How much sleep does my baby need?

Question

Accepted Answer

Per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2016 consensus statement on sleep duration, infants 0–3 months need 14–17 hours of sleep per 24-hour day, 4–11 months need 12–16 hours, and 1–2 year olds need 11–14 hours. Daily naps drop from 5–7 for newborns to 3–4 at 4–5 months, 2–3 at 6–9 months, 2 at 9–12 months, 1–2 at 12–18 months, and usually settle at 1 nap from 18 months. Wake windows — the time awake between sleeps — start at about 45–60 minutes for newborns and lengthen to 1.5–2 hours at 4–5 months, 2–3 hours at 6–8 months, 3–4 hours at 9–11 months, 4–5 hours at 12–17 months and 5–6 hours at 18–24 months. Adding an average wake window to the last wake time gives the estimated next nap start time. Babies vary, so also watch for sleep cues like eye-rubbing, yawning and zoning out. See a pediatrician if you notice breathing difficulty, sleep apnea, very heavy snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness.