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Wake window chart by age (newborn to 2 years)

How long your baby can usually stay awake, how many naps, and how much sleep in a day, on one screen. Screenshot it for the fridge.

By the Swaddle team · Reviewed October 25, 2026

Free from Swaddle · screenshot or print it

Wake windows by age

AgeAwakeNapsSleep
0-4 weeks35-60 min4-814-17 h
4-12 weeks60-90 min4-514-17 h
3-4 months75-120 min3-412-16 h
5-7 months2-3 h312-16 h
7-10 months2.5-3.5 h2-312-16 h
11-14 months3-4 h211-14 h
14-24 months4-6 h111-14 h

Sleepy signs beat the clock

Typical ranges, not rules: every baby is different. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm flat surface with nothing else in the crib.

How to use the chart

Start the clock when your baby wakes up. Around the start of the range, look for sleepy signs and begin winding down, so they are falling asleep before the end of it. The first window of the day is usually the shortest, the last one before bed the longest.

If naps are short and your baby wakes upset, try putting them down 10 to 15 minutes earlier. If they lie awake for a long time or play in the crib, try 10 to 15 minutes later. Give each change 2 to 3 days.

Want the exact time for today? Use the wake window calculator, or see a sample schedule for each month.

Questions parents ask

How long should a newborn be awake between naps?

In the first month, usually about 35 to 60 minutes, including the feed. Many newborns are ready to sleep again sooner than parents expect.

Do wake windows include feeding time?

Yes. The wake window is all the time awake, from waking up to falling asleep again, including feeds, diaper changes and settling.

Should I follow wake windows exactly?

No. They are a starting point from pediatric sleep sources, not a rule. Watch your baby's sleepy signs too, and adjust by 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe (healthychildren.org)
  2. Paruthi S, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: AASM consensus statement. J Clin Sleep Med 2016
  3. Hirshkowitz M, et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations. Sleep Health 2015
  4. Moon RY, et al. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations. Pediatrics 2022
  5. Cleveland Clinic: Wake windows by age
  6. Galland BC, et al. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review. Sleep Med Rev 2012

This page is general information from the sources above, written by the Swaddle team and last reviewed October 25, 2026. It is not medical advice and it is not a substitute for your pediatrician. Every baby is different. If something feels wrong, call your doctor. In an emergency, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number. How we write these pages.

Keep reading

Wake window calculator

Enter their age and when they woke up. See when the next nap is likely.

Sleep schedule maker

A sample day of naps and bedtime for your baby’s age and wake-up time.

Newborn: is this normal?

12 weird but normal newborn things, and 7 signs to call the doctor.

Short naps: why your baby only naps 30-45 minutes

Naps of 30-45 minutes are one sleep cycle. When they are normal and what helps.