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.