Sleep and wake phases - table overview and tips

What determines how long a baby can stay awake?

Everyone has a limit to how long they can stay awake and still feel happy and well-rested. When we push beyond that limit, our mood can dip, we might get headaches, feel unwell, and experience stress.

The same is true for babies, but their awake time is much shorter than that of adults. Babies need to nap during the day to avoid becoming overtired. Without regular sleep, they can quickly become fussy, uncomfortable, and more difficult to soothe, highlighting the importance of those daytime naps.

Your baby’s sleep patterns are individual

To find your baby’s optimal sleep schedule, it’s best to follow your baby’s natural rhythm. Every baby is unique and develops at their own pace, so your baby’s own sleep pattern will always be more accurate than any general guideline.

By logging your baby’s sleep in Napper, you can identify their ideal sleep pattern, awake windows, and the perfect timing for naps. This helps you avoid overtiredness and maintain a smoother daily routine, tailored specifically to your baby’s needs.

Sleep needs and awake times at different ages

How long and when babies sleep is highly individual and can vary significantly as they grow. The tables below serve as general guidelines, but it’s important to remember that differences between individual children can be substantial.

One thing that’s certain is that your baby will gradually transition from having several shorter sleep periods throughout the day and night to a more consolidated sleep period at night. Over time, these sleep periods will become fewer, more stable, and longer.

When calculating your baby’s awake window, start from the moment they wake up until they’re drowsy and ready to fall asleep again. It's also important to include any active breastfeeding or bottle-feeding time—when your baby is actively sucking and swallowing—within the awake window.

Baby’s sleep needs

Here’s a summary of the total hours a baby needs to sleep per day.

Note: The distribution of sleep between night and day for newborns aged 0-2 months can be completely random.

Source: Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

How does it work for newborns?

Newborn babies often have very irregular sleep patterns, especially during the first four weeks. Their awake windows are extremely short, and since feeding time—whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding—is included in this awake period, there may be little time left before it’s time to sleep again.

Babies under 3 months old are naturally sleep-prone and can easily doze off if they’re feeling cozy and comfortable. This means they might take an extra nap even in the middle of an awake window.

That said, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how long your baby has been awake. You can use Napper to track your newborn’s awake time and ensure you offer a nap as the period nears its end. Given that newborns have such a high sleep requirement, there’s no need to worry about them sleeping too much during the day—it’s perfectly normal at this stage.

How can knowledge about their sleep needs be used?

By keeping track of your baby’s sleep needs and awake times using Napper, you can ensure they get the right amount of sleep and avoid overtiredness.

As the end of an awake window approaches, be on the lookout for signs of tiredness. When you notice that your baby is starting to get sleepy, it's the perfect time to put them down for a nap or for the night. This proactive approach can help maintain a smoother sleep routine and keep your baby well-rested and content.