Free Printable Wake Windows Chart by Age (0-24 Months)

A printable wake windows chart from newborn to 24 months. Free, nothing to sign up for. Print it and put it on the fridge — that is where it is actually useful at 6am.

Last updated: 1 August 2026 · Free to use, print and share. Health visitors, midwives, NCT groups and antenatal classes are welcome to print and distribute this.

The chart

Age Wake window Naps/day Total daytime sleep Total sleep in 24h
0–6 weeks 45–60 min 4–6 5–8 hr 14–17 hr
7–8 weeks 60–90 min 4–5 4–6 hr 14–16 hr
3 months 75–105 min 4–5 4–5 hr 14–16 hr
4 months 90 min–2 hr 3–4 3–4.5 hr 13–15 hr
5 months 2–2.25 hr 3–4 3–4 hr 13–15 hr
6 months 2–2.5 hr 3 3–4 hr 13–15 hr
7–8 months 2.5–3 hr 2–3 2.5–3.5 hr 12–15 hr
9–10 months 2.5–3.5 hr 2 2–3 hr 12–15 hr
11–12 months 3–4 hr 2 2–3 hr 12–15 hr
13–15 months 4–5 hr 1–2 2–3 hr 12–14 hr
16–18 months 5–6 hr 1 2–3 hr 11–14 hr
19–24 months 5–6 hr 1 1.5–3 hr 11–14 hr

The total-sleep column is the one to check first. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, endorsed by the AAP, recommends 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours including naps for infants aged 4 to 12 months, and 11 to 14 hours for children aged 1 to 2 years. If your baby sits in range and wakes in a reasonable mood, the schedule is working whatever the wake window column says.

Four things to know before using it

  1. The clock starts at eyes open. The wake window includes the feed, the nappy change and the wind-down — not just the happy playing part. Measuring from the end of breakfast is the commonest reason the chart seems wrong.
  2. The first window of the day is the shortest. It is also the one most worth getting right. If the morning nap goes badly the rest of the day usually follows.
  3. These are ranges, not targets. A baby at the short end is not behind and one at the long end is not advanced.
  4. Cues beat the clock. Use the window to know when to start watching, then use your baby to pick the moment.

Sleepy cues, in the order they appear

Early — fixed staring, reduced babbling, slowing movement, looking away. This is the window you want.

Middle — ear pulling, eye rubbing, yawning, fussing, clumsy movements.

Late — arching back, hard crying, rigid limbs. Past this point cortisol makes falling asleep harder, not easier.

Nap transitions at a glance

Transition Usual age How long it takes
4 to 3 naps 4–5 months 1–2 weeks
3 to 2 naps 6–8 months 2–3 weeks
2 to 1 nap 13–18 months 4–6 weeks

Wait for two consistent weeks of resistance before dropping a nap. One bad week is far more often teething, illness or a developmental leap — see the sleep regression ages chart.

Safe sleep, every time

Follow current American Academy of Pediatrics guidance: baby on their back, on a firm flat surface, in their own clear sleep space, with no pillows, bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys. Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended for at least the first six months. Stop swaddling as soon as your baby shows any sign of rolling.

Want the fuller version?

This chart is free and always will be. The expanded guide covers rescuing a broken nap day, cue-reading in detail and building a rhythm rather than a schedule — that is our Baby Sleep Guide: Wake Windows & Nap Timing. Dropping a nap right now? See the Nap Transition Guide, or browse all baby sleep guides.

Related reading: Wake Windows by Age: A Month-by-Month Chart. Other free printables: the sleep regression chart, the babyproofing checklist and the first foods and allergen tracker.

Sources

This chart is educational and is not a substitute for advice from your paediatrician or health visitor. If you have concerns about your baby's sleep, breathing, feeding or growth, speak to a clinician.

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