Sleep and development guides by age

Sleep patterns, feeding rhythms, and how to find your footing in those early weeks.

More alert stretches and a bit more time between sleeps.

First social smiles, longer wake windows, and growing eye contact.

Hand discovery, the start of more predictable rhythms, and the beginning of babbling.

First chuckles, new social awareness, and shifting sleep.

Rolling practice, longer wake windows, and more predictable naps.

Solid foods begin, sitting with support, and rolling both ways.

Sitting up independently, scooting or pre-crawling, 3-to-2 nap transition begins.

Babbles sound more like speech, working on crawling, possible shift to a 2-nap schedule.

Shows feelings with facial expressions and gestures, gets in and out of sitting on their own, a more predictable 2-nap rhythm.

Cruising along furniture, imitates sounds and babbles, explores objects with curiosity, potential sleep challenges.

Understands simple instructions, prefers certain people and toys, nap resistance.

First birthday, early steps, and exploring independence, 2-nap schedule persists.

Mimicking, showing affection, and possible nap resistance.

Walking practice, nap resistance, sweet hugs and kisses.

Vocabulary expands, picky eating is common, some are down to one nap.

Scribbling, nap resistance, and toddler independence in full swing.

Big opinions, more words, and a toddler who knows what they want.

18-month checkup, language leap, and the peak of toddler autonomy.