheet →What nights actually look like
The chart above shows bedtime and wake-up — but not what happens in between. Realistic night expectations by age:
| Age | Longest stretch | Night feeds / wakings still normal |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | 2–4 hrs | Feeds every 2–3 hrs, day and night |
| 2–3 months | 4–6 hrs | 2–3 night feeds common |
| 4–6 months | 6–8 hrs for some | 1–3 wakings, 1–2 feeds common |
| 6–12 months | 6–8+ hrs for many | 0–2 wakings; many can go without a feed from ~6 months, but feeding overnight is still normal |
“Sleeping through the night” in sleep research means one 5–6-hour stretch — not 11–12 hours. In one large Canadian study, 38% of 6-month-olds had not yet slept 6 hours in a row and 28% of 12-month-olds hadn’t either — and those babies were developing normally. Night waking in the first year is biology, not a schedule failure.
Around 4 months, nights often get worse before they get better — that is the 4-month sleep regression, and it passes.
Sample days at three key stages
3 months: four naps, no real pattern yet
Wake ~7:00 → nap 8:30–9:30 → nap 11:00–12:30 → nap 2:00–3:00 → catnap 5:00–5:45 → bed ~7:45. Don't chase a perfect routine here — at 3 months, "roughly the same shape every day" is already a win, and nights still include feeds.
6 months: three naps, and the day starts to click
Wake 7:00 → nap 9:30–11:00 → nap 1:30–3:00 → catnap 5:00–5:30 → bed 7:30. This is the first age where a real schedule feels possible: wake windows are long enough to plan around, and the morning nap often becomes the most reliable one. If bedtime becomes a fight, stretch that last wake window toward 2.5–3 hours — by 6 months the last window is usually the day’s longest.
9 months: two solid naps
Wake 7:00 → nap 10:00–11:30 → nap 2:30–4:00 → bed 7:30. Two-nap days are the sweet spot for many families: mornings are usable, afternoons are predictable, and bedtime stops being a nightly negotiation.
The nap transitions (and the traps)
4 → 3 naps (around 3–5 months, most by 4–5)
The fourth nap starts getting refused, or bedtime creeps later and later. The fix is usually to stretch wake windows slightly and let the late catnap go — then pull bedtime earlier for a week while the new pattern settles.
3 → 2 naps (around 6–9 months)
The third catnap becomes a battle. Drop it, but expect 2–3 unsettled weeks of earlier bedtimes (as early as 6:30 p.m.) while the two longer naps stretch to fill the day.
2 → 1 nap (around 13–18 months, so just past this chart)
The most faked-out transition of all: many babies refuse the second nap for a week, then want it back. Don't drop to one nap on a single bad week. When the drop is real, the one nap lands midday — roughly 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. once the transition settles (11:30 a.m. starts are common in the first transition weeks — pair those days with a 6:30–7:00 p.m. bedtime) — and bedtime stays near 7:30 p.m. Expect 2–4 unsettled weeks; most babies make the move around 14–16 months.
Schedule gone sideways for weeks rather than days? It may be a regression, not a transition — see Sleep Regression Ages for the difference and how long each one lasts.
Three rules that fix most schedule problems
- Anchor the wake-up. A consistent morning wake time (within 30 minutes) makes every nap more predictable than any schedule app will.
- Guard the last nap. A last nap that ends too late pushes bedtime late, which makes mornings early, which wrecks the next day. End the last nap one full wake window before bedtime — about 1.5–2 hours at 3 months, 2–2.5 hours at 5–6 months, and 3–4 hours by 9–12 months.
- When in doubt, earlier bedtime. Short naps or a skipped nap are best repaired with an earlier bedtime, not a later one. An overtired baby falls asleep harder and wakes earlier — the opposite of what tired parents hope for.
When to call your pediatrician
Most schedule problems are timing problems. Call your pediatrician if you notice:
- Breathing pauses, gasping, or loud persistent snoring in sleep
- Your baby is hard to wake or too sleepy to feed
- Poor weight gain, or far fewer wet diapers than usual
- Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher in a baby under 3 months
- Total sleep persistently far below the range for age (for example under ~11 hours at 6–12 months), or a sudden big change from your baby’s normal
- Bedtime takes 60+ minutes every night for 3+ weeks, or naps are consistently under 30 minutes for 3+ weeks
- You are so sleep-deprived you feel unsafe caring for your baby — that alone is reason enough to call
Questions parents ask us
What time should my baby wake up in the morning?
For most babies, between 6:00 and 7:30 a.m. works best, because it lines up with a bedtime around 7:00–8:00 p.m. and keeps the day’s nap windows in a predictable rhythm. A consistent wake time matters more than the exact hour — it anchors every nap that follows.
How many naps should my baby take?
Newborns nap 4–6 times a day, babies drop to 3 naps around 5 months, 2 naps around 7–9 months, and most are on 1 nap by 13–18 months. Drop a nap only when your baby consistently refuses it for a week or more, not after one bad day.
What is a good bedtime for a baby?
Between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. suits most babies in the first year. An earlier bedtime often helps more than a later one when naps have been short: an overtired baby falls asleep harder and wakes earlier, so if overtiredness is the cause, moving bedtime earlier by 30 minutes can actually fix early waking (early waking can also mean too much day sleep, or light creeping in — check those too).
My baby’s schedule doesn’t match the chart — is that a problem?
Not by itself. These charts show typical ranges, and healthy babies vary by 30–60 minutes on clock times, and by 1–2 hours on total sleep. What matters is the pattern: a baby who sleeps roughly the right total in 24 hours (see the chart’s total-sleep column), settles without long battles and wakes mostly happy is on a schedule that works, even if the clock times differ.
How many hours should my baby sleep in 24 hours?
Newborns (0–3 months) typically sleep 14–17 hours in 24 hours. From 4 to 12 months the AASM recommendation, endorsed by the AAP and listed by the CDC, is 12–16 hours including naps, and from 1 to 2 years it is 11–14 hours. Healthy babies vary by 1–2 hours either side of these ranges.
When do babies sleep through the night?
In research, ‘sleeping through’ means a 5–6-hour stretch. Many babies manage that between 3 and 6 months, longer stretches build across 6–12 months, and plenty of healthy babies still wake or feed overnight at 9–12 months. See ‘What nights actually look like’ above.
Why does my baby only nap for 30 minutes?
A 30–45-minute nap is one full sleep cycle, and short naps are normal until cycles consolidate around 5–6 months. Check the wake window first (too short or too long both shorten naps), keep the room dark, and give your baby a minute or two to resettle before getting them up.
Should I wake my baby from a nap?
Usually only for two reasons: a newborn who has slept 3–4 hours without feeding (until your pediatrician confirms good weight gain), or a late/last nap that would push bedtime too late — wake by the ‘last nap ends one wake window before bedtime’ rule above. Otherwise, let them sleep.
How do I know if my baby is overtired?
Early signs: gaze drifting away, drooping eyelids, red eyebrows. Yawning usually means you are already at the edge of the window. Later come eye/ear rubbing, arching and clinginess. An overtired baby may look wired and hyper, then melt down — and will usually settle faster with an earlier bedtime the next night, not a later one.
Want the whole plan, not just the chart?
Wake Windows Made Simple is the full 44-page kit: age-by-age charts up to 24 months, sample schedules for every stage, nap-transition playbooks and the troubleshooting pages for the hard weeks — printable, fridge-friendly, and written for 2 a.m. brains.
$5 at founding launch (regularly $30)
See Wake Windows Made Simple →Sources & further reading: KidsHealth (Nemours) — All About Sleep · AAP HealthyChildren — A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep · CDC — About Sleep · HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?