Don’t be alarmed if your 12 month old baby starts resisting naps. It’s common to see nap regressions at this age, but it’s typically too early to fully transition to a 1-nap schedule. Rather than dropping to 1 nap right now (which can lead to chronic overtiredness and result in disruptive sleep habits), we recommend lengthening the wake windows in order to preserve the 2-nap schedule for a bit longer.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
How much should a 12 month old sleep?
At 12 months old, we’ll aim for at least 13.25 hours of total sleep per day (11 - 12 hours at night and 2 - 3 hours of day sleep over 2 naps). Most babies need 3.25 - 4 hours of awake time in between sleep periods at this age.
[Note: for children who were born early, we go by their adjusted age for sleep development.]
Top sleep tip for 12 month olds
It might be time for more coziness at bedtime! Check with your pediatrician about introducing a pillow or lovey into your baby’s sleep space after their first birthday.
Sleep fact for 12 month old babies
Many daycare providers move children to 1 nap at this age, which can lead to a lot of overtiredness by the time you start your baby’s bedtime routine. Offering an earlier bedtime on 1-nap days (and sticking to 2 naps on the weekend) can help make the adjustment easier.
Sample 12 month old sleep schedule
Note: Sleep needs vary by child and this chart should be viewed as an example.
Naptime schedule for a 12 month old
How long should a 12 month old nap?
A 12 month old’s nap schedule should allow for 2 - 3 hours of day sleep. Expect your baby to take two naps each day. Ideally, each will be about 60 - 120 minutes long. Most babies need between 3.25 - 4 hours of awake time in between naps at this age.
How many naps for a 12 month old?
Plan for 2 naps a day. The morning nap is typically 3.25 hours after waking in the morning, and the afternoon nap should be offered about 3.5 hours after your baby typically wakes from the first nap. However, if you find that your baby is consistently resisting naps, consider lengthening the wake window before each nap by 15 - 30 minutes.
Here’s an example of what your day may look like at this age:
2-nap schedule with standard wake windows
| Morning rise | 6:30 AM |
| 1st nap | 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM (1 hour nap) 3.25 hours of awake time before 1st nap |
| 2nd nap | 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM (1 hour nap) 3.5 hours of awake time before 2nd nap |
| Get ready for sleep | 6:30 PM |
| Asleep | 7:15 PM 4 hours of awake time before bed |
2-nap schedule with longer wake windows
| Morning rise | 6:30 AM |
| 1st nap | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (1 hour nap) 3.5 hours of awake time before 1st nap |
| 2nd nap | 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM (1 hour nap) 3.75 hours of awake time before 2nd nap |
| Get ready for sleep | 7:00 PM |
| Asleep | 7:45 PM 4 hours of awake time before bed |
Bedtime for a 12 month old
What time should a 12 month old go to bed?
Ideally, your 12 month old will be getting 11 - 12 hours of sleep at night, so bedtime should be 12 - 13 hours after waking in the morning. That said, some babies this age need longer periods of wakefulness between naps, which means bedtime will be shifted later.
If your baby resists the typical 2-nap schedule and needs more awake time between naps, expect that night sleep will temporarily be shorter. This is usually okay as long as your baby averages at least 10 hours of sleep each night, and a better option than prematurely transitioning to a 1-nap schedule.
12 month old baby sleep FAQ
Q: Can a 12 month old baby sleep through the night?
A:
Yes, many babies this age can sleep through the night without parental assistance. If your baby has strong independent sleeping skills and gets enough calories throughout the day, they’re more likely to sleep 11 - 12 hours without needing a feeding, or calling out for your assistance.
Q: How often do 12 month old babies sleep?
A:
When establishing your 12 month old’s sleep schedule, you’ll want to keep wake windows between 3.25 - 4 hours long. Generally, babies stay awake for about 3.25 hours in the morning before their first nap, and 3.5 hours before their second nap. Most 12 month olds need about 4 hours of awake time before bed in order to be sufficiently tired for a long night’s sleep.
Q: How much nighttime sleep for a 12 month old?
A:
Ideally, your 12 month old baby will sleep for 11 - 12 hours at night. However, sleep needs do vary. If your baby has lower sleep needs than the average 13.25 hours of total sleep, many pediatric sleep experts agree that you’ll want to ensure that they get a minimum of 10 hours of nighttime sleep.
Q: How much awake time for a 12 month old?
A:
Awake times for a 12 month old tend to be between 3.25 - 4 hours long. Generally, the first wake window of the day is the shortest, so expect that they’ll need at least 3.25 hours of wakefulness before their first nap. As the day progresses, your baby will be able to stay awake for longer periods, resulting in the longest window of awake time before bed, lasting about 4 hours.
Q: How much daytime sleep for a 12 month old?
A:
Target 2 - 3 hours of day sleep for your 12 month old’s nap schedule, divided between a morning and afternoon nap.
Q: Is there a 12 month old nap regression?
A:
As a result of their growing development, it’s common for babies to start resisting day sleep. Since dropping a nap too early can lead to sleep difficulties, we recommend lengthening the wake windows between naps rather than transitioning to a 1-nap schedule at this age.
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Created Sep 16 2020
