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How Much Sleep Does a Baby Need? A Sleep Guide by Age
Back to Baby Sleep
It's a question every new parent asks (usually at 3am): how much sleep does my baby actually need? And is it normal that they sleep all day and party all night? Babies need a lot of sleep, but how much, and how it's spread across the day, changes fast in the first few years. Here's a simple guide to how much sleep babies and toddlers need at every age, plus the signs your little one might need a little more.
The short answer
According to the NHS, it's common for newborns to sleep 16 to 18 hours a day until around 4 months, and from around 4 months babies usually sleep 12 to 16 hours a day. Toddlers aged 1 to 2 need 11 to 14 hours, including naps. Every baby is a little different, so think of these as healthy ranges rather than targets to hit exactly.
How Much Sleep Does a Baby Need?
Babies need far more sleep than adults, because sleep is when a lot of their growing and developing happens. Here's a rough guide to total sleep in every 24 hours, including naps, based on NHS guidance:
Newborn and Baby Sleep Chart by Age
Total sleep in 24 hours, including naps. These are ranges, not rules.
| Age | Total sleep | Typical naps |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | 16 to 18 hours | Lots of short naps, spread across day and night |
| 4 to 12 months | 12 to 16 hours | 2 to 3 naps a day |
| 1 to 2 years | 11 to 14 hours | 1 to 2 naps, usually 1 by around 18 months |
| 3 to 5 years | 10 to 13 hours | May still have 1 nap |
Source: NHS. Nap patterns are a general guide.
Ranges, Not Rules
Every baby is different. If your little one is happy, feeding well and growing, a little more or less sleep than the chart is usually nothing to worry about.
How Much Sleep Does a Newborn Need?
It's common for newborns to sleep 16 to 18 hours a day until they're around 4 months old, according to the NHS. That sounds like a lot (and it is), but it doesn't come in one neat block. Newborn sleep is spread across the day and night in short stretches, because those tiny tummies need filling often.
Their body clock also hasn't worked out the difference between day and night yet, which is why some newborns seem to save their liveliest moments for 2am. It does get better. For tips on building gentle rhythms in the early weeks, read our guide to creating a newborn sleep schedule.
How Much Sleep Does a 3 Month Old Need?
At 3 months, many babies are still sleeping somewhere around 16 to 18 hours a day, and the NHS notes that by 3 months your baby may be sleeping for around 5 hours at a time, usually at night. From around 4 months, total sleep usually settles at 12 to 16 hours.
It's also around the time of the well-known 4-month sleep regression, when sleep can wobble for a little while as your baby's sleep cycles mature. And with rolling on the way, it's worth starting to plan your move from swaddle to arms-free sleep.
How Much Sleep Does a 6 Month Old Need?
A 6 month old usually needs 12 to 16 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including naps. Most babies this age have 2 to 3 naps a day and longer stretches of sleep overnight, and some will start to drop a night feed.
By now your baby is probably rolling, sitting with support and very interested in the world, which can make settling a little trickier. A consistent wind-down routine helps signal that it's time to rest.
Sleep support for every stage
How Much Sleep Does a Toddler Need?
Toddlers aged 1 to 2 usually need 11 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including naps, according to NHS Healthier Together. Young toddlers may still have two naps, and by around 18 months most have just one, plus a full night's sleep. Try to keep naps away from bedtime, as a late nap can make it harder to fall asleep at night.
From 3 to 5 years, the NHS says preschoolers usually need 10 to 13 hours, which may still include a nap. Many children drop their day nap somewhere between 3 and 5.
Signs Your Baby Isn't Getting Enough Sleep
An overtired baby can find it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, which can turn into a tricky cycle. Look out for:
- Yawning, frowning or staring into space
- Rubbing their eyes or pulling at their ears
- Clenched fists or jerky movements
- Fussiness and crying that's hard to settle
- Short naps and more night waking
Catching these early tired signs and offering sleep straight away can make settling much easier. Our guide to responding to tired signs has more ideas.
Can Babies Sleep Too Much?
A baby who sleeps a lot is usually just a baby doing their job. But newborns need to feed often, usually every 2 to 3 hours, so very long stretches without feeding in the early weeks are worth keeping an eye on.
Talk to your health visitor or GP if your baby is very hard to wake, isn't interested in feeding, isn't having plenty of wet nappies or doesn't seem to be gaining weight. If your baby seems unwell, floppy or unusually drowsy, seek medical help straight away.
FAQs About How Much Sleep Babies Need
How many hours do newborns sleep?
It's common for newborns to sleep 16 to 18 hours a day until around 4 months, according to the NHS. It usually comes in short stretches across the day and night.
How much sleep does a 3 month old need?
Many 3 month olds still sleep around 16 to 18 hours a day. From around 4 months, it's usually 12 to 16 hours, including naps.
How much sleep does a 6 month old need?
Usually 12 to 16 hours in 24 hours, including naps. Most 6 month olds have 2 to 3 naps a day.
How many naps does a baby need?
It changes with age. Newborns nap often, most babies have 2 to 3 naps from around 4 to 12 months, and most toddlers are down to 1 nap by around 18 months.
How much sleep does a toddler need?
Toddlers aged 1 to 2 usually need 11 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including naps, according to the NHS.
Can a baby sleep too much?
Usually not, but newborns need to feed often. If your baby is very hard to wake, not interested in feeding or seems unwell, talk to your health visitor or GP.
Key Takeaway
Newborns commonly sleep 16 to 18 hours a day, babies from 4 to 12 months usually need 12 to 16 hours, and toddlers need 11 to 14 hours, all including naps. Every baby is different, so use these as a guide rather than a target, watch for tired signs, and keep sleep safe and consistent. Before you know it, those 3am parties will be a distant (and slightly blurry) memory.
Looking for more help with sleep at every stage? Explore the Love to Dream baby sleep blog.