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Sleep Advice by Child's Age

Pediatric sleep advice by a baby's age in months.

Select your child’s age below to view sleep advice:

Congratulations on your little one! Expect your newborn to sleep in periods from 30 minutes to 3 hours across the day and night. His sleep periods will be largely driven by hunger, with breastfed babies sleeping for slightly shorter periods than bottle-fed babies. In terms of total sleep, there is tremendous individual variability for newborns, ranging from about 11 to 17 hours per 24-hour period. Swaddling and/or using a pacifier can help a great deal. If you have any concerns, be sure to check with your health care provider.

Month 0

Hang in there! Your baby is still incredibly young. It is expected that your newborn will sleep in short periods (30 minutes to 3 hours) throughout the day and night. However, there is great individual variability. If your little one still has her nights and days mixed up, be sure to wake her for feedings throughout the day, be your typical noisy self, and make sure she gets plenty of morning light. At night, keep the lights dim and playtime at a minimum.

Month 1

Your little one is transitioning from newborn sleep patterns (short periods throughout the day and night) to sleeping for longer stretches. She should also be more consistently awake during the day, taking several naps throughout the day. If you haven't already, consider starting a bedtime routine. Doing two to three activities that are the same each night before lights out can help your little one get ready for sleep and will start to build healthy sleep habits.

Month 2

At 3 months, babies can sleep for longer stretches at night. His first nap probably starts about 2 hours after he last woke. Also, if you haven't already, this is a great time to start a bedtime routine moving toward a consistent bedtime of about 7:00-8:00 p.m. Be sure to make feeding the first step of the routine instead of the last to avoid associating eating and falling asleep. At about 12 weeks, starting to put him down awake to promote self-soothing will help him to become a better sleeper overall. During the night, try a dream feed. This way, you can feed him while he is still asleep and often right before you go to sleep so you can get some sleep before he wakes.

Month 3

baby crawl tongue

Month 4

baby hat teddy

Month 5

If your little one is still waking during the night, think about how she falls asleep at bedtime. All babies wake naturally during the night but not all babies know how to return to sleep on their own. The skill of self-soothing at bedtime typically generalizes overnight. Also, know that by about 6 months, most babies no longer need to be fed overnight. Does your little one still use a pacifier then need it to return to sleep during the night? At about 6 to 7 months, you can teach her to reach for it on her own during the night. Place several pacifiers in one corner of the crib and help her to reach for it during the night when she wakes. Practice with her at bedtime, too!

Month 6

baby crawl

Month 7

kid mom lights

Month 8

By 9 months, your little one has probably transitioned to taking two naps per day (one at 9:00/9:30 a.m. and one at 2:00/2:30 p.m.), if she was taking three or four shorter ones. At 9-months-old, babies can definitely sleep through the night and no longer need nighttime feedings. If your baby has started to crawl, don't be surprised if she would rather practice her new skill rather than sleep.

Month 9

At this point, your 10-month-old is probably pulling to stand. This can make bedtime, resisting bedtime, and/or night wakings even more of a challenge! If your little one pulls to stand in her crib, make sure she knows how to sit herself back down. Guide her back down if she does not quite have the skill to do it on her own, and practice during the day. Not knowing how to sit back down after pulling to stand can prolong the process of falling asleep or returning to sleep if there is any bedtime resistance or night wakings.

Month 10

baby play sun

Month 11

Your little one is now officially a toddler! At 12 months old, little ones can definitely be sleeping through the night and do not need any feedings overnight. Toddlerhood brings about several developmental changes, with huge leaps in language and walking. These developmental changes can certainly affect sleep patterns. Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine can help a great deal during development. Also, 12 months is when it is okay for little ones to have things like blankets and age appropriate stuffed toys in their cribs.

Month 12

Your little one is probably walking, or close to it, at this point. Developmental milestones can affect sleep patterns so you may observe some changes in his sleep as he meets these typical milestones. Also, if he has a history of sleep terrors, he may begin to sleep walk as he ages!

Month 13

heart baby sweet

Month 14

baby sleep lights

Month 15

baby sleep dad's arms

Month 16

Does your little one still want to nurse or have a bottle when he wakes during the night? If he does, it is probably likely that he falls asleep with a bottle (or right after having one) at bedtime. At his age, about 17 months old, you can definitely wean his bottle at bedtime. First, work toward moving his bottle to before starting his bedtime routine. You can then reduce the amount he takes before bedtime about two ounces every one to two days. You can replace his evening bottle with a small bedtime snack such as cheese or yogurt. From there, helping him learn to fall asleep on his own at bedtime will help a great deal in helping him sleep through the night.

Month 17

Between 18- and 23-months old, little ones typically sleep 9 to 12 hours overnight and 1.5 to 3 hours during the day, with some individual variability. By now, your little one is probably taking one nap per day. A good start time is about 12:30 or 1:00 p.m., right after lunch. If she is still taking more than one nap, consider working on transitioning her to one per day.

Month 18

toddler girl smile

Month 19

It's fine if your little one still uses a pacifier to help her sleep. Taking it away now may lead to major sleep issues. Once your little one is using a pacifier for this long, it can be best to continue to use it until 3 to 4 years of age. At that time, the

Month 20

If you haven't included reading books to your child as part of her bedtime routine, this is a great time to start. Reading stories together is not only great bonding time but is important for developing language and early reading skills. And good old-fashioned books are a much better choice than reading books on tablet or other electronic device. Turning pages and seeing the pages turn are surprisingly important for developing readers.

Month 21

baby diaper sleep

Month 22

Traveling with an almost 2-year-old can be a challenge. As much as possible, stick with your child's usual schedule and routines. You may be tempted to skip some steps of her bedtime routine if plans push her bedtime much later, but resist the temptation. Sticking to comforting routines will help your child settle down in an exciting new environment. And be sure to bring along her favorite blanket and lovey. Even bring along a few of her usual bedtime books.

Month 23

Congratulations on your 2-year-old! Little ones between 24 and 36 months typically sleep just about 12 hours in a 24-hour period (about 10 hours overnight and around 2 hours during the day).

Month 24

Your little one may be talking away - or maybe he has been talking for quite some time at this point. At the end of your bedtime routine, after lights out, be sure to be as consistent as possible with her. For example, if he tries to talk to you when it is time for him to fall asleep, respond consistently saying something like

Month 25

At two, it may take some extra effort from you to make sure there is consistency in setting limits in the home. At this age, your little may be extra curious and might have fun testing the rules. Be sure to stick to the rules and expectations you have set, such as when it's bedtime and that he actually needs to brush his teeth. Give him extra praise and positive attention when he follows those expectations.

Month 26

boy sippy cup

Month 27

An early bedtime is best! Little ones who go to bed early actually fall asleep faster, wake less often at night, and get more sleep. Putting your child to bed before he gets overtired will make a big difference. Some parents worry that if they move their child's bedtime earlier that their child will wake up earlier in the morning. This usually doesn't happen. Instead everyone gets more sleep and bedtime goes more smoothly. So set bedtime for your little one to be between 7:30 and 8:30 in the evening.

Month 28

Your little one is getting older and may be starting to consider climbing out of his crib. Be careful not to jump Electronic toys can be a lot of fun - especially ones with screens! These can include tablets, smart phones, or even televisions or portable DVD players. Avoid letting your little one have access to electronics with screens before bedtime, as the blue light emitted from those screens can prevent them from becoming sleepy. Instead, enjoy reading old-fashioned books with your child at bedtime.

Month 29

Consider making a bedtime routine chart for you and your family! Include all the steps in your child's bedtime chart, including brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and story time. If you normally read 2 stories, then show a picture of 2 stories. This can help your toddler (and you) stick to the plan when it's bedtime. Consistency is key when getting into the habit of a bedtime routine and setting limits with your little one.

Month 30

You may be starting to think about potty training or thinking about starting soon. Note that many little ones take longer to stay dry at night than during the day. Using an overnight

Month 31

Scared at night

Month 32

bedtime story

Month 33

Does your little one need a little extra incentive to get through his bedtime routine or stay in his own room and bed overnight? Depending on your little one, he is probably old enough at 34 months to understand getting a reward for following the rules. He can earn a reward for doing all the steps of his bedtime routine or being a big boy and staying in his room all night. As a reward, he can earn a sticker, a stamp on his hand, or even things like getting to play a game with you. Figure out what your little one finds exciting and you will find how quickly he is willing to follow the rules.

Month 34

Your little one is almost three years old! Most little ones stop napping somewhere between three and five years old. Before the age of three, typically the better that he sleeps during the day, the better he will sleep at night. Be sure to have a consistent naptime routine, like his bedtime routine but shorter.

Month 35

When to transition from a crib to a bed is a question that many families have. Three years old is a great age to transition your little one to a bed. When you transition her, try to put the bed in the same spot in the room as his crib. Celebrate the transition. Throw a

Month 36