Baby sleep schedule by age: Nap and sleep chart

Babies learn and grow so much in their first years of life — in the sleep department too! Once babies are out of the chaotic, sleepy newborn stage they’re likely developmentally ready for an age-appropriate sleep schedule. But where to start? We’re here to help you understand what to expect when it comes to wake windows and sleep times by age, which can help ensure your child gets the shuteye they need. 

In this article, we’ll provide you with child sleep charts by age that can help set your expectations for nap schedules, overnight sleep, nap transitions, sleep totals by age, and more. 

When can you get a baby on a sleep schedule?

In the first weeks and months of your little one’s life, we expect sleep to be pretty erratic and don’t recommend striving for a regular sleep schedule just yet. Irregular sleep patterns are developmentally appropriate at this age since babies aren’t born with predictable or organized sleep cycles [1]. Flexibility is the name of the game in the newborn phase! 

Around 3 - 4 months of age, your child will likely have more of a typical 24-hour cycle for sleeping and eating which means they may have a bit more of a predictable schedule, though short naps are still common. At this age, we’ll aim to continue following age-appropriate wake windows and sleepy cues to determine when your little one is ready for sleep. Most babies aren’t quite ready for a “by the clock” schedule with set times for naps and bedtime until at least 6 months. 

Note that even when your child is ready for more of a predictable sleep schedule, you’ll want to reevaluate and update their nap frequency. Your baby will go through multiple nap transitions in their first few years of life as they grow, require less daytime sleep, and are able to comfortably stay awake for longer periods. 

It may seem like every time you turn around there’s some sort of sleep regression or nap transition — it can feel overwhelming! However, there are plenty of tools you can use to help your child get the rest they need. For example, even before your child is ready for a sleep schedule, you can implement a consistent bedtime routine that will signal to your child that it’s time to sleep. This routine can evolve with your child and will likely be soothing for any age group, from babies to toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond. 

If you’d like help setting up a sleep schedule that works for your little one, consider submitting for a sleep plan through Huckleberry Premium. Our step-by-step plans are tailored to your child’s needs as well as your family’s goals.

Baby sleep schedule by age

Do you feel like the second you figure out your child’s optimal sleep schedule it changes? This is a normal albeit frustrating part of parenting, especially in the first year or two of your child’s life. To help take some of the guesswork out, we’ve set up some sleep schedule charts to help set your expectations for what the first few years of your child’s sleep may look like — from naps by age to typical wake windows and bedtimes. 

Keep in mind that all children are different and these guidelines are just suggestions. When evaluating if your little one is getting enough sleep, it can also be helpful to gauge their overall mood and energy levels. However, if you have any concerns about your child’s sleep or notice any red flags in regard to any other milestones, it’s best to bring them up with their pediatrician. 

First year

In just the first year of a child’s life, they’ll transition from being a sleepy newborn to an active toddler, so it’s normal for their sleep needs to evolve as they grow in the first 12 months and beyond. Fortunately, the chaotic newborn sleep phase is just that — a phase!   

Newborn (0 to 2 months)

The newborn phase is all about flexibility. Some naps may be 30 minutes in the first couple months of your child’s life and then — bam! — they may snooze for 2 hours when you least expect it (when you’ve made big plans, of course). Irregular sleep patterns are expected at this age, which means “bedtime” will likely be pretty late most nights. We recommend going by age-appropriate wake windows and sleepy cues to determine when your little one may need to sleep next.  

3 to 5 months

Your sleepy newborn may have more of a predictable 24-hour cycle of eating and sleeping around the 3 - 5 month mark, which can make it easier for babies to have more of a sleep schedule. However, short naps are still common at this age. Most babies transition from a 4-nap schedule to 3-nap schedule at around 4 - 5 months. 

6 to 8 months

By around 6 months, most babies are taking three semi-predictable naps per day. However, they may begin to resist that last nap of the day as they outgrow the wake windows of a 3-nap schedule. Around 8 - 9 months is typically when the last nap of the day drops off and your little one settles into a 2-nap schedule. 

9 to 12 months

Between 9 - 12 months, your little one will likely take two pretty predictable naps per day, following a period of adjustment after dropping the third nap at around 8 - 9 months. With a “by the clock” sleep schedule, it typically becomes easier to make plans outside of the house. Your baby’s bedtime can become more predictable at this age too if you aim for a consistent wake time and follow an age appropriate schedule. 

Second year

As your little one embarks into the realm of toddlerhood, sleep will likely be more predictable than it was over their first year of life. Most 1 year olds go through just a single nap transition, from 2 naps to 1 nap. This generally happens around 14 - 18 months as they’re able to stay awake for longer periods.  

13 to 15 months

At this age, children may begin to outgrow their 2-nap schedule wake windows and they may begin a gradual transition to a 1-nap schedule where some days they nap once and other days twice. We recommend continuing to offer 2 naps per day at this age. If naps are short or a nap is skipped, an earlier bedtime can help limit overtiredness.

16 to 18 months

If your child hasn’t fully transitioned to a 1-nap schedule by 16 months, they will likely drop the second nap in the coming months. There may be a stage of transition where some days they need just 1 nap and other days they need 2. 

19 to 21 months

Most children are taking one midday nap at this age, typically beginning 5 hours after waking in the morning. If you find your little one is struggling to make it to bedtime on this schedule, consider moving bedtime earlier, but no later than 6:00 PM to avoid a very early morning rise time. 

22 to 29 months

Around 2, your toddler may do well with a slightly longer wake window before their midday nap — around 5.25 hours - 6 hours. Toddlers often take longer to settle down at bedtime at this age, so consider adding 10 - 15 minutes of wind-down time to their nightly routine. Read another book or do another quiet activity together to help get ready for sleep. 

30 months+

30 months to 5 years

Children typically go through some big sleep changes between 2.5 - 5. They may give up napping, transition out of the crib, and say goodbye to their pacifier — if they haven’t already. These are big adjustments for kids (and parents!) and continuing to follow an age-appropriate sleep schedule can help make these changes go more smoothly.  

Takeaway

• Infant sleep expectations: Newborn baby sleep is very erratic and we won’t expect them to have a regular nap or bedtime schedule for the first few months of life. Most babies settle into a more predictable 24-hour cycle for eating and sleeping by around 3 - 4 months. And even still, most children aren’t ready for a “by the clock” schedule until at least 6 months old. 

• Nap schedules: Nap and sleep schedules will evolve as your baby grows, especially over their first year. Your little one will have multiple nap transitions as their wake windows lengthen as they get older and require less daytime sleep. Babies go from sleeping a ton throughout the day as newborns to comfortably staying awake long enough to only need one nap per day somewhere after their first birthday. What a shift! 

• Using wake windows: Once your child is old enough to have a predictable sleep schedule, we also recommend continuing to pay attention to age-appropriate wake windows when evaluating if your child is ready to sleep again.