--- title: "Baby sleep schedule by age: UK chart 0–24 months | Nursery Advice" description: "Baby sleep schedules age-by-age — newborn to 24 months. NHS-aligned totals, wake windows, sample routines and safer-sleep rules. A UK parent guide." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. Ofsted ratings, fees, opening hours, Google reviews and inspection history — all in one place.", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. 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A UK parent guide.", "datePublished": "2026-07-02", "dateModified": "2026-07-02", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice editorial team", "url": "/parent-hub/editorial-standards" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "/parent-hub/baby-sleep-schedule-by-age" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Parent Hub", "item": "/parent-hub" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Baby sleep schedule by age — a UK parent’s chart, 0 to 24 months", "item": "/parent-hub/baby-sleep-schedule-by-age" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When do babies sleep through the night?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There’s no fixed age. Some babies do longer stretches from 3–4 months; many don’t consistently sleep through until somewhere between 6 and 12 months, and night waking past the first birthday is still common and normal. \"Through the night\" in NHS terms means about a 5–6 hour stretch, not 12 hours." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much sleep does my baby actually need?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Newborns need 14–17 hours across 24 hours; 6-month-olds 12–15; 1–2 year-olds 11–14 (including the nap). Treat these as ranges, not targets — a baby who is content, feeding and growing well is getting enough." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it safe to let my baby cry it out?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Strict \"cry it out\" methods are not recommended by the NHS for very young babies. For older babies, gentler, gradual approaches (controlled comforting, gradual retreat) are the most commonly suggested options if you choose to sleep-train at all. Speak to your health visitor if you’re unsure." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I wake my baby to feed?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In the first few weeks, yes — most newborns need feeding every 2–3 hours, day and night. Once your baby is gaining weight steadily and your midwife or health visitor is happy, you can let them wake naturally for feeds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will starting nursery wreck my baby’s sleep?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A short wobble is common — new routine, new noises, new people. Most babies settle into a new pattern within 2–4 weeks. Share your home nap times and bedtime with the nursery, and ask them to share back how naps went that day." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "Build a baby sleep schedule in 7 days", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 1, "name": "Day 1 — pick a wake-up time", "text": "Choose a consistent morning wake-up (e.g. 7 am) and start the day with light, a feed and a nappy change." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 2, "name": "Day 2 — anchor the first nap", "text": "Offer the first nap one wake-window after waking. Keep the room dim and quiet." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 3, "name": "Day 3 — anchor the longest nap", "text": "Aim for the longest nap in the middle of the day, in the cot, with a short wind-down." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 4, "name": "Day 4 — set a bedtime window", "text": "Pick a 30-minute bedtime window (e.g. 6.45–7.15 pm) and start the wind-down 20 minutes before." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 5, "name": "Day 5 — build the wind-down", "text": "Bath, feed, story, cot — same order every night, no screens." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 6, "name": "Day 6 — handle the late-day nap", "text": "Cap any late nap so bedtime isn’t pushed past your window. End naps by 4.30 pm where you can." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 7, "name": "Day 7 — review and adjust", "text": "Look at the week. Shift wake windows by 15 minutes either way if naps are routinely fought or bedtime drags on." } ] } ] --- [![Nursery Advice](/__l5e/assets-v1/1c5557d3-f3fd-42f8-935a-3f2d2c3ac7e7/nursery-advice.webp "Nursery Advice")](/ "Nursery Advice") [Find Nurseries](/search)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)[Compare](/compare)[About Us](/about-us)[For Nurseries](/for-nurseries) [Claim Your Nursery](/claim) [Find Nurseries](/search)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)[Compare](/compare)[About Us](/about-us)[For Nurseries](/for-nurseries) In this article 1. 1. [How much sleep babies and toddlers actually need](#how-much-sleep) 2. 2. [Newborn (0–3 months) — feed-led, no schedule yet](#newborn-0-3) 3. 3. [3–4 months — first hints of a pattern](#three-to-four) 4. 4. [5–6 months — first true schedule (three naps)](#five-to-six) 5. 5. [7–9 months — two naps, longer nights](#seven-to-nine) 6. 6. [10–12 months — the 2-to-1 nap window opens](#ten-to-twelve) 7. 7. [13–18 months — one long midday nap](#thirteen-to-eighteen) 8. 8. [19–24 months — when nap resistance kicks in](#nineteen-to-twentyfour) 9. 9. [Wake-window cheat sheet](#wake-windows) 10. 10. [Safer-sleep rules that apply at every age](#safer-sleep) 11. 11. [Red flags — when to ring 111 or speak to your GP](#red-flags) 12. 12. [How sleep fits with nursery routines](#nursery-and-sleep) [Home](/)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)Sleep & routines Sleep & routines # Baby sleep schedule by age — a UK parent’s chart, 0 to 24 months A clear, age-by-age picture of how much sleep babies and toddlers actually need in the UK, with sample routines, wake windows and the safer-sleep rules that never change. Reviewed by the Nursery Advice editorial team Last updated 2 July 2026 Next review 27 December 2026 [Editorial standards](/parent-hub/editorial-standards) General guidance, not medical advice This article follows NHS[1](#source-1) and Lullaby Trust[2](#source-2) safer-sleep guidance current at the review date above. Every baby is different — speak to your health visitor or GP if you are worried about your baby’s sleep, breathing or feeding. There is no single "correct" **baby sleep schedule**. The NHS is very clear that babies have their own patterns and that those patterns change quickly as they grow[1](#source-1). What a schedule can do is give you a realistic shape for the day — how much daytime sleep to aim for, roughly how long your baby can comfortably stay awake, and when most families see their first stretches of longer night sleep. Below is a baby sleep schedule by age — newborn through toddler — covering nap schedules, wake windows and a calm baby bedtime routine. It walks through what a typical day looks like from **newborn through to 24 months**, with sample routines, a wake-window cheat sheet, and the safer-sleep rules from The Lullaby Trust[2](#source-2) that apply at every age. Use the chart as a starting point, not a rulebook — your baby’s cues come first. ## How much sleep babies and toddlers actually need The numbers below are NHS[1](#source-1) and Sleep Charity[4](#source-4) ranges for healthy children — a typical span, not a target to hit exactly. Total sleep includes naps. Total sleep in 24 hours, by age Age Total sleep (24h) Typical naps Longest night stretch 0–3 months 14–17 hours 4–6 short naps 2–4 hours 3–6 months 12–15 hours 3 naps 4–6 hours 6–9 months 12–14 hours 2 naps 6–8 hours 9–12 months 12–14 hours 2 naps → 1 8–11 hours 12–18 months 11–14 hours 1 long nap 10–12 hours 18–24 months 11–13 hours 1 nap 10–12 hours Read the baby, not the chart If your baby is feeding well, gaining weight, alert when awake and content most of the time, their sleep is probably fine — even if the numbers don’t match the table. ## Newborn (0–3 months) — feed-led, no schedule yet Newborns don’t have a body clock yet. They sleep in **2–4 hour blocks** around the clock and wake when they’re hungry. The NHS advises against any kind of strict routine in the first few weeks — focus on feeding, skin-to-skin and the safer-sleep basics[1](#source-1). - **Total sleep:** 14–17 hours across 24 hours. - **Wake windows:** 45–90 minutes — very short. - **Day vs night:** keep days bright and chatty, nights dim and quiet. That’s how the body clock starts to settle. - **Where they sleep:** in the same room as you, day and night, for the first 6 months[2](#source-2). Safer sleep — non-negotiable On the back, on a firm flat mattress, feet to foot of the cot, no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, pods or sleep positioners under 12 months. Room temperature 16–20°C.[2](#source-2) ## 3–4 months — first hints of a pattern Around 3–4 months sleep _architecture_ changes — babies start cycling through light and deep sleep more like adults[3](#source-3). You’ll often see a slightly longer first stretch at night and the first hint of a daytime rhythm: a morning nap, a midday nap, an afternoon nap. - **Total sleep:** 12–15 hours. - **Wake windows:** roughly 75–120 minutes. - **Naps:** 3–4, often unpredictable in length. - **Bedtime:** drifting earlier — many babies settle between 7 and 8.30 pm. The "4-month shift" A spell of broken sleep around now is normal and usually settles in 2–6 weeks. See our full guide to [sleep regressions month by month](/parent-hub/sleep-regressions-month-by-month). ## 5–6 months — first true schedule (three naps) This is the age where most families recognise a real daily rhythm for the first time. Three naps is typical: a short morning nap, a longer middle-of-the-day nap, and a quick late-afternoon "bridge" nap to get to bedtime. Sample 6-month-old sleep routine Time What’s happening 7.00 am Wake and morning feed 9.00–9.45 am Nap 1 (short) 12.00–1.30 pm Nap 2 (the long one) 3.30–4.15 pm Nap 3 (bridge) 6.30 pm Bath, feed, wind-down 7.00 pm Bedtime **Wake windows:** around 2–2.5 hours. **Total sleep:** 12–15 hours. Night feeds are still common at this age — the NHS doesn’t advise night weaning before babies are ready[1](#source-1). ## 7–9 months — two naps, longer nights Most babies drop the late-afternoon catnap somewhere between 7 and 9 months and settle on two clear naps. Night sleep often consolidates into one long stretch. - **Wake windows:** 2.5–3.5 hours. - **Naps:** typically a morning nap of 45–60 minutes and a longer midday nap of 1–2 hours. - **Night sleep:** 10–11 hours, often with one or two feeds depending on weaning progress. Separation anxiety Around 8–10 months a peak in separation anxiety can briefly disrupt bedtimes and night sleep. A consistent, calm wind-down helps more than any specific "method". ## 10–12 months — the 2-to-1 nap window opens A few babies are ready to drop the morning nap before their first birthday, but most aren’t. Signs the 2→1 transition is coming: refusing one of the naps, the second nap pushing later and later, or bedtime getting later because of an overlong afternoon nap. - **Wake windows:** 3–4 hours. - **Naps:** still 2 for most; total daytime sleep 2–3 hours. - **Night sleep:** 10–12 hours, often unbroken or with one feed. ## 13–18 months — one long midday nap Almost all toddlers are on one nap by 18 months — usually a long midday nap of 1.5–2.5 hours, immediately after lunch. Get the nap timing right and bedtime largely sorts itself. Sample 15-month-old sleep routine Time What’s happening 7.00 am Wake and breakfast 12.30 pm Lunch 1.00–2.45 pm Nap (the only nap) 6.30 pm Bath and stories 7.00 pm Bedtime **Wake windows:** 4–6 hours by the end of the day. **Total sleep:** 11–14 hours. ## 19–24 months — when nap resistance kicks in The nap is still important at 2 — most children don’t drop it until age 3 to 5[4](#source-4) — but they may fight it. A predictable lunchtime, a dark quiet room and a short wind-down (story, cuddle, cot) usually keeps the nap intact. - **Wake windows:** 5–6 hours. - **Nap:** 1–2 hours after lunch. - **Night sleep:** 10–12 hours, usually unbroken. The 2-year sleep regression A spell of bedtime resistance and early waking around the second birthday is well-documented and usually short-lived. Hold the routine; don’t introduce big new sleep rules in the middle of it. ## Wake-window cheat sheet Approximate awake time between sleeps Age Wake window Naps per day 0–3 months 45–90 min 4–6 3–4 months 75–120 min 3–4 5–6 months 2–2.5 hours 3 7–9 months 2.5–3.5 hours 2 10–12 months 3–4 hours 2 → 1 13–18 months 4–6 hours 1 19–24 months 5–6 hours 1 Wake windows are a sanity check, not a clock to obey. Use them when nap battles are frequent; ignore them when sleep is going fine. ## Safer-sleep rules that apply at every age - **Back to sleep,** every sleep, day and night. - **Firm, flat, waterproof mattress** in a clear cot — no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, pods or positioners under 12 months. - **Feet to foot** of the cot, with any blankets tucked no higher than the shoulders. - **Room sharing** (not bed sharing) for the first 6 months. - **Room temperature 16–20°C**, no hat indoors, dress in layers. - **Smoke-free** pregnancy, home and car. These come straight from The Lullaby Trust’s evidence-based guidance[2](#source-2) and don’t change as your baby grows out of the newborn stage. ## Red flags — when to ring 111 or speak to your GP Don’t wait it out if you see any of these Pauses in breathing, blue lips or face, very floppy or unusually stiff when picked up, a weak high-pitched cry that doesn’t stop, refusing feeds, fewer than 6 wet nappies in 24 hours, or a temperature over 38°C in a baby under 3 months. Call **111** (or 999 if your baby looks seriously unwell) — don’t treat it as a sleep problem. ## How sleep fits with nursery routines Starting nursery often shakes up the nap pattern for a few weeks. Good settings adapt the day around each child’s sleep needs rather than the other way around — that’s one of the things to ask about on a show-round. If you’re comparing settings for the settling-in phase, [Nursery Advice](/) lets you filter by nap-friendly routines and parent-review scores, and our [choosing-a-nursery checklist](/parent-hub/choosing-a-nursery-checklist) has the full list of questions to take with you. ## Frequently asked questions When do babies sleep through the night? There’s no fixed age. Some babies do longer stretches from 3–4 months; many don’t consistently sleep through until somewhere between 6 and 12 months, and night waking past the first birthday is still common and normal. "Through the night" in NHS terms means about a 5–6 hour stretch, not 12 hours. How much sleep does my baby actually need? Newborns need 14–17 hours across 24 hours; 6-month-olds 12–15; 1–2 year-olds 11–14 (including the nap). Treat these as ranges, not targets — a baby who is content, feeding and growing well is getting enough. Is it safe to let my baby cry it out? Strict "cry it out" methods are not recommended by the NHS for very young babies. For older babies, gentler, gradual approaches (controlled comforting, gradual retreat) are the most commonly suggested options if you choose to sleep-train at all. Speak to your health visitor if you’re unsure. Should I wake my baby to feed? In the first few weeks, yes — most newborns need feeding every 2–3 hours, day and night. Once your baby is gaining weight steadily and your midwife or health visitor is happy, you can let them wake naturally for feeds. Will starting nursery wreck my baby’s sleep? A short wobble is common — new routine, new noises, new people. Most babies settle into a new pattern within 2–4 weeks. Share your home nap times and bedtime with the nursery, and ask them to share back how naps went that day. ## Ready to find a brilliant nursery? Search every Ofsted-registered setting in the UK — by postcode, age group, funded hours and more. [Find a nursery with a calm settling-in routine](/search) ## About this guide & sources Every numerical claim in this guide is sourced from UK government, NHS or recognised charity publications. We re-check each source on the article’s review date. 1. NHS — [Helping your baby to sleep & sleep patterns (Start for Life)](https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/baby-basics/sleep/) (retrieved 2026-06-27) 2. The Lullaby Trust — [Safer sleep advice for babies](https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/) (retrieved 2026-06-27) 3. BASIS (Baby Sleep Info Source), Durham University — [Normal infant sleep — evidence base for parents and professionals](https://www.basisonline.org.uk/) (retrieved 2026-06-27) 4. The Sleep Charity — [Children and young people — sleep advice](https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/children/) (retrieved 2026-06-27) ## Keep reading [ Sleep & routines ### Sleep regressions month-by-month — and what actually helps Every sleep regression is real, time-limited and survivable. Here’s what’s happening developmentally at each age, what tends to help, and the safer-sleep rules that never change. Read guide ](/parent-hub/sleep-regressions-month-by-month)[ Choosing childcare ### Choosing a nursery: a parent’s 10-point checklist Visit days are short and emotional. Walk in with this 10-point checklist and you’ll come out with a clear answer — not just a vibe. Built from our review of 28,000+ Ofsted reports. Read guide ](/parent-hub/choosing-a-nursery-checklist)[ Baby & toddler ### Starting solids: a stress-free UK weaning timeline A clear, NHS-aligned weaning plan from first tastes to family meals. Covers timing, baby-led vs spoon-fed, allergens, and the difference between gagging and choking. Read guide ](/parent-hub/weaning-timeline) [![Nursery Advice](/__l5e/assets-v1/1c5557d3-f3fd-42f8-935a-3f2d2c3ac7e7/nursery-advice.webp "Nursery Advice")](/) The independent UK nursery directory. Built with Ofsted data, kept current weekly. 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