Newborn (0–3 months)
Sleep is not yet organised into a schedule and night feeds are expected. Focus on full feeds, daylight exposure, and a simple wind-down rather than any structured training.
Reference chart
Age-by-Age Sleep Expectations: Newborn to Age Five
How much sleep your child actually needs, how many naps to expect, and what wake windows look like at every stage — so you can tell the difference between a real sleep problem and a normal phase.
How much sleep does my child need?
Newborns aged 0–3 months need about 14–17 hours of sleep in 24 hours. Babies aged 4–12 months need about 12–16 hours including naps. Toddlers aged 1–2 years need 11–14 hours, and children aged 3–5 years need 10–13 hours. These are ranges rather than targets: the most reliable sign your child is getting enough sleep is that they settle without a battle and wake in a good mood.
Sleep needs by age
| Age | Total sleep / 24h | Night sleep | Naps | Wake windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0–3 months) | 14–17 hours | 8–9 hours (broken) | 4–6 naps, highly variable | 45–90 minutes |
| 4–6 months | 12–16 hours | 10–12 hours | 3–4 naps | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| 6–9 months | 12–15 hours | 10–12 hours | 3 naps, moving to 2 | 2–3 hours |
| 9–12 months | 12–15 hours | 11–12 hours | 2 naps | 3–4 hours |
| 12–18 months | 11–14 hours | 11–12 hours | 2 naps, moving to 1 | 3.5–5 hours |
| 18 months–3 years | 11–14 hours | 10–12 hours | 1 nap, 1.5–3 hours | 5–6 hours |
| 3–5 years | 10–13 hours | 10–13 hours | 0–1 nap | 6–12 hours |
What to expect at each stage
4–6 months
The four-month sleep progression happens here as sleep cycles mature. This is the most common window for families to start structured gentle sleep training.
6–9 months
Most babies drop to two naps between seven and nine months. Separation anxiety and new motor skills such as crawling and pulling to stand often disrupt sleep temporarily.
9–12 months
A false one-nap transition is common around nine to ten months. Most babies still need two naps until at least fourteen months.
12–18 months
The 2-to-1 nap transition usually lands between fourteen and eighteen months. Moving too early is a common cause of early morning waking.
18 months–3 years
Bedtime resistance and testing limits peak here. A visual routine chart and a firm, warm bedtime boundary do more than any change to the schedule.
3–5 years
Many children drop the nap between three and four. If naps push bedtime past 8pm, cap or drop the nap and move bedtime earlier for a few weeks.
Common questions
- How much sleep does my baby need by age?
- Newborns need about 14 to 17 hours in 24 hours, babies aged four to twelve months need about 12 to 16 hours including naps, toddlers aged one to two need 11 to 14 hours, and children aged three to five need 10 to 13 hours. These are ranges, not targets — a well-rested child wakes happy and settles easily, whatever the number.
- What are wake windows and why do they matter?
- A wake window is the amount of time your child can comfortably stay awake between sleeps. Too short and your child is not tired enough to settle; too long and stress hormones make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Matching wake windows to your child's age resolves a large share of bedtime and night-waking problems on its own.
- When do babies drop to two naps, and then one?
- Most babies move from three naps to two between seven and nine months, and from two naps to one between fourteen and eighteen months. Moving too early is one of the most common causes of early morning waking and sudden night wakings.
- When should my child drop their nap entirely?
- Usually between three and four years old. Signs it is time include consistently taking a long time to fall asleep at bedtime, waking early after napping well, or refusing the nap for a week or more while still being pleasant in the late afternoon.
- Do neurodivergent children need different amounts of sleep?
- Total sleep needs are broadly similar, but autistic and ADHD children often take longer to fall asleep, wake more at night, and are more sensitive to schedule shifts and sensory input. Age-based averages are still a useful starting point, but the routine around them usually needs more structure and more regulation support.
Keep reading
- Gentle sleep training: a complete guide — the five steps, and how long each one takes.
- Free bedtime checklist — a one-page routine you can use tonight.
- Sleep consulting packages — a plan built for your child's exact age and temperament.
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