Recommended Wake Windows by Age: A Guide for Parents

Understanding your child’s wake windows— the optimal duration of wakefulness between sleeps— is crucial for their overall rest and development. Here are some general recommendations based on age:

• Newborns (0-3 months): Newborns typically have wake windows of around 45 to 90 minutes. Their sleep patterns are quite fragmented, often requiring frequent naps throughout the day.

• Infants (4-6 months): By this age, wake windows can extend to about 1.5 to 2 hours. Infants may begin to settle into a more predictable sleep routine with longer stretches of wakefulness.

• Older Infants (7-12 months): At this stage, wake windows usually last between 2 to 3 hours. As their bodies develop, babies may start to drop naps off from three to two during the day.

• Toddlers (1-3 years): Toddlers typically have wake windows of about 4 to 6 hours. Their napping needs may decrease, often transitioning down to one nap a day by age two.

It’s important to remember that every child is unique. These guidelines serve as a foundational framework, but individual sleep needs may vary. Observing your child’s cues—such as yawning or rubbing eyes—can help in determining the ideal time for their next sleep.