|
Age |
Total sleep |
Average awake time* |
Bedtime |
Notes |
|
Newborn |
15-18 |
Varies |
N/A |
Newborns need to eat every few hours and will wake up accordingly so at this stage there is no recommended bedtime. The best thing to do is watch your baby for signs that the are starting to feel tired and put them down to sleep at this time. |
|
1-4 |
14-15 |
1-2 hours |
8-11 p.m. |
Younger babies will tend to go to sleep earlier than babies aged 3 or 4 months. Once they are older than 3 months and starting to sleep for longer stretches at night they can be put down to sleep earlier. |
|
4-8 |
14-15 |
2-3 hours |
6-7:30 p.m. |
From 6 months you can start implementing a regular sleep schedule. Babies will now start to have 4 naps and then later move to 3 naps. When you baby starts to drop their 4th nap put them down earlier to avoid them becoming over tired. |
|
8-10 Months |
12-15 |
3 hours |
6-7 p.m. |
From 8 months most babies will need 2 naps. |
|
10-15 |
12-14 |
3-4 hours |
6-7:30 p.m. |
Most babies will still need two naps although some may start transitioning to 1 nap. |
|
15 Months - 3 Years |
12-14 hours |
5 hours | 6-8 p.m. | Your toddler will transition to needing just one nap by 18 months. That nap should be 2-2.5 hours in length. By 2 years of age, 7 p.m. should be your earliest bedtime. |
|
3 – 5 Years |
11-13 hours |
12 hours if toddler has dropped afternoon naps |
7-8:30 p.m. | Most children give up the afternoon nap at this stage. Substitute an afternoon rest time in for the nap. If they are no longer napping aim for roughly 12 hours of night sleep. Use the later bedtime for children who are still transitioning away from the afternoon nap. |
*Average awake time refers to the number of hours your baby should stay awake between daytime naps
Use the earlier bedtime when babies/toddlers start dropping naps or during the 8/9/10 month, 18 month and 2 year sleep regressions, to make up for any lost sleep.
Reference The Baby Sleep Site http://www.babysleepsite.com/