What is a good sleep schedule for my baby's age?

A good schedule follows your baby's age-typical wake windows: short awake stretches and frequent naps in the newborn months, gradually longer awake stretches and fewer naps as your baby grows. Around 4 to 5 months most babies settle into 3 naps, by 6 to 8 months into 2 naps, and toward the end of the first year into 1 to 2 naps with a bedtime usually between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. A schedule is a starting point built from typical ranges, not a rule; your baby's sleepy cues come first.

How many naps should my baby take?

Newborns take about 5 or more short naps a day. This drops to roughly 4 naps by 2 to 4 months, 3 naps from about 4 to 7 months, 2 naps from about 7 to 12 months, and 1 nap from about 12 months into the toddler years. Nap counts are typical ranges, not a standard. Watch how your baby sleeps and wakes, and ask your pediatrician about your child.

When should my baby's bedtime be?

For most babies past the newborn weeks, bedtime lands between about 6:30 and 8:30 PM. The exact time depends on the morning wake-up, how naps went, and the last wake window of the day. A bedtime that follows a full but not overtired final wake window usually makes settling easier. Newborn sleep does not follow a fixed bedtime yet.

How do I move my baby to a new schedule?

Shift gradually, in 10 to 15 minute steps every few days, rather than all at once. Move wake-up, naps, and bedtime in the same direction, and let the new wake windows settle before adjusting again. Watch for sleepy cues during the change, since an off day is normal. For ongoing schedule trouble, your pediatrician is the right next step.

Baby Sleep Schedule by Age

What does a typical day of naps and bedtime look like?

Pick the age and the morning wake-up time to generate a sample day of naps and bedtime, built from typical wake windows for that age. It's a starting point to react to, not a prescription — your baby's sleepy cues always come first.

Free tool Sleep Updated June 2026

Baby's age

Morning wake-up time

Naps and wake windows by age

Age	Typical wake window	Naps per day
Newborn (0–1 month)	35–60 min	5–7+
1–2 months	45–90 min	4–6
2–3 months	1–1.75 hr	4–5
3–4 months	1.25–2 hr	4
4–5 months	1.5–2.5 hr	3–4
5–7 months	2–3 hr	2–3
7–10 months	2.5–3.5 hr	2
10–12 months	3–4 hr	2
12–18 months	3.5–5.5 hr	1–2
18–36 months	5–6 hr	1

Total sleep by age

A schedule shapes the day; total sleep is the bigger picture. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, endorsed by the AAP, gives these per-24-hour ranges including naps:

Age	Total sleep per 24 hr
4–12 months	12–16 hr
1–2 years	11–14 hr
3–5 years	10–13 hr

If naps end after one sleep cycle, bedtime turns into a battle, or your baby seems wired and cranky, the last wake window is often too long — overtiredness is a common cause of short naps and hard bedtimes. Try nudging the window before bed shorter rather than longer. For ongoing sleep concerns, your pediatrician is the right next step.

Quick answers

What is a good sleep schedule for my baby's age?: A good schedule follows your baby's age-typical wake windows: short awake stretches and frequent naps in the newborn months, gradually longer awake stretches and fewer naps as your baby grows. Around 4 to 5 months most babies settle into 3 naps, by 6 to 8 months into 2 naps, and toward the end of the first year into 1 to 2 naps with a bedtime usually between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. A schedule is a starting point built from typical ranges, not a rule; your baby's sleepy cues come first.
How many naps should my baby take?: Newborns take about 5 or more short naps a day. This drops to roughly 4 naps by 2 to 4 months, 3 naps from about 4 to 7 months, 2 naps from about 7 to 12 months, and 1 nap from about 12 months into the toddler years. Nap counts are typical ranges, not a standard. Watch how your baby sleeps and wakes, and ask your pediatrician about your child.
When should my baby's bedtime be?: For most babies past the newborn weeks, bedtime lands between about 6:30 and 8:30 PM. The exact time depends on the morning wake-up, how naps went, and the last wake window of the day. A bedtime that follows a full but not overtired final wake window usually makes settling easier. Newborn sleep does not follow a fixed bedtime yet.
How do I move my baby to a new schedule?: Shift gradually, in 10 to 15 minute steps every few days, rather than all at once. Move wake-up, naps, and bedtime in the same direction, and let the new wake windows settle before adjusting again. Watch for sleepy cues during the change, since an off day is normal. For ongoing schedule trouble, your pediatrician is the right next step.

Sources & further reading

Related sleep tools: the wake window calculator sizes a single awake stretch, the bedtime calculator works backward from a target wake-up, and the sleep planner tracks the real day. Have a specific question? Ask Flo.

See the pattern instead of guessing it.

ParentFlow logs each nap and wake-up, then shows your baby's real day next to a sample one — so the schedule comes from how your baby actually sleeps.

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This tool builds a sample day from typical wake-window ranges compiled from pediatric sleep guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any sleep or health concern, contact your healthcare provider.