Key takeaways: Newborns sleep about 14 to 17 hours a day in short stretches. From 4 to 12 months, 12 to 16 hours (including naps) is recommended. Longer night stretches develop gradually. Wide variation is normal.
Sleep is one of the biggest questions in the first year. While every baby is different, knowing typical patterns can help set realistic expectations.
Newborns (0 to 3 Months)
- Total sleep: about 14 to 17 hours in 24 hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation, though some healthy babies sleep a bit less or more.
- Pattern: short stretches of 1 to 4 hours, day and night.
- Wake windows: about 45 to 90 minutes.
- Night feeds: expected and needed.
Newborns don’t yet have a mature body clock. Their sleep is spread across day and night. Around 6 to 8 weeks, many babies start sleeping slightly longer stretches at night.
4 to 6 Months
- Total sleep: the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 12 to 16 hours (including naps) for babies 4 to 12 months.
- Naps: often 3 to 4 naps a day.
- Wake windows: about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
- Night sleep: many babies sleep a longer stretch, though night wakings are still common. Around 4 months, sleep cycles mature and some babies wake more often for a while.
6 to 9 Months
- Naps: usually 2 to 3 naps.
- Wake windows: about 2 to 3 hours.
- Night sleep: often 10 to 12 hours, with or without a feed. Separation anxiety and new skills like sitting and crawling can disrupt sleep temporarily.
9 to 12 Months
- Naps: usually 2 naps.
- Wake windows: about 2.5 to 4 hours.
- Night sleep: often 10 to 12 hours.
What “Sleeping Through the Night” Really Means
In research, “sleeping through the night” is often defined as sleeping 5 or 6 hours in a row. A large study found that many healthy babies didn’t consistently sleep 6 or 8 hours at 6 or 12 months, and this wasn’t linked to problems with development or mood. Night waking is normal in the first year.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough Sleep
- Wakes up mostly content.
- Is alert and engaged when awake.
- Feeds and grows well.
Signs of Overtiredness
- Fussiness, rubbing eyes, yawning.
- Difficulty falling asleep, or short naps.
- Early morning waking.
Tips for Healthy Sleep
- Follow safe sleep practices for every sleep.
- Get daylight and activity during the day.
- Keep nights dark, quiet, and boring.
- Use a short, consistent bedtime routine.
- Watch for sleepy cues and start winding down before overtiredness.
Talk to your baby’s doctor if your baby: snores loudly, has pauses in breathing or gasps during sleep, seems excessively sleepy or hard to wake, or if sleep problems are affecting your family’s well-being.
The Bottom Line
Babies need a lot of sleep, but it comes in short pieces at first. Expect gradual consolidation over the first year and lots of individual variation.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Sources
- Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785-786.
- Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM, et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health. 2015;1(1):40-43.
- Pennestri MH, Laganière C, Bouvette-Turcot AA, et al. Uninterrupted infant sleep, development, and maternal mood. Pediatrics. 2018;142(6):e20174330.
- Henderson JMT, France KG, Owens JL, Blampied NM. Sleeping through the night: the consolidation of self-regulated sleep across the first year of life. Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):e1081-e1087.
- Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057990.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
