Hours of sleep by age
These ranges are for total sleep in 24 hours, including naps. Every child is a little different, so a child who sleeps near the low or high end of the range and is happy and alert during the day is usually doing fine.
| Age | Sleep in 24 hours | Naps |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn to 3 months | 14–17 hours | Sleeps in short stretches day and night |
| 4–11 months | 12–16 hours | 2–3 naps |
| 1–2 years | 11–14 hours | 1–2 naps |
| 3–5 years | 10–13 hours | Often 1 nap, dropped by age 5 |
| 6–12 years | 9–12 hours | No naps |
| 13–18 years | 8–10 hours | No naps |
How sleep and naps change as children grow
Newborns feed every 2 to 4 hours and do not have a set schedule yet. Most babies can sleep longer stretches at night by 6 months, and a bedtime routine helps.
Most toddlers move to one afternoon nap between 15 and 18 months. Preschoolers often keep one nap and drop it by age 5. Keep a regular bedtime, even on weekends.
School-age children have busy days and need a steady bedtime. Teens naturally fall asleep later, so protect weeknight sleep and limit late-night screens.
Safe sleep for babies (AAP 2022)
These steps lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths in babies.
- Place your baby on their back for every sleep, naps and night, until 1 year.
- Use a firm, flat sleep surface (crib, bassinet or play yard) with only a fitted sheet. No pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys.
- Share a room, but not a bed. Your baby sleeps in your room on their own surface, ideally for at least the first 6 months.
- Never sleep with your baby on a sofa, armchair or recliner.
- Do not use inclined sleepers, car seats or swings for routine sleep (more than a 10 degree incline). If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to a flat surface.
- No weighted sleep sacks or weighted swaddles.
- Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll, often around 3 to 4 months and sometimes earlier.
- Breastfeeding, a pacifier at sleep time and a smoke-free home all lower the risk of SIDS.
- Keep your baby from getting too hot: dress them in one more layer than you would wear.
Healthy sleep habits for children and teens
- Keep the same bedtime and wake time every day, with a calm routine such as bath, brushing teeth and a book.
- No screens for 1 hour before bed. Keep TVs, phones and tablets out of the bedroom.
- Make the room cool, dark and quiet.
- Active play and daylight during the day help sleep at night.
- Avoid caffeine (soda, energy drinks, tea) for children and teens.
Is my child getting too little or too much sleep?
If your child sleeps less than the range for their age, try an earlier bedtime and a calm routine, and talk to the doctor if it keeps happening.
If your child sleeps much more than usual and is hard to wake or very sleepy during the day, check with the doctor.
When to talk to the doctor
Talk to your child's doctor if your child:
- Snores loudly most nights, stops breathing or gasps during sleep
- Is very sleepy during the day, or has trouble with behavior or attention
- Has night terrors, sleepwalking or bedwetting that worries you (bedwetting is common until about age 7)
- Takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep most nights
Use the free tool
For parents: how much sleep children need by age, and safe sleep for babies.
Open Sleep by Age & Safe Sleep →Common questions
How much sleep does a 2 year old need?
Children 1 to 2 years old need about 11 to 14 hours of sleep in 24 hours, including 1 or 2 naps. Most move to one afternoon nap between 15 and 18 months.
When do children stop napping?
Children 3 to 5 years old often take one nap and usually drop it by age 5. From 6 years on, children usually do not nap.
How much sleep does a teenager need?
Teens 13 to 18 years need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Teens naturally fall asleep later, so protect weeknight sleep and limit late-night screens.
Can my baby sleep in a swing or car seat?
Not for routine sleep. Inclined surfaces over 10 degrees, such as swings, car seats and inclined sleepers, are not safe for sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one, move them to a firm, flat surface on their back.
Sources
Paruthi S, et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12:785–786 (endorsed by the AAP). Moon RY, et al. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment. Pediatrics 2022;150(1):e2022057990. Newborn range: National Sleep Foundation.
For education only, not medical advice. Always confirm against current guidelines and your child’s doctor. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.