Wake window calculator by age
A wake window is how long a baby stays awake between sleeps. It grows with age: often under an hour for newborns, one to two hours at three to five months, and three to four hours around the first birthday. Enter your baby's age and when they woke to see a typical window for the next nap.
Last reviewed
When is the next nap?
Next sleep window
8:15 AM to 9:00 AM
Wake window
1 h 15 min to 2 h
Naps a day
3 to 4
Age group: 3 to 5 months. Recommended total sleep in 24 hours: 14 to 17 hours before 4 months, 12 to 16 hours from 4 months (NSF 2015; AASM 2016). Start winding down at the first sleepy cues, even if the window is not over.
Wake windows by age
The ranges below are the ones parents and sleep consultants commonly use. Total sleep ranges come from published consensus statements: the National Sleep Foundation for babies up to three months, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine from four months to two years.
| Age | Wake window | Naps | Total sleep (source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 weeks | 35 to 60 min | Many, irregular | 14 to 17 h (NSF) |
| 1 to 3 months | 60 to 90 min | 4 to 5 | 14 to 17 h (NSF) |
| 3 to 5 months | 75 min to 2 h | 3 to 4 | 12 to 16 h (AASM, from 4 months) |
| 5 to 7 months | 2 to 3 h | 3 | 12 to 16 h (AASM) |
| 7 to 10 months | 2.5 to 3.5 h | 2 | 12 to 16 h (AASM) |
| 10 to 14 months | 3 to 4 h | 1 to 2 | 11 to 14 h from 12 months (AASM) |
| 14 to 24 months | 4 to 6 h | 1 | 11 to 14 h (AASM) |
Should I follow the wake window or my baby's cues?
Your baby's cues come first. Yawning, rubbing eyes, looking away and fussing usually mean it is time to sleep, even if the window is not over. The window is most useful as a reminder to start winding down before your baby becomes overtired.
When to talk to your pediatrician
Call your pediatrician if your baby:
- Is very hard to wake, or sleeps much more than usual
- Has pauses in breathing, loud snoring or struggles to breathe during sleep
- Is not feeding well, or has fewer wet diapers than usual
- Seems unusually irritable or unwell
Frequently asked questions
Should I use my baby's corrected age if they were born early?
Many pediatricians suggest using corrected age (age from the due date) for sleep and development milestones in premature babies. Ask your pediatrician what they recommend for your baby.
Why does the first wake window of the day often feel shorter?
Many babies manage a shorter stretch after the morning wake-up and longer ones later in the day. Use the lower end of the range for the first nap.
Is anything I enter stored?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing is sent to us.