Sample Baby Sleep Schedules by Age

How to use these schedules

Every baby is different, so treat the times below as a realistic template rather than a rule. The two numbers worth anchoring to are total sleep in 24 hours and naps per day, both of which are well established by age. The clock times around them are just one reasonable way to space sleep, and shifting everything an hour to fit your family is fine.

The more reliable guide than the clock is your baby's wake windows, the awake stretch between sleeps, and their tired cues like yawning, eye-rubbing, or zoning out. A newborn may last only 30 to 60 minutes awake, while a toddler can handle 5 to 6 hours. When the schedule and the cues disagree, follow the cues.

Sample schedule and sleep needs by age

Total sleep includes naps. Sample wake and bedtimes are one common pattern; nap counts and totals are the parts to anchor to.

Age	Naps / day	Total sleep / 24h	Sample day
Newborn (0-3 mo)	4-6 (irregular)	14-17 hr	Sleeps in 1-3 hr cycles around the clock; wakes to feed every 2-3 hr day and night
4 months	3-4	12-16 hr	Wake 7:00, naps ~9:00, 12:00, 3:00, catnap late afternoon, bed ~7:30
6 months	2-3	12-16 hr	Wake 7:00, nap 9:30, nap 1:30, short nap if needed, bed 7:30
9 months	2	12-16 hr	Wake 7:00, nap 9:30 (~1 hr), nap 2:00 (~1.5 hr), bed 7:30
12 months	1-2	12-16 hr	Wake 7:00, nap 10:00, nap 2:30, bed 7:30 (moving toward one nap)
18 months	1	11-14 hr	Wake 7:00, nap 12:30-2:30, bed 7:30
2-3 years	1	11-14 hr	Wake 7:00, nap 1:00-2:30, bed 7:30-8:00

What changes as they grow

In the newborn months there is barely a schedule at all. Sleep comes in short bursts between feeds, day and night look similar, and that is expected because newborn stomachs are tiny. Around 4 months, sleep starts to organize: nights lengthen, naps begin to land at predictable times, and you can start a consistent bedtime routine.

From 6 to 12 months most babies settle into two solid naps and a long night, often 9 to 12 hours with some wakings. Around 12 to 18 months the morning nap drops away and they move to a single midday nap, which most keep through ages 2 and 3. Total sleep eases down the whole time, from about 14-17 hours as a newborn to 11-14 hours as a toddler.

Read the baby, not the clock

Signs your real schedule needs adjusting:

• Fighting a nap they used to take easily often means the wake window before it is too short, or it is time to drop a nap.
• Early-morning waking or split nights can come from a bedtime that is too early or too much daytime sleep.
• Short 30-minute naps are common in younger babies and usually stretch out with age, not with a stricter schedule.
• A sudden change after months of stability is more likely illness, teething, or a developmental leap than a broken routine.
• If total sleep over 24 hours lands in the range for their age, the exact clock times matter far less.

Reflects AASM/AAP sleep-duration guidance and Sleep Foundation schedules, 2024-2026.

Related questions

How many hours should a baby sleep by age?

Newborns sleep about 14 to 17 hours, infants 4 to 12 months about 12 to 16 hours, and toddlers 1 to 2 years about 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours, including naps. Preschoolers 3 to 5 years need about 10 to 13 hours.

When do babies drop to two naps, then one?

Most babies settle into two naps between about 6 and 9 months, then drop to a single afternoon nap somewhere between 13 and 18 months. Watch readiness signs, not just age.

Should I wake my baby to keep a schedule?

In the newborn weeks, pediatricians often advise waking to feed every 3 to 4 hours until weight gain is established. Once that is on track, you can usually let a healthy baby sleep, and capping very long late naps can protect bedtime.

Are wake windows better than a clock schedule?

For younger babies, yes. Wake windows and tired cues track a baby's biology more closely than fixed clock times. As babies get older and naps consolidate, clock-based schedules become more reliable.

Sources & further reading

1. Sleep Foundation — How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?
2. Nemours KidsHealth — Naps
3. Cleveland Clinic — All About Sleep in Your Baby's First Year
4. AASM — Child Sleep Duration Health Advisory

This article reflects current AAP, CDC, FDA, and other public-health 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 medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.