A proper baby sleep schedule can help your baby sleep better at night and take better naps. This page has sample sleep schedules including feedings for babies and toddlers at different ages. As a sleep consultant for over 15 years, it’s important for you to know there is no one-size-fits-all schedule that works for every baby. Use these as a guideline to find the right schedule for your baby!
In this article:
- What Age Can You Put Your Baby on a Schedule?
- Sample Baby Sleep and Feeding Schedules By Age
- Free Custom Schedule Generator
What Age Can You Put Your Baby on a Schedule?
You can put your baby on a sleep schedule almost from birth but it’s important not to be too strict until your baby is at least 6 months old. Newborns need to eat and sleep on demand to support a rapid period of growth and development. Once your baby can tolerate staying awake for 2-3 hours at a time, a more consistent schedule can be used.
Even if your baby is young, you can put your baby on a schedule largely based on their “nap gap.” This is the amount of time between sleep periods, including the time between naps and between their last nap and bedtime.
Sample Baby Sleep and Feeding Schedules By Age
Here is a list of our free sample baby sleep and feeding schedules, for your convenience. We strongly recommend you bookmark this page and the sample schedule pages below.
Keep in mind that newborn schedules are generally much more variable than older children’s schedules. A baby doesn’t really get on a clock-based schedule until 6 months old, on average, though some are naturally more predictable than others. Some older babies and toddlers can struggle with schedules that are too rigid to the clock, so you will want to use what you know best about your own baby or toddler to adjust your schedule to fit his or her personality and temperament. If you need help with a personalized sleep and feeding schedule, we can help you there, too!
Newborn Schedules
Newborns need between 14 and 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period and can stay awake 1-2 hours at a time, on average. An early bedtime doesn’t form until around 8-12 weeks old, on average. Before then, you will want to keep bedtime later around 9 or 10 p.m. like yours. Otherwise, your baby might start the day too early.
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Baby Schedules
Babies 4 to 10 months old need an average of 14 hours of sleep a day with 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. Many babies night-wean in this age range but it varies depending on whether you’re breastfeeding or formula-feeding. Each schedule below will discuss what to expect for babies at that age.
- 4 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 5 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 6 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 7 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 8 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 9 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 10 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
Toddler Schedules
Toddlers need 13-14 hours of sleep a day with 10-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. The average age to transition to one nap is 15-18 months old though quite a few 13-14-month-olds will, too. And, the average age to stop napping is 3-4 years old.
- 11 Month Old Baby Sleep Schedule
- 12 Month Old / 1 Year Old Toddler Sleep Schedule
- Why Not All 12 Month Olds Transition To One Nap
- When Do Babies Drop to One Nap? 5 Signs to See Before Switching
- 13 Month Old Sleep Schedule: Bedtime, How Many Naps, and How to Get Your Toddler to Sleep Through the Night
- 14 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- 15 Month Old Sleep Schedule
- Toddler Sleep Schedules By Month — From 12 Months to 3 Years Old
- 3 Signs Your Toddler Is Ready To Stop Napping
Free Custom Baby Sleep Schedule Generator
Input your baby’s wake-up time and get a free custom schedule for the day!
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