Wake windows by age
How long your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleeps, from newborn to 3 years, and a sleep schedule calculator that turns it into nap times and a bedtime.
Baby sleep schedule calculator
- Wake window
- 1 h 45 min – 2 h 15 min
- Naps a day
- 3–4
- Total sleep / 24 h
- 12–16 h
Night Nap Awake
- 7:00 amWake up, feed
- 8:45 amNap 1 · about 1 h 10 min
- 11:51 amNap 2 · about 1 h 10 min
- 3:07 pmNap 3 · about 50 min
- 6:12 pmBedtime (start routine 20–30 min before)
Ask about your baby's sleep
Describe what's happening (short naps, early waking, bedtime battles) and get suggestions tailored to your baby's age and the schedule above. Answers come from an AI model guided by mainstream paediatric sleep advice. It isn't medical advice.
Wake windows by age chart
Tap an age for its own sample schedule: newborn, 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, 4 month, 5 month, 6 month, 7 month, 8 month, 9 month, 10 month, 11 month, 12 month, 15 month, 18 month, 2 year, 3 year.
| Age | Wake window | Naps | Total sleep (24 h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 weeks | 35 min – 1 h | 6–8 (no set schedule) | 14–17 h |
| 4–8 weeks | 1 h – 1 h 30 min | 5–6 | 14–17 h |
| 2–3 months | 1 h 15 min – 1 h 45 min | 4–5 | 14–16 h |
| 3–4 months | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | 4 | 12–16 h |
| 4–5 months | 1 h 45 min – 2 h 15 min | 3–4 | 12–16 h |
| 5–7 months | 2 h – 3 h | 3 | 12–16 h |
| 7–9 months | 2 h 30 min – 3 h 30 min | 2–3 | 12–16 h |
| 9–12 months | 3 h – 4 h | 2 | 12–16 h |
| 12–15 months | 3 h 30 min – 4 h 30 min | 1–2 | 11–14 h |
| 15–18 months | 4 h 30 min – 5 h 30 min | 1 | 11–14 h |
| 18–24 months | 5 h – 6 h | 1 | 11–14 h |
| 2–3 years | 5 h 30 min – 7 h | 0–1 | 11–14 h |
Why wake windows work: sleep pressure
While a baby is awake, a chemical called adenosine builds up in the brain and creates "sleep pressure". Sleep clears it. Newborns build pressure fast, so they can only manage short stretches awake. As the brain matures, babies tolerate more pressure, wake windows lengthen and naps consolidate. Put a baby down too early and there isn't enough pressure to fall asleep; too late and stress hormones kick in, making settling harder. The clock above shows the day as alternating build-up and release.
Safe sleep, always: the AAP recommends placing babies on their back, on a firm, flat surface with no pillows, bumpers or loose blankets, in the parents' room for at least the first 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wake window?
The stretch of time a baby can comfortably stay awake between sleeps. Newborns manage 35–60 minutes; by 12 months most babies handle 3–4 hours. Keeping awake time within the range for their age helps avoid a baby who is overtired and harder to settle.
Should I follow wake windows strictly?
No. They are averages. Watch your baby's sleepy cues (staring, rubbing eyes, yawning, fussing, jerky movements) and use the range as a guide for when to start winding down. Some babies naturally need shorter or longer windows.
Why is the last wake window of the day the longest?
Sleep pressure builds through the day, and a longer final stretch helps babies fall asleep at bedtime and sleep longer overnight. Most babies from about 4 months tolerate their longest window before bed.
When do babies drop naps?
Typical transitions: 4 to 3 naps around 4–5 months, 3 to 2 around 7–9 months, 2 to 1 around 13–18 months, and dropping the last nap anywhere between 2.5 and 4 years. Signs include taking a long time to fall asleep for a nap, skipping naps, or early waking.
How much sleep does my baby need?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, endorsed by the AAP, recommends 12–16 hours in 24 hours (including naps) for 4–12 months, and 11–14 hours for 1–2 years. There's no official recommendation under 4 months because newborn sleep varies so much; 14–17 hours is typical.
Sources: Paruthi S et al., "Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations", AASM consensus (2016), endorsed by the AAP; AAP safe sleep policy statement (2022); HealthyChildren.org.