Wake windows by age
A wake window is how long your baby stays awake between sleeps. It grows from 30-90 min in the first weeks to 2¾-3½ h at 9 months and 6-6½ h by age 3.
Today's plan at 6 months
Woke up at 7:00 AM
- Woke up7:00 AM
- Nap 19:00 AMabout 1h 10m
- Nap 212:30 PMabout 1h 5m
- Nap 34:15 PMshort, about 45m
- Bedtime8:00 PM
This plan is an estimate from age-typical wake windows. In Storkie, the plan adjusts to your baby's real naps as you log them.
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Wake windows at every age
Bars show the shortest and longest typical window
Naps a day and total sleep by age
| Age | Wake window | Naps a day | Total sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-7 weeks | 30-90 min | varies | 14-17 h |
| 8-11 weeks | 45-105 min | 4-5 | 14-17 h |
| 12 weeks | 45-105 min | 4-5 | 14-17 h |
| 3 months | 60-120 min | 4-5 | 14-16 h |
| 4 months | 1½-2½ h | 3-4 | 13½-15½ h |
| 5 months | 1½-2½ h | 3-4 | 13½-15½ h |
| 6 months | 2-3 h | 3 | 13-15 h |
| 7 months | 2¼-3½ h | 2-3 | 13-15 h |
| 8 months | 2½-3½ h | 2-3 | 13-15 h |
| 9 months | 2¾-3½ h | 2 | 13-15 h |
| 10-11 months | 3-3¾ h | 2 | 12½-14½ h |
| 12-13 months | 3¼-4 h | 1-2 | 13¼-14 h |
| 14-15 months | 3¼-4 h | 1-2 | 13-13½ h |
| 16-17 months | 5-5½ h | 1-2 | 13-14 h |
| 18-20 months | 5-5¾ h | 1-2 | 13-14 h |
| 21-23 months | 5-5¾ h | 1 | 12-13 h |
| 24 months | 5½-6 h | 1 | 12-13 h |
| 25-29 months | 5½-6 h | 1 | 11-14 h |
| 30-35 months | 6 h | 1 | 11-14 h |
| 3 years | 6-6½ h | 0-1 | 10-13 h |
| 4 years | 6-6½ h | 0-1 | 10-13 h |
What is a wake window?
A wake window is the awake time between one sleep and the next. It runs from when your baby wakes to when they fall asleep again. Babies build sleep pressure while they are awake. Put them down too early and they may not be tired enough to settle. Put them down too late and they can get overtired and fight sleep.
Why the first window of the day is the shortest
Most babies handle the least awake time right after the night and the most before bedtime. A 6-month-old's windows run 2-3 h. The short end comes before the first nap and the long end before bed. The calculator spaces naps the same way.
Signs your baby is ready to sleep
Watch your baby as well as the clock. Staring off, slowing down, rubbing eyes, pulling at ears, and fussing all mean sleep is close. If the signs show up early, start the nap early. Wake windows are a starting point. Your baby's cues come first.
When naps drop
Many babies go from 4 naps to 3 around 4 to 5 months, from 3 to 2 around 7 to 8 months, and from 2 to 1 between 12 and 20 months. While your baby drops a nap, they can usually handle the longer wake windows of the next stage.
Sources
Total sleep from 4 months on follows the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendations, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016). The total sleep ranges under 4 months and the wake windows are common sleep-consultant guidance, not an AAP standard.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician about your baby's sleep.