Baby Sleep Schedule by Age (0 to 18 Months)
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell is a Registered Pediatric Nurse and a mother of three who has spent over a decade helping families navigate the beautiful, chaotic early years of childhood. She combines evidence-based medical knowledge with real-world parenting experience to offer practical, compassionate advice. At Awesome Parent, Sarah's mission is to help exhausted parents find solutions, trust their instincts, and finally get some sleep.
If you've ever Googled “what time should my baby go to bed” while bouncing on a yoga ball like it's your new job, you're in the right place. This is a month-by-month baby sleep schedule guide from newborn through 18 months, with realistic nap counts, typical nap lengths, typical wake windows, and sample day schedules you can actually try.
Quick nurse-to-parent note: sleep is a moving target. Growth spurts, teething, daycare, travel, and plain old baby opinions can throw off even the best plan. Use these schedules as a starting point, then adjust based on your baby's cues and wake windows.
How to use this guide
- Pick the age bracket closest to your baby. If your baby was born early, ask your pediatrician whether to follow corrected age for sleep expectations.
- Anchor the day with two times: morning wake time and bedtime. Everything else flexes around those.
- Bedtime range is more helpful than a single “perfect” time. Most babies do best with an earlier bedtime than parents expect.
- Nap lengths vary by age and temperament. Short naps can be normal, especially under 6 months.
- Wake windows are guardrails, not rules. If your baby melts down before the listed window, shorten it. If they're happily cruising, you can stretch by 10 to 15 minutes.
Typical total sleep in 24 hours: newborns often 14 to 17 hours, many infants 12 to 15 hours, toddlers around 11 to 14 hours. Your child can be totally healthy outside those ranges, but big, persistent sleep changes are worth troubleshooting.
Newborn sleep schedules (0 to 3 months)
Newborn sleep isn't a schedule, it's more like a rotating set of naps interrupted by feedings and diaper changes. That's normal. In these months, your goal is gentle structure and lots of light during the day.
0 to 4 weeks
- Naps: 5 to 8+
- Typical nap length: 20 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 30 to 60 minutes
- Bedtime: often 9:00 to 11:30 pm (slowly shifts earlier)
Sample day (flexible):
- 7:00 am wake and feed
- 8:00 am nap
- 9:30 am feed and awake time
- 10:15 am nap
- 12:00 pm feed
- 12:45 pm nap
- 2:30 pm feed
- 3:15 pm nap
- 5:00 pm feed
- 5:45 pm nap
- 7:30 pm feed, brief awake time
- 8:30 pm nap
- 10:00 pm feed, down for “night”
1 month
- Naps: 5 to 7
- Typical nap length: 30 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 45 to 75 minutes
- Bedtime: 9:00 to 11:00 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake and feed
- 8:15 am nap
- 10:00 am feed, play
- 11:15 am nap
- 1:00 pm feed
- 2:00 pm nap
- 3:30 pm feed
- 4:15 pm nap
- 6:00 pm feed
- 6:45 pm nap
- 8:30 pm feed
- 9:30 pm bedtime start
- 10:15 pm down for the night (with night feeds)
2 months
- Naps: 4 to 6
- Typical nap length: 30 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 60 to 90 minutes
- Bedtime: 8:30 to 10:30 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake and feed
- 8:30 am nap
- 10:00 am feed, play
- 11:30 am nap
- 1:00 pm feed
- 2:15 pm nap
- 3:45 pm feed
- 4:45 pm nap
- 6:15 pm feed
- 7:00 pm short nap
- 8:15 pm feed
- 9:00 pm bedtime routine
- 9:45 pm down
3 months
- Naps: 4 to 5
- Typical nap length: 30 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 75 to 110 minutes
- Bedtime: 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake and feed
- 8:30 am nap
- 10:00 am feed
- 11:30 am nap
- 1:00 pm feed
- 2:15 pm nap
- 3:30 pm feed
- 4:45 pm nap
- 6:00 pm feed
- 7:15 pm bedtime routine
- 8:00 pm down
Infant schedules (4 to 6 months)
This is when many babies start looking more “schedule-ish.” You'll often see more predictable wake windows and a bedtime that can move earlier.
4 months
- Naps: 3 to 4
- Typical nap length: 30 to 90 minutes (short naps are common)
- Typical wake window: 90 to 120 minutes
- Bedtime: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Sample day (4 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 8:30 to 9:15 am nap
- 11:15 am to 12:15 pm nap
- 2:15 to 3:00 pm nap
- 4:45 to 5:15 pm catnap
- 7:30 pm bedtime
Common curveball: the 4-month sleep regression. If sleep suddenly falls apart, you didn't break your baby. Focus on a calming bedtime routine, consistent morning wake time, and lots of daytime feeds.
5 months
- Naps: 3 to 4 (often moving toward 3)
- Typical nap length: 45 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Bedtime: 6:45 to 8:30 pm
Sample day (3 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:00 to 10:15 am nap
- 12:30 to 1:45 pm nap
- 4:00 to 4:45 pm nap
- 7:30 pm bedtime
6 months
- Naps: 3 (sometimes 2 for high sleep needs)
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 2 to 3 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Sample day (3 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:00 to 10:15 am nap
- 12:45 to 2:15 pm nap
- 4:30 to 5:00 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
Older infant schedules (7 to 9 months)
Most babies settle into a 2-nap schedule somewhere between 6 and 9 months. If your baby fights the third nap but can't quite make it to bedtime, you're in the messy middle. That's normal too.
7 months
- Naps: 2 to 3
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 2.5 to 3.5 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Sample day (transition with 3 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:15 to 10:30 am nap
- 12:45 to 2:00 pm nap
- 4:15 to 4:45 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
Sample day (2 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:30 to 11:00 am nap
- 2:00 to 3:30 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
8 months
- Naps: 2
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 3 to 3.75 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Sample day (2 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:30 to 11:00 am nap
- 2:00 to 3:30 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
9 months
- Naps: 2
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 3 to 4 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day (2 naps):
- 6:30 to 7:00 am wake
- 9:30 to 10:45 am nap
- 1:45 to 3:15 pm nap
- 7:00 pm bedtime
10 to 12 months
Two naps are usually still the sweet spot here, but separation anxiety, standing in the crib, and big developmental leaps can cause sudden night waking or nap protests. The schedule often isn't the problem, but consistency helps your baby feel safe.
10 months
- Naps: 2
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 3 to 4 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:30 to 10:45 am nap
- 2:00 to 3:15 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
11 months
- Naps: 2
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 3 to 4.25 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:45 to 11:00 am nap
- 2:15 to 3:30 pm nap
- 7:30 pm bedtime
12 months
- Naps: 2 (some start the 1-nap transition, but many aren't ready)
- Typical nap length: 60 to 120 minutes
- Typical wake window: 3.25 to 4.5 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Sample day (2 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:45 to 11:00 am nap
- 2:15 to 3:30 pm nap
- 7:30 pm bedtime
If your 12-month-old suddenly refuses the morning nap: try a slightly later first nap for 1 to 2 weeks before dropping to one nap. Many “ready for one nap” babies are actually overtired.
13 to 15 months
This is prime time for the 2-to-1 nap transition. Some toddlers switch smoothly. Others treat it like an extreme sport.
13 months
- Naps: 1 to 2
- Typical nap length: 90 to 150 minutes (one nap), or two shorter naps
- Typical wake window: 4 to 6 hours (often shorter when still taking 2 naps)
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 8:00 pm (often earlier during transition)
Sample day (still 2 naps):
- 7:00 am wake
- 9:45 to 10:45 am nap
- 2:15 to 3:15 pm nap
- 7:30 pm bedtime
Sample day (1 nap):
- 7:00 am wake
- 12:00 to 2:00 pm nap
- 7:00 pm bedtime
14 months
- Naps: 1 to 2
- Typical nap length: 90 to 180 minutes
- Typical wake window: 4.5 to 6 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day (1 nap):
- 7:00 am wake
- 12:00 to 2:15 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
15 months
- Naps: 1
- Typical nap length: 90 to 180 minutes
- Typical wake window: 5 to 6 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day (1 nap):
- 6:30 to 7:00 am wake
- 12:00 to 2:00 pm nap
- 7:00 pm bedtime
16 to 18 months
One nap is the norm, and bedtime is still usually early. If your toddler's nap runs too late, bedtime battles tend to show up like clockwork.
16 months
- Naps: 1
- Typical nap length: 90 to 180 minutes
- Typical wake window: 5 to 6 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake
- 12:15 to 2:15 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
17 months
- Naps: 1
- Typical nap length: 90 to 180 minutes
- Typical wake window: 5 to 6.25 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day:
- 7:00 am wake
- 12:30 to 2:00 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
18 months
- Naps: 1
- Typical nap length: 90 to 180 minutes
- Typical wake window: 5.5 to 6.5 hours
- Bedtime: 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Sample day:
- 6:30 to 7:00 am wake
- 12:30 to 2:30 pm nap
- 7:15 pm bedtime
At-a-glance by age
If you just want the quick version, here are typical patterns. Your baby may be a little higher or lower sleep needs and still be completely fine.
| Age | Naps per day | Typical wake window | Typical bedtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 month | 5 to 8+ | 30 to 75 minutes | 9:00 to 11:30 pm |
| 2 to 3 months | 4 to 6 | 60 to 110 minutes | 7:30 to 10:30 pm |
| 4 to 6 months | 3 to 4 | 90 minutes to 3 hours | 6:30 to 9:00 pm |
| 7 to 9 months | 2 to 3 (moving to 2) | 2.5 to 4 hours | 6:30 to 8:00 pm |
| 10 to 12 months | 2 | 3 to 4.5 hours | 6:30 to 7:45 pm |
| 13 to 15 months | 1 to 2 (moving to 1) | 4 to 6 hours | 6:30 to 8:00 pm |
| 16 to 18 months | 1 | 5 to 6.5 hours | 6:30 to 7:45 pm |
When sleep goes off track
Here's how I troubleshoot sleep in clinic and at home, without spiraling.
1) Reset with a “one good day” plan
- Start with a consistent morning wake time for 3 to 5 days.
- Protect the first nap like it's concert tickets. Aim for a calm wind-down and a dark room.
- Use an early bedtime (30 to 60 minutes earlier) for a couple nights if naps were short.
2) Use nap math for bedtime
On hard days, bedtime should be based on when the last nap ended, not the clock.
- If your baby's last nap ended early and they're melting down, do an earlier bedtime.
- If the last nap ran late, you may need a slightly later bedtime to preserve enough sleep pressure.
3) If naps are short, do this first
- Check the room: dark, cool, steady white noise.
- Give 10 minutes: for babies older than about 5 months, pause briefly before intervening. Some will link cycles on their own.
- Adjust timing: chronic 30-minute naps often mean overtired or undertired. Shift the nap by 15 minutes for 3 days and reassess.
4) Travel, daycare, and missed naps
- One-off bad days: use a short stroller or car nap as a “bridge,” then do an earlier bedtime.
- Daycare naps: you may need an earlier bedtime at home, even if it feels ridiculously early.
- After travel: get outside light in the morning and keep bedtime steady for a few days.
5) Nap transitions: signs and strategy
Signs a transition may be starting:
- Consistently refusing a nap for 10 to 14 days
- Taking a long time to fall asleep at bedtime
- Short naps that don't improve with timing tweaks
Gentle strategy: move the remaining naps later by 10 to 15 minutes every few days, and temporarily use an earlier bedtime to avoid overtired spirals.
Common questions
What's the “best” bedtime for babies?
For many babies older than 3 to 4 months, bedtime often lands between 6:30 and 8:00 pm. Earlier isn't “giving up,” it's often the difference between a smooth night and a 10:30 pm party in the crib.
How long should naps be?
It depends on age. Under 6 months, naps can be short and still normal. By 6 to 9 months, many babies can handle at least one longer nap (60 to 120 minutes). After moving to one nap, many toddlers do best with 1.5 to 3 hours.
Should I wake my baby from naps?
Sometimes, yes. If a late nap is pushing bedtime very late or wrecking night sleep, consider capping the last nap. A common approach is protecting bedtime by ending the last nap by about 4:30 to 5:30 pm for many babies on a 2 or 3 nap schedule, and by about 2:30 to 3:00 pm for many one-nap toddlers. Use your child's patterns as the deciding factor.
When should I call the pediatrician?
Reach out if your baby has trouble breathing during sleep, loud persistent snoring, pauses in breathing, poor weight gain, reflux symptoms that seem painful, or if sleep changes are sudden and paired with illness signs like fever, dehydration, or unusual lethargy. Trust your gut.
A calming reminder
If your baby's day looks nothing like these sample schedules, you're not doing it wrong. Sleep is a skill, not a character trait. Start with one small change you can sustain, like a consistent wake time or a 15-minute earlier bedtime, and build from there.
If you want, tell me your baby's age, typical wake time, and how naps have been going. I can help you pick a schedule from this page and tweak it for your real life.