Sleep Routines

How Many Hours Should a Baby Sleep? A Guide by Age

Total sleep, night sleep, nap counts and wake windows from newborn to two years — plus why the ranges are so wide and when a difference actually matters.

The honest headline is that healthy babies vary enormously, and the ranges below are wide for a reason. A baby at the low end of a range who is feeding well, growing well and generally content is almost always fine.

Sleep by age:

| Age | Total per 24h | Night | Naps | Wake window | |---|---|---|---|---| | 0-6 weeks | 14-17h | 8-9h broken | 4-6 | 45-60 min | | 3 months | 14-17h | 9-10h | 3-4 | 75-90 min | | 6 months | 12-15h | 10-11h | 2-3 | 2-3h | | 9 months | 12-15h | 11h | 2 | 2.5-3.5h | | 12 months | 11-14h | 11h | 1-2 | 3-4h | | 18 months | 11-14h | 11h | 1 | 4-5h | | 2 years | 11-14h | 11h | 1 | 5-6h |

Newborn sleep is not organised, and that is normal. In the first six weeks there is no day-night rhythm because the circadian system has not matured. Melatonin production begins developing around 8 to 12 weeks. Before that, expect sleep in 2 to 4 hour blocks around the clock, and do not attempt to impose a schedule.

Wake windows matter more than total hours. This is the single most practical number in the table. Most settling problems in the first six months come from a baby being awake past their window: cortisol rises, and an overtired baby fights sleep harder. If you track one thing, track time awake, not total sleep.

"Sleeping through the night" is misleading. Clinically it often means a five to six hour stretch, not twelve. Many babies do not sleep long unbroken stretches until well into the second year, and night waking in the first year is normal, not a failure.

What actually matters more than hitting the numbers:

  • Is your baby generally content when awake?
  • Are they feeding well and gaining weight?
  • Are wet and dirty nappies normal?
  • Do they settle, even if it takes effort?

If those are all yes, the exact hours matter far less than the internet suggests.

Talk to your doctor if your baby is persistently sleeping far more than the range and is difficult to wake or feeding poorly, is sleeping far less and seems distressed or is not gaining weight, snores loudly or has laboured breathing or long breathing pauses in sleep, or if a sudden change in sleep comes with fever or other symptoms. Excessive sleepiness in a newborn in particular is worth checking promptly.

Related: newborn won't sleep and sleep regressions.

See this in practice

Safety note: always stay with your baby while watching. Keep the screen at least 30cm away, keep sessions short, and keep the volume low.

Watch more on the Noir Baby YouTube channel

Frequently asked questions

How many hours should a newborn sleep?

Roughly 14 to 17 hours per 24 hours, in blocks of 2 to 4 hours around the clock. There is no day-night rhythm in the first six weeks because the circadian system has not matured.

What does sleeping through the night actually mean?

Clinically it often means a five to six hour stretch, not twelve. Night waking during the first year is normal, and many babies do not sleep long unbroken stretches until the second year.

Is it better to track total sleep or wake windows?

Wake windows. Most settling problems in the first six months come from a baby being awake past their window, which raises cortisol and makes them fight sleep harder.

This is general educational content and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about your baby’s health.