Wake windows by age
Typical wake windows grow from 30–60 minutes for a newborn to 3–4 hours at 12 months.
| Baby’s age | Typical wake window |
|---|---|
| 0–1 month | 30–60 min |
| 1–2 months | 60–90 min |
| 3–4 months | 1 hr 15 min – 2 hr |
| 5–6 months | 2 hr – 2 hr 45 min |
| 7–9 months | 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min |
| 10–13 months | 3 hr – 4 hr |
| 14–18 months | 4 hr – 5 hr 30 min |
Every age, month by month
The rose bar is the typical wake window. Each age has its own page with an example day and a calculator set to that age.
- Newborn30–60 min
- 1 month60–90 min
- 2 months60–90 min
- 3 months1 hr 15 min – 2 hr
- 4 months1 hr 15 min – 2 hr
- 5 months2 hr – 2 hr 45 min
- 6 months2 hr – 2 hr 45 min
- 7 months2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 8 months2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 9 months2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 10 months3 hr – 4 hr
- 11 months3 hr – 4 hr
- 12 months3 hr – 4 hr
Guides for each age
- Newborn Wake Windows: 30–60 min
- 1-Month-Old Wake Windows: 60–90 min
- 2-Month-Old Wake Windows: 60–90 min
- 3-Month-Old Wake Windows: 1 hr 15 min – 2 hr
- 4-Month-Old Wake Windows: 1 hr 15 min – 2 hr
- 5-Month-Old Wake Windows: 2 hr – 2 hr 45 min
- 6-Month-Old Wake Windows: 2 hr – 2 hr 45 min
- 7-Month-Old Wake Windows: 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 8-Month-Old Wake Windows: 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 9-Month-Old Wake Windows: 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
- 10-Month-Old Wake Windows: 3 hr – 4 hr
- 11-Month-Old Wake Windows: 3 hr – 4 hr
- 12-Month-Old Wake Windows: 3 hr – 4 hr
- 13 to 18 months: the Wake Window app continues with 3–4 hr up to 13 months and 4 hr – 5 hr 30 min from 14 to 18 months.
Using a range, not a rule
Ages here are completed months. A baby who is 4 months and 3 weeks old is still in the 3–4 month range, and will likely be comfortable toward its longer end.
Start somewhere in the range and watch how your baby does. Easy settling and decent naps mean the timing suits them. If they’re fussy and hard to settle, try a shorter window; if they play happily in the crib, try a slightly longer one.
Where these ranges come from
These are the Wake Window app’s starting ranges. They were put together from publicly available consumer-health guidance, which broadly agrees on how wake windows lengthen through the first year:
Common questions
Why do wake windows get longer?
As babies grow, they can comfortably stay awake for longer between sleeps, and they usually take fewer naps. The ranges step up to reflect that.
My baby is between two ranges. Which should I use?
Use the one for their age in completed months, then let your baby's cues guide you. Near the end of a range, many babies handle its longer end.
Are these ranges the same for every nap?
The calculator uses one range for the day. Many parents find the first window after the morning wake is a little shorter and the last one before bed a little longer.
Were premature babies considered?
The ranges are general guidance by age. If your baby was born early, ask your pediatrician whether to go by their adjusted age.
