# Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Totals, Naps and Wake Windows (AAP)

> How much sleep babies need by age, birth to 2 years: total hours, naps and wake windows, from AASM totals endorsed by the AAP.

Stage: baby - Topic: Sleep - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/baby/baby-sleep-by-age-table

Grounded in: American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendations endorsed by the AAP (totals); nap counts and wake windows are common practice ranges, not official standards. Babies vary widely.

Reviewed: 2026-10

## TLDR

- Babies need about 14-17 hours of sleep a day early on, moving toward 12-16 hours by 4 months, with wake windows growing from under an hour to a few hours.
- Watch sleepy cues more than the clock. Short 30-45 minute naps are normal until about 4-6 months.
- Mention loud nightly snoring or labored breathing. Pauses of 20 seconds or more, color change or gasping means call right away.

## Typical ranges

- 0-4 weeks: awake about 35-60 minutes at a time; many short naps with no pattern; 14-17 hours total.
- 1-2 months: awake 60-90 minutes; 4-6 naps; 14-17 hours.
- 3-4 months: awake 75 minutes to 2 hours; 3-5 naps; 14-17 hours, moving toward 12-16.
- 5-6 months: awake 2-3 hours; about 3 naps; 12-16 hours including naps.
- 7-9 months: awake 2.5-3.5 hours; 2-3 naps; 12-16 hours.
- 10-12 months: awake 3-4 hours; 2 naps; 12-16 hours.
- 12-24 months: awake 3-6 hours; 2 naps dropping to 1 (usually between 12 and 18 months); 11-14
  hours.

## Using the ranges

- Watch the baby more than the clock. Sleepy cues (yawning, rubbing eyes, staring off, fussing)
  matter more than a number.
- Short 30-45 minute naps are normal until about 4-6 months, because newborn sleep cycles are about
  40-50 minutes and half of each is light, active sleep (grunting, twitching, brief cries). Pausing
  a minute before picking a baby up can let them drift back off.
- Mention loud nightly snoring, labored breathing or breathing pauses to the pediatrician (pauses of
  20 seconds or more, color change or gasping: call right away).

**Sleep by age**

| Age | Awake between sleeps | Naps | Total in 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 weeks | 35-60 min | Many short naps, no pattern | 14-17 h |
| 1-2 months | 60-90 min | 4-6 | 14-17 h |
| 3-4 months | 75 min-2 h | 3-5 | 14-17 h, moving to 12-16 h |
| 5-6 months | 2-3 h | 3 | 12-16 h |
| 7-9 months | 2.5-3.5 h | 2-3 | 12-16 h |
| 10-12 months | 3-4 h | 2 | 12-16 h |
| 12-24 months | 3-6 h | 2, dropping to 1 (usually 12-18 months) | 11-14 h |
| 2-3 years | 5-6 h (one nap) | 1; some drop it before 3 | 11-14 h (10-13 h from age 3) |

Total-sleep ranges are AASM/NSF consensus; wake windows and nap counts are common practice, not official standards.

Sources: {'name': 'CDC: About Sleep (AASM/NSF ranges)', 'url': 'https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html'}