How many hours should a baby sleep? Complete age-by-age table and signs of sleep deprivation

One of the most common questions parents ask their paediatrician is also one of the hardest to answer with an exact number: how much should my baby sleep? The short answer: it depends on age. The longer answer involves understanding that there is a wide normal range, that night sleep and naps count together, and that babies under 4 months have such variability that no specific recommendation consensus exists for them.

The official table: AASM recommendations backed by the AAP

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) published the first scientific consensus on sleep duration in children in 2016. The AAP endorsed it that same year. The recommendations are: 4–12 months: 12–16 hours (naps included). 1–2 years: 11–14 hours. 3–5 years: 10–13 hours. 6–12 years: 9–12 hours. 13–18 years: 8–10 hours. What about under 4 months? The AASM consensus does not include recommendations for under-4-months because physiological variability is so high at this stage that any figure would be barely representative. Newborns sleep an average of 14–17 hours, but some babies sleep less and are perfectly healthy.

How that sleep is distributed: night + naps

The total daily sleep hours include both night sleep and daytime naps. This distribution changes a lot across the first year.

Is my baby sleeping too little? Signs of insufficient sleep

During the day

Frequent irritability without obvious cause. Excessive drowsiness in active situations (in the car, in the pushchair). Difficulty focusing on play. Falls asleep quickly anywhere. Hyperactivity in older babies (overtiredness can manifest as hyperactivity).

At night

Takes a very long time to settle (more than 20–30 minutes). Wakes with inconsolable crying. Sleeps well below the recommended range for their age.

Is my baby sleeping too much? When to be concerned

In the first 3 months, a baby who sleeps a lot is rarely a cause for concern. However, some signs do warrant attention: a newborn who sleeps more than 4–5 hours in a stretch and doesn't ask for feeds (there may be a feeding problem or a medical cause); excessive drowsiness combined with poor weight gain; an older baby who was previously active and suddenly sleeps much more (may indicate illness).

Why there are no figures for under 4 months

Newborns have an ultradian rhythm (sleep-wake cycles of 1 to 3 hours distributed across 24 hours) that is not yet modulated by light or environment. The circadian rhythm starts developing around 6–8 weeks of life and is not mature until 3–4 months. This means that before 3 months, trying to adjust a baby's sleep to an external schedule goes against their biology. What you can do is help the circadian rhythm mature earlier through exposure to natural light during the day and dim light during night feeds.

The myth of the baby who sleeps through the night

According to research data, only a small proportion of 6-month-old babies consistently sleep more than 8 hours in a row. Despite this, many parents feel their babies are poor sleepers because they don't meet this cultural expectation. Paediatrics is clear: sleeping in cycles with wakings is a baby's biological norm. Helping them manage those transitions better is a gradual process, not an achievement that should happen before 3 months.

What matters more than exact hours

Hours are a guide, not a test. What truly matters is that your baby is active, curious, and in good spirits during waking hours; shows sleep cues when it is time to sleep (not crying from exhaustion); has night sleep and naps that are reasonably predictable; and that the family is resting with reasonable regularity. If these conditions are met but the hours are slightly below the recommended range, your baby is most likely fine.

Supporting every stage of the first year

The first year is a rollercoaster of change. At Petitblue, we design every element of our sleep ecosystem to accompany you at every stage with products that evolve with your baby and rituals that create stability even in moments of greatest change. Because a peaceful night is the beginning of a brighter tomorrow.