Baby Sleep Schedule by Age: Newborn to 2 Years
A comprehensive baby sleep schedule guide from newborn through toddler years, covering total sleep needs, nap counts, and how to build age-appropriate routines.
Introduction
Sleep is one of the most discussed, most worried-about, and most misunderstood aspects of early parenting. How much should my baby sleep? When should naps happen? Why is my baby who was sleeping through the night suddenly waking three times again? Is this schedule normal?
The good news is that sleep science gives us solid guidelines for what babies need at each age. The complicating news is that every baby is an individual, and "normal" covers a wide range. This guide gives you an age-by-age framework for baby sleep schedules from birth through age 2, along with the context to interpret your own baby's patterns.
How Much Sleep Do Babies Need?
Total sleep needs (across both day and night) decrease as babies age:
| Age | Total Sleep | Nighttime | Daytime Naps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0–1 month) | 14–17 hours | No distinction | No distinction |
| 1–3 months | 14–17 hours | 8–9 hours | 4–5 hours |
| 3–6 months | 12–16 hours | 9–10 hours | 3–4 hours (3 naps) |
| 6–9 months | 12–15 hours | 10–12 hours | 2–3 hours (2–3 naps) |
| 9–12 months | 12–15 hours | 10–12 hours | 2–3 hours (2 naps) |
| 12–18 months | 11–14 hours | 10–12 hours | 1–2 hours (1–2 naps) |
| 18 months–2 years | 11–14 hours | 10–12 hours | 1–2 hours (1 nap) |
Newborn Stage (0–3 Months)
Newborns sleep a lot — but rarely for long stretches, and mostly without regard for day or night. Their circadian rhythms are immature; the concept of "nighttime sleep" doesn't yet exist for them.
What to expect: Sleep periods of 2–4 hours, waking to feed, then sleeping again. No discernible schedule. This is normal and expected.
What helps: Exposure to natural light during the day and dimmer, quieter environments at night begins to set the circadian clock. Don't expect a schedule — focus on responding to your baby's sleep cues and making sure they get adequate total sleep.
3–6 Months: Emerging Patterns
This is when many babies start showing more predictable rhythms. Night sleep consolidates, day sleep begins to organize into roughly 3 naps (morning, midday, late afternoon), and some babies begin sleeping 5–6 hour stretches at night.
Typical schedule shape: Wake around 6–7 AM, first nap 1.5–2 hours after waking, second nap 2–2.5 hours after first nap ends, third nap (often shorter, cat nap) in late afternoon, bedtime around 7–8 PM.
Note: The 4-month sleep regression disrupts established patterns for many families. This is a biologically driven change in sleep architecture, not a behavioral problem.
6–9 Months: Two-Nap Stage
Most babies drop to two naps between 6 and 8 months. This transition often happens naturally when the third nap becomes difficult to achieve.
Typical schedule shape: Wake 6–7 AM, morning nap around 9–10 AM (1–1.5 hours), afternoon nap around 1–2 PM (1–1.5 hours), bedtime 7–7:30 PM.
Night wakings are still common at this age. Some babies sleep through; many do not. Both are within normal range.
9–12 Months: Consolidation and Regressions
Most babies remain on two naps through the first birthday. Sleep is often more predictable now, though the 8–10 month developmental leap and the 12-month sleep regression can temporarily disrupt patterns.
Some babies show readiness to drop to one nap earlier than expected. Signs include: taking very long to fall asleep for the second nap, one nap being very short or skipped, and bedtime being very late if two naps are maintained.
12–18 Months: The Nap Transition
The transition from two naps to one typically happens between 12 and 18 months. It's one of the most challenging sleep transitions and often takes several weeks to smooth out.
Typical one-nap schedule: Wake 6:30–7 AM, single nap 12:30–1 PM (1.5–2.5 hours), bedtime 7–7:30 PM.
18 Months–2 Years: Toddler Sleep
Toddlers typically consolidate to one midday nap. Total sleep of 11–14 hours is healthy. Bedtime routines become increasingly important as toddlers develop more complex emotions around separation and bedtime.
Typical schedule: Wake 6:30–7 AM, nap 12:30–2:30 PM, bedtime 7:30–8 PM.
Common Sleep Challenges
Sleep regressions: Occur at approximately 4, 8, 12, 18 months, and 2 years, typically coinciding with major developmental leaps. They are temporary.
Early waking: Often signals undertiredness (too much daytime sleep) or overtiredness (too late a bedtime). Both can cause early rising.
Bedtime resistance: Toddlers especially may resist sleep. Consistent, calm bedtime routines significantly reduce resistance over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a newborn sleep per day?
14–17 hours across 24 hours, split into multiple short periods. Newborns do not distinguish between day and night.
When do babies sleep through the night?
Many babies reach 6-hour stretches by 3–4 months and 8–10 hours by 6 months. Individual variation is wide.
What is a good nap schedule for a 6-month-old?
Two naps per day is typical — a mid-morning nap and an early afternoon nap, for a combined 2–3 hours of daytime sleep.
When do babies transition from two naps to one?
Usually between 14–18 months. Signs include consistently fighting the second nap or it pushing bedtime too late.
How do I build a consistent sleep schedule?
Follow your baby's wake windows, watch for sleepy cues, and keep nap and bedtime locations consistent.
Track with Bear Days
Tracking sleep in Bear Days gives you a visual timeline of when your baby sleeps, for how long, and how patterns shift over time. You'll see nap counts, average nighttime stretches, and total daily sleep at a glance — data that's genuinely useful when you're trying to figure out whether your baby is ready to drop a nap or why bedtime has been a battle all week.
Bear Days logs sleep alongside feeding, diapers, and milestones, so you can see the connections between a good feeding day and a good sleep night, or spot the pattern when teething disrupts sleep. All records stay private and on your device.