Sleep requirements by age
Sophie Acott
Certified sleep consultant · Author of Sleep Play Love · 13 years
Published August 13, 2023 · Updated July 17, 2026
The short answer
Every child is different, but averages help. Newborns need around 16-18 hours a day, dropping to about 14-15 hours by 4-6 months, and roughly 14 hours through the first year. Toddlers need about 13-14 hours, and by 3-5 years most need 11-13 hours with little or no nap. Treat these as guides, not rules.
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Have you ever wondered how much sleep your baby or child needs in a 24-hour period?
Below is a guideline for the average requirements for naps and overnight sleep for 0-5 years:| Age | Overnight | Naps | Total |
| Newborn to 2 months | 8-9 hrs | 7-9 hrs (3-5 Naps) | 16-18 hrs |
| 2-4 Months | 9-10 hrs | 4-5 hrs (3-5 Naps) | 14-16 hrs |
| 4-6 Months | 10 hrs | 4-5 hrs (3-4 Naps) | 14-15 hrs |
| 6-9 Months | 10-11 hrs | 3-4 hrs (2-3 Naps) | 14 hrs |
| 9-12 Months | 10-12 hrs | 2-3 hrs (2 Naps) | 14 hrs |
| 12-18 Months | 11-12 hrs | 2-3 hrs (2 Naps) | 13-14 hrs |
| 18 Months - 2 Years | 11 hrs | 2 hrs (1 Nap) | 13-14 hrs |
| 2-3 Years | 10-11 hrs | 1-2 hrs (1 Nap) | 12-14 hrs |
| 3-5 Years | 10-13 hrs | 0-1 hr (0-1 Nap) | 11-13 hrs |
This is the general answer.
Your little one deserves a specific one.
Sleep Play Love builds the plan around your baby's exact age, their habits, and how you're holding up — then adjusts it every morning. And it answers at 2am, in my words, in seconds.
Get your plan · 3 minutesFor premature babies, professionals recommend using the adjusted/corrected age for sleep requirements and routines up to the age of two.
Sophie
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Before I could really answer this for you, I'd ask two things.
Tap one and I'll start your plan there. No judgment — there never is.