Key highlights
- Newborns sleep the most — up to 17 hours across the day and night.
- By 6 months, most babies do the majority of their sleeping at night.
- Naps gradually reduce from 4–6 a day to a single afternoon nap by age 2.
- The ranges below are typical — not targets. Individual babies vary widely.
One of the most common questions new parents ask is simply: is my baby sleeping enough? The reassuring answer is that "enough" covers a much wider range than most sleep charts suggest. Babies grow rapidly, their sleep needs change month by month, and no two babies follow exactly the same pattern. The figures below are the commonly reported ranges — a helpful sanity check, not a rulebook.
Sleep by age: the typical ranges
| Age | Total sleep / 24 hrs | Night sleep | Daytime naps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0–3 months) | 14–17 hours | 8–9 hours (in short stretches) | 7–9 hours across 4–6 naps |
| Infant (4–6 months) | 12–16 hours | 9–11 hours | 3–4 hours across 3 naps |
| Older infant (7–11 months) | 12–15 hours | 10–12 hours | 2–3 hours across 2 naps |
| Toddler (1–2 years) | 11–14 hours | 10–12 hours | 1–3 hours across 1–2 naps |
| Toddler (2–3 years) | 10–13 hours | 10–12 hours | 1–2 hours across 1 nap |
Newborn (0–3 months)
Newborns typically sleep 14–17 hours across a 24-hour period, but rarely for more than 2–4 hours at a stretch. Their tiny stomachs need frequent feeds, and day/night rhythms haven't yet developed. Expect 4–6 short naps and multiple night wakings — this is biologically normal and important for feeding and growth.
Infant (4–6 months)
Around 3–4 months, many babies begin to consolidate more sleep at night — often 9–11 hours with one or two wake-ups — plus around 3–4 hours of daytime sleep spread across three naps (morning, midday and late afternoon). A predictable wind-down routine starts to make a real difference at this age.
Older infant (7–11 months)
Most babies in the second half of their first year settle into two naps a day, totalling 2–3 hours, with a longer night-time stretch of 10–12 hours. Sleep regressions around 8–10 months are common — usually driven by developmental leaps such as crawling, pulling up or separation awareness.
Toddler (1–2 years)
Toddlers usually need 11–14 hours total. Somewhere between 12 and 18 months, most drop from two naps to one longer post-lunch nap of 1–2 hours. Night sleep tends to lengthen to a reliable 10–12 hour block, though occasional wake-ups are still normal.
Toddler (2–3 years)
By age two, most toddlers sleep 10–13 hours in total, usually with one afternoon nap of about an hour. Some children start dropping the nap altogether between 2.5 and 3 years — if bedtime is becoming a battle, an earlier bedtime or a shorter nap often helps more than dropping it completely.
Quick rule of thumb
A well-rested baby is generally alert and content when awake, feeds well, and settles reasonably easily for sleep. Total hours matter less than how your baby seems day to day.
Finding your baby's own pattern
The figures above are averages, and averages hide a lot of variation. Some babies naturally need closer to the top of the range, others sit quite happily at the bottom. Genetics, temperament, feeding, activity level and the sleep environment all play a role. Rather than chasing a number, watch your baby: are they cheerful and engaged when awake, are they feeding well, and do they generally settle without huge resistance?
Bedtime and nap timings are worth experimenting with too. Shifting bedtime 15–30 minutes earlier or later, adjusting the length of the last nap, or moving the wake window before bed can make a surprisingly big difference. Give any change 4–7 days before deciding whether it's working.
A gentle disclaimer
All babies are different. Some will naturally have higher or lower sleep needs than the ranges shown here, and that is completely normal. These figures are a general guide, not a target — feel free to experiment with bedtime and nap routines to find the pattern that suits your individual child best. If you have any concerns about your baby's sleep, feeding or development, always speak to your health visitor, GP or paediatrician.