Nap calculator

Wake windows by age: when is the next nap?

A wake window is how long a baby is usually awake between sleeps. Enter your baby's birthday and when they last woke up to see the typical window for their age.

Updated November 2026

Typical wake windows and sleep by age
Age	Wake window	Naps a day	Sleep in 24 h
0–4 weeks	35–60 min	Many short naps, no set pattern	14–17 h
1–2 months	60–90 min	4–5	14–17 h
3–4 months	75 min–2 h	3–4	12–16 h
5–7 months	2–3 h	3	12–16 h
8–10 months	2.5–3.5 h	2	12–16 h
11–13 months	3–4 h	1–2	11–16 h
14–24 months	4–6 h	1	11–14 h

What is a wake window?

A wake window is the stretch of time a baby is awake between one sleep and the next. Newborns can only manage 35 to 60 minutes before they need to sleep again. Wake windows get longer as babies grow, and by toddlerhood many children are awake for 5 or 6 hours before their one nap.

Getting the timing roughly right can make settling easier. A baby who stays up too long can become overtired and fussy, while a baby who isn't tired enough may resist sleep.

Signs your baby is getting tired

Yawning and rubbing eyes or ears
Staring into space or turning away from faces and toys
Fussing, crying or becoming clingy
Jerky movements or arching the back

In young babies these signs matter more than the clock. If your baby shows them early, it's fine to offer sleep sooner.

Safe sleep for every nap

Naps count too: always put your baby down on their back, on a firm, flat surface in their own crib or bassinet, with no pillows, bumpers or loose bedding. For the first 6 months, the safest place for your baby to sleep is in the same room as you, day and night. More in our guide to baby sleep by age.

Questions parents ask

Are wake windows backed by research?

Total sleep needs by age are well studied. Wake windows themselves are practical rules of thumb used by midwives, pediatricians and sleep consultants, not strict science. Every baby is different, so use them as a guide alongside your baby's cues.

My baby was premature. Which age should I use?

Use corrected age: your baby's age minus the number of weeks they were born early. The calculator does this when you choose how many weeks early your baby was born.

Is the first wake window of the day shorter?

Often yes. Many babies manage the shortest window after the morning wake-up and the longest before bedtime.

Sources

Written from the guidance above. It's general information: your midwife, doctor or pediatrician knows your situation.

Amelia gives general information, not medical advice. Always follow your own midwife, doctor or care team, and call them whenever you're unsure.