Your baby’s sleep schedule by age, sleep patterns, and sleep needs will change often throughout the first 12 months of life. Babies are born with a brain that’s about half the size of an adult’s but with nearly twice the number of neurons, making them primed for rapid learning, growth, and change – and getting the right amount of sleep plays a major role in supporting healthy development.
Because baby sleep changes so frequently during the first year, it can be hard to keep track of what’s typical. In this article, we break down baby sleep schedules by age – from newborn through your baby’s first birthday – including total sleep needs by age, number of naps by age, wake windows by age, and typical bedtime by age.
While it’s always best to follow your baby’s sleepy cues rather than the clock, understanding a typical infant sleep schedule by age helps ensure your baby is getting enough sleep overall. Baby sleep schedule charts can also support healthy sleep habits while bringing more routine, predictability, and calm to life with a little one.
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Tracking your infant’s sleep using the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app helps take the guesswork out of perfecting their sleep schedule by age. When you track sleep using the app, it creates a personalized sleep schedule that fine-tunes sleep patterns and sync sleeps with your baby’s biological rhythms. It figures out when your baby’s sleep drive is the highest based on their age and previous sleeps and notifies you when it’s time for a nap or bedtime. Smart Sleep Coach also can help guide you through sleep training, dropping a nap, sleep regression, and more of the sleep challenges babies fast in their first year.
Month-by-Month Baby Sleep Chart
Every baby has different sleep drives and needs, so their total sleep, naps per day, wake window range, and bedtime by age range may be different from what's shown in our infant sleep schedule chart. Baby sleep apps like Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM can help you track sleep to see if your baby falls between these ranges. Take this free sleep assessment to get started with your baby’s personalized schedule. However, these numbers are a guide and if you have concerns about your baby’s sleep, you can always reach out to your healthcare provider.
For month-by-month nap timing and transitions, see our baby nap schedule by month guide.
Baby Sleep Schedule by Month: 0-12 months
The baby sleeping schedule we share for each age range below are based on baby sleep averages, developmental milestones, and typical sleep needs.
0-2 Months: baby sleep schedule by age
Newborn sleep schedules during the 4th trimester can vary widely but typically include 14-17 hours total sleep every 24 hours with frequent wakings for feeds throughout the day and night.
At this age it's important to establish a consistent feeding schedule, but there is no need to establish a strict sleep schedule. On top of needing to wake so often to eat, young infants aren’t biologically ready for a sleep schedule because their sleep patterns are unpredictable and their circadian rhythm underdeveloped. Plus they need frequent diaper changes!
At this age naps can range anywhere from 10-20 minutes to a couple of hours, which is completely normal and expected. Bedtime also tends to be later and less consistent because they will feed every 2-3 hours around the clock – there is no difference between day versus night to them (yet). However, you can start forming a bedtime routine as early as you want to get in the groove.
As sleep starts to organize, using a smart baby tracking app even during the newborn period can help you see patterns emerge. As a baby approaches the 2-3 month mark, they may even begin to sleep for longer periods at night. It’s still important to wake them to feed though!
Sample 2-month old baby sleep schedule
2-month olds following approximately ~75-90 minute wake windows. Every baby is different though!
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might look like? Check out our schedules for a 1-month old, 2-month old, and 3-month-old.
3-5 Months: Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
At 3-5 months babies typically need around 14-15 hours of sleep every 24 hours, with sleep starting to consolidate into longer stretches at night. By around 4- or 5-months, most go through the 4 to 3 nap transition and settle into a solid 3-nap schedule. Some 3-month-old babies still take 5 naps and need to go through the 5-to-4 nap transition.
At this age your baby’s circadian rhythm is reaching maturity, and they start producing enough melatonin to better regulate their bedtime. In the newborn sleep chart, a later bedtime was the norm, but now you can consider bringing bedtime earlier. Starting your day around the same time every day can help them get into a good rhythm.
If your baby starts waking more often during the night at this age, you may be going through the 4-month sleep regression. Fear not, this is a temporary and normal part of development. Your baby is now fully waking between sleep cycles which can cause some sleep disruption if they don’t yet know how to fall asleep independently. Sleep training can start around now and be very helpful with independent sleep.
Sample 4-month old baby sleep schedule
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might look like? Check out our schedules for a 3-month old , 4-month old and 5-month old.
6-8 Months: Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
At 6-8 months babies typically need around 12-14 hours total sleep per day, with most of their sleep occurring at night. Most take 2-3 naps during the day, with each nap lasting around 1-2 hours. By 6-8 months of age, many babies may be able to sleep through the night without waking for feedings, but others will still be feeding overnight 1-2 times.
Most babies are on a solid 3-nap schedule by 6-months-old and will transition to 2 naps (dropping that 3rd catnap) at around 8 months. An earlier bedtime can help with this transition by bridging the gap between that last wake window before bedtime, so they don’t become overtired.
Sample 8-month old baby sleep schedule
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might look like by month? Check out our schedules for a 6-month old , 7-month old and 8-month old.
9-12 Months: Baby Sleep Schedule by Age
Between 9-12 months a baby will typically need approximately 14 hours of total sleep and take 2 naps. 2-3 hours of sleep happens during the day and around 11-12 hours of sleep happens at night. Most babies no longer need to wake for an overnight feed at this age. All babies are different though so speak with your healthcare provider if yours still does and you want to know more about when and how to wean night feedings.
While sleep schedules at 9-12 months tend to be more predictable, babies are also hitting major mobility milestones which can cause some disruption. Many love to practice their new skills at bedtime – pulling up in the crib, standing, or cruising along the rails. This is a very normal part of the 8-month sleep regression, which can linger into months 9 and beyond.
Sample 12-month old baby sleep schedule
Note: Your baby’s sleep schedule usually doesn’t change much after 8 months until they transition to 1-nap, which often happens between 15-18 months.
Want to know more specifically what your baby’s day might look like? Check out our schedules for a 9-month old , 10-month old, 11-month old and 12-month old.
Toddler sleep schedules
Curious about toddler sleep schedules? Check out our 12-24 month baby sleep schedules starting from 13-months-old!
Final Thoughts
Perfecting your baby’s sleep schedule is one of the most effective ways to support healthy sleep habits and overall development. While sleep schedules change frequently throughout the first year – and temporary disruptions are completely normal – having a tool like Smart Sleep Coach can help you stay on top of upcoming schedule shifts and adjust with confidence.
During a year full of rapid growth and change, getting enough sleep matters for both of you. While it's common for parents to find their baby isn’t sleeping as much – or as well – as expected, keeping your baby’s schedule appropriately aligned with their sleep needs by age is one of the best ways to support restful days and nights for the long-haul.
