How much sleep does a baby need?
Total sleep, night sleep, and nap hours by age from newborn through 24+ months. Based on pediatric sleep research.
Sleep Needs Calculator
Enter your baby's age to see how much sleep they typically need.
Sleep needs by age chart
How much sleep babies need changes as they grow. Total sleep decreases gradually, while night sleep consolidates and daytime naps shorten.
| Age | Total | Night | Day Naps | Naps/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 weeks | 16h | 8h | 8h | 6 |
| 2-4 weeks | 15.5h | 8h | 7.5h | 5 |
| 4-6 weeks | 15.5h | 8.5h | 7h | 4 |
| 6-8 weeks | 15h | 8.5h | 6.5h | 4 |
| 8-10 weeks | 15h | 9.5h | 5.5h | 4 |
| 10-12 weeks | 15h | 9.5h | 5.5h | 3 |
| 3-4 months | 14.5h | 10h | 4.5h | 3 |
| 4-5 months | 14h | 10h | 4h | 3 |
| 5-6 months | 14h | 10.5h | 3.5h | 3 |
| 6-7 months | 13.5h | 10.5h | 3h | 3 |
| 7-8 months | 13.5h | 10.5h | 3h | 2-3 |
| 8-9 months | 13h | 10.5h | 2.5h | 2 |
| 9-10 months | 13h | 10.5h | 2.5h | 2 |
| 10-12 months | 12.5h | 10h | 2.5h | 2 |
| 12-14 months | 12.5h | 10h | 2.5h | 2 |
| 14-18 months | 12h | 10h | 2h | 1-2 |
| 18-24 months | 12h | 10.5h | 1.5h | 1 |
| 24+ months | 11.5h | 10.5h | 1h | 1 |
How sleep changes as your baby grows
Newborns sleep about 16 hours a day, split roughly evenly between day and night. By 6 months, most of that sleep has shifted to nighttime, and daytime naps have consolidated from five or six short stretches into two or three longer ones.
Between 12 and 18 months, most toddlers drop to a single nap. Total sleep slowly decreases to around 12 hours by age 2. Night sleep stays fairly stable at 10-10.5 hours through most of the first two years.
If your baby is consistently sleeping much less than these ranges and seems cranky or overtired, it might be worth talking to your pediatrician. But small variations are completely normal. Some babies just need a little less sleep than others.
Sources
- Longitudinal Study of Sleep Behavior in Normal Infants — Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2014
- The Architecture of Early Childhood Sleep Over the First Two Years — Maternal & Child Health Journal, 2023
- Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations — American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016
Track your baby's sleep patterns
nappi logs sleep automatically and shows you how your baby's patterns compare to what's typical for their age.