Just as with adults, babies’ and children’s sleep patterns vary. From birth, some babies need more or less sleep than others. The list below shows the average amount of sleep babies and children need during a 24-hour period, including daytime naps.
Newborn sleep needs
Most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake. Their total daily sleep varies, but can be around 18 hours. Babies will wake during the night because they need to be fed. Being too hot or too cold can also disturb their sleep.
Sleep requirements at 3 to 6 months old
As your baby grows, they’ll need fewer night feeds and may be able to sleep for longer. Some babies may sleep for 5 to 8 hours or longer at night, but not all.
Baby sleep at 6 to 12 months
For some babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary and some babies will sleep for around 15 hours, most of this at night. Teething discomfort or hunger may wake some babies during the night.
Sleep requirements from 12 months
Babies will sleep for around 12 to 15 hours in total after their first birthday.
2-year-old sleep needs
Most 2 year olds need about 12 to 14 hours sleep, including naps in the daytime.
Sleep requirements for 3 to 5 year olds
Most children aged 3 to 5 will need about 12 hours sleep. Some young children will still need a nap during the day.
Coping with disturbed nights
Newborn babies invariably wake up repeatedly in the night for the first few months, and disturbed nights can be very hard to cope with.
If you have a partner, ask them to help. If you’re formula feeding, encourage your partner to share the feeds. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your partner to take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep.
Once you’re into a good breastfeeding routine, your partner could occasionally give a bottle of expressed breast milk during the night. If you’re on your own, you could ask a friend or relative to stay for a few days so you can get some sleep.
Dealing with baby sleep pattern changes
All babies change their sleep patterns.
Be prepared to change routines as your baby grows and enters different stages. And remember, growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how your baby sleeps.