12-Month-Old Sleep Schedule

Happy birthday to your baby. Or should we say toddler? Twelve months is one of the biggest milestone months in all of infancy. Walking (or almost walking), first words, opinions about food, opinions about everything. It's thrilling. It's exhausting. Sometimes both in the same five-minute stretch.

Most 12-month-olds need about 13 hours of total sleep per day: roughly 10.5 hours at night and 2.5 during the day, split across 2 naps.¹³ The AASM recommends 12 to 16 hours of total sleep for infants 4 to 12 months, and 11 to 14 hours for children 1 to 2 years.¹ Your baby is right at the boundary, and 13 hours is solidly in the middle of both ranges.

How long should a 12-month-old stay awake?

Wake windows at 12 months run about 3 to 4 hours, with a typical stretch of 3.5 hours (210 minutes).³

The first window of the day is still the shortest. At this age, that means roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes after morning wake-up before the first nap. Pediatric sleep researchers and practitioners consistently find that the first wake window is about 80% of the midday window.⁵ The last window before bedtime is slightly shorter than midday too (about 85% of it), because pushing bedtime too far leads to overtiredness and a harder time falling asleep.

These windows are noticeably longer than even two months ago. Your baby can handle more stimulation and activity between sleeps, which is great for actually leaving the house and doing things.

Our wake windows chart has the numbers for every age.

How many naps at 12 months?

Two. This is important because a lot of parents hear "12 months" and think it's time to drop to one nap. It's not. The 2-to-1 nap transition typically happens between 14 and 15 months, with the full range spanning 12 to 18 months.⁶

Dropping to one nap too early is one of the most common mistakes at this age. A 12-month-old who goes to one nap before they're ready ends up overtired by afternoon, fights bedtime, wakes more at night, and ironically seems to need the nap they just lost. If your baby is still taking two decent naps (even if one is getting shorter), keep going. You'll know the transition is truly needed when your baby fights the morning nap for 2+ weeks straight, pushes naps later and later, or stays awake and happy through what used to be nap time.

Individual naps at this age typically run 60 to 120 minutes.³ The morning nap is usually the longer one (75 to 90 minutes), with the afternoon nap a bit shorter (60 to 75 minutes). Total daytime sleep should add up to about 2.5 hours.

Our nap transition guide covers the 2-to-1 transition in detail.

A sample 12-month-old schedule

Times shift depending on when your baby wakes up. The spacing between sleeps is what matters most.

Time	Activity
6:30 AM	Wake up
7:00 AM	Breakfast (whole milk + solids)
7:30 AM	Play, outdoor time
9:15 AM	Nap 1 (75-90 minutes)
10:30 AM	Wake, snack
11:00 AM	Play, activities
12:00 PM	Lunch
2:00 PM	Nap 2 (60-75 minutes)
3:00 PM	Wake, snack + milk
3:30 PM	Play, outdoor time
5:30 PM	Dinner
6:15 PM	Bedtime routine (bath, pajamas, book, milk)
7:00 PM	Bedtime

A 6:30 to 7:30 PM bedtime works well at this age.⁵ Earlier bedtimes lead to longer, more consolidated nighttime sleep, probably because they line up with the natural melatonin surge that happens in the early evening.⁸

Notice the asymmetry in wake windows. The first one (about 2 hours 45 minutes) is shorter than midday (3.5 hours), which is shorter than what you'd calculate for the last window. That's intentional. Keeping the last window a touch shorter protects against overtiredness at bedtime.

On bad nap days (short naps, refused naps), shift the schedule earlier. A 6:00 PM bedtime is perfectly fine when the day has gone sideways.

The 12-month sleep regression

Right around the first birthday, many babies hit a rough patch with sleep. This is the 12-month regression, and it typically shows up between 11 and 13 months.³

What's driving it: everything, basically. Your baby is learning to walk (or already walking), and research shows that motor milestones like walking and pulling to stand are directly linked to temporary sleep disruption.⁹ The brain practices new motor skills during sleep, leading to more movement, more brief wakes, and sometimes a baby standing in the crib at 2 AM with no idea how to get back down.

On top of that, there's a language explosion (first words, understanding instructions), separation anxiety peaking, and a growing sense of object permanence. Your baby now knows you exist when you leave the room, and has strong feelings about it. All of this feeds into bedtime resistance and extra night waking.

This regression usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks. The tricky part is that it often coincides with the "should I drop a nap?" question, which makes parents think going to one nap will fix things. It won't. The regression passes on its own. Keep two naps.

A consistent bedtime routine helps more than anything else during this stretch. A 2009 study found that a nightly 3-step bedtime routine (bath, quiet activities, lights out) significantly reduced night wakings and improved sleep continuity.⁷ If you already have a routine, don't abandon it during the regression. Predictability is the thing that actually works.

Feeding and sleep at 12 months

The first birthday brings a big dietary shift. The AAP recommends introducing whole cow's milk at 12 months, with 2 to 3 cups (16 to 24 ounces) per day.¹⁰ Your baby is also transitioning to 3 structured meals and 2 snacks, with table food replacing purees.

Night feeds should be done by now. At 12+ months, night feeds are rarely necessary nutritionally.⁷¹¹ If your baby still wakes to eat at night, it's almost certainly habit rather than hunger. Worth addressing if you haven't already.

The milk-to-food shift matters for sleep because a baby who fills up well during the day is less likely to wake hungry at night. Make sure the last meal of the day (dinner) and any pre-bed milk are substantial enough. A hungry 12-month-old won't sleep through no matter how perfect the schedule is.

Our feeding guide has age-by-age amounts and timing.

Common problems at 12 months

Standing in the crib and crying. Your baby pulls to stand, can't figure out how to sit back down, and screams. During the day, practice sitting down from standing. A lot. Do it dozens of times. Eventually the motor pattern clicks and the nighttime stand-ups stop waking them fully.

Refusing the morning nap. This is the #1 false signal for the 2-to-1 transition. During the regression, babies often fight the morning nap for a week or two, then go right back to taking it. If it's been less than 2 weeks of consistent refusal, keep offering it. Only start thinking about the transition after 2 to 3 weeks of real, daily nap refusal with no overtiredness.

Bedtime battles and separation anxiety. A 12-month-old has opinions and the physical ability to express them (standing, throwing things, yelling). Keep the routine predictable, keep goodbyes short and confident, and resist the urge to introduce new sleep associations (rocking to sleep, lying down with them) just to get through the regression. Those become harder habits to break later.

Early morning wakes. Before 6 AM? Check these: bedtime too late, too much daytime sleep (cap at 2.5 hours), room getting light (invest in blackout curtains), or the afternoon nap ending too late in the day.

FAQ

Should my 12-month-old be on one nap?

Probably not. While the range for dropping to one nap starts at 12 months, most babies aren't ready until 14 to 15 months.⁶ Dropping too early leads to chronic overtiredness, worse nighttime sleep, and early morning wakes. If your baby still falls asleep for both naps within 15 minutes and sleeps at least 45 minutes for each, they still need two.

How do I know if it's the 12-month regression or time to drop a nap?

The regression is temporary (2 to 4 weeks) and comes with other developmental signs: walking attempts, new words, clinginess. A real nap transition need shows consistent nap refusal for 2+ weeks without overtiredness symptoms. During the regression, your baby fights sleep but still clearly needs it (cranky by late afternoon, falling asleep in the car). During a real transition, they skip the nap and genuinely seem fine.

When can I give my baby a lovey or comfort object for sleep?

Twelve months is the age when pediatricians generally consider a small, breathable comfort object safe for the crib.¹⁰ A lovey can actually help with the separation anxiety that peaks around this age. Introduce it during the bedtime routine (let them hold it during the last book or song) so it becomes associated with sleep.

Is 7 PM too early for bedtime?

No. A 6:30 to 7:30 PM bedtime is recommended for 12-month-olds.⁵ It feels early, but earlier bedtimes consistently lead to longer nighttime sleep and fewer night wakes. If your baby is waking at 6:30 AM, a 7 PM bedtime gives them 11.5 hours in the crib, which is about right for 10.5 hours of actual sleep plus normal overnight wakes.