Baby sleep: how much they sleep and how to read the signs of tiredness

How much a baby sleeps by age

Sleep needs vary a lot from one child to another. The figures below are rough ranges for total sleep over 24 hours (day and night combined):

• 0–3 months: roughly 14–17 hours, split into short stretches across day and night.
• 4–11 months: roughly 12–15 hours, usually with 2–3 daytime naps.
• 1–2 years: roughly 11–14 hours, with one or two daytime naps.

If your baby sleeps a little more or a little less but is cheerful, feeds well, and is growing, there's usually no cause for concern. For anything that worries you, ask your doctor.

Wake windows

A wake window is the amount of time a baby can spend awake comfortably between two sleeps. If they're kept awake too long, they become overstimulated and harder to settle. As a general guide:

• Newborn: often just 45–60 minutes awake.
• 3–6 months: around 1.5–2.5 hours.
• 6–12 months: around 2.5–4 hours.

By tracking the wake-up time, you can estimate when the next sleep is approaching instead of waiting for crying.

Signs of tiredness

A baby settles most easily when they're tired but not exhausted. Early signs appear before the crying starts:

• A glazed look and reduced eye contact.
• Yawning, rubbing the eyes or ears.
• Slower movements, mild fussiness, clenched fists.

Crying, arching the back, and intense fussing are late signs — the baby is already overtired and will need more calm to fall asleep.

Why a sleep journal helps

By noting the times your baby falls asleep and wakes up, you see their real pattern rather than just an internet average. Over time you'll notice how long wake windows last, when daytime naps cluster, and how night sleep develops. This history is also useful at a check-up, when the pediatrician asks about the sleep routine.

This article is for general guidance and does not replace your doctor's advice. For persistently restless sleep, breathing difficulties during sleep, or other signs that worry you, talk to your pediatrician.

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