Baby sleep by age: what to expect in the first year

Few topics keep new parents up at night quite like… their baby's sleep. The good news: most sleep "problems" in the first year are simply normal development. Here is what typical sleep looks like at each stage, so you know what to expect.

Newborns (0–3 months)

Newborns usually sleep 14 to 17 hours in 24 hours, but in short stretches of 2–4 hours. Their internal clock is not developed yet, so day and night look the same to them.

• Wake windows are short: often 45–90 minutes.
• Night feeds are normal and necessary.
• Help them learn day from night with bright, social days and dark, quiet nights.

4 to 6 months

Total sleep settles around 12 to 15 hours. Many babies start to have a longer first stretch at night, and naps begin to consolidate into 3–4 predictable naps.

This is also when the famous "4-month sleep regression" can appear: sleep becomes more adult-like, with lighter phases, and babies may wake more often for a while.

6 to 12 months

Most babies sleep 12 to 15 hours in total and move to 2–3 naps, and later 2. Separation anxiety, teething, crawling and standing can all briefly disrupt nights.

Age	Total sleep (24h)	Typical naps
0–3 months	14–17 h	4–6+
4–6 months	12–15 h	3–4
6–9 months	12–15 h	2–3
9–12 months	12–14 h	2

Tips that help at every age

1. Keep a consistent bedtime routine: bath, feed, book, song — the same order every night.
2. Watch for sleepy cues like yawning, rubbing eyes or staring off.
3. Follow safe sleep guidance: on their back, on a firm flat surface, with no pillows or loose blankets.
4. Track patterns, not single nights. One bad night says little; a week of data says a lot.

Every baby is different. Ranges are averages, not targets.

If you are worried about your baby's sleep, breathing or weight gain, talk to your pediatrician.