How much sleep does a baby need?

Parents are often given a single number — "babies need 14 hours" — and then worry when their child sleeps 12. In reality, healthy children of the same age sleep quite different amounts. What the evidence gives is a range, counted over 24 hours, naps included.

Recommended total sleep

The most widely used recommendations come from a consensus of sleep specialists convened by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The panel deliberately gave no recommendation for babies under 4 months. Normal sleep in the first weeks varies so widely from baby to baby, and there is so little evidence linking the amount to health, that one range would not be meaningful. As a rough guide, newborns sleep around 14–17 hours in 24, and some sleep up to 18–19 hours.

What this looks like day to day

This is roughly how sleep is split at different ages. These are the figures Sleepabee uses to plan a day; where a recommendation exists, they sit inside it.

Night sleep for a young baby does not mean sleeping straight through. Waking to feed is normal and expected in the first months. By around 4 months many babies manage one longer stretch of 5–6 hours, while breastfed babies often wake more. How many night feeds a baby still needs varies — your doctor or health visitor can tell you what is right for yours.

Why the range matters

• Every child is different. A baby who sleeps at the lower end of the range but is content, feeding well and growing is very likely getting enough.
• Look at the trend, not one day. A short night or a skipped nap happens. A pattern over a week or two tells you far more.

When to talk to a doctor

Talk to your doctor or health visitor soon if your child:

• snores often, seems to struggle to breathe at night, or is very sleepy during the day;
• is not gaining weight as expected, or has lost their appetite;
• has sleep problems you are finding hard to manage.

If you are worried and not sure what to do, it is always fine to ask.

If your baby is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher, or 3–6 months old with 39 °C (102.2 °F) or higher, call your doctor straight away. If you cannot reach a doctor, call your local emergency number.

Call your local emergency number now if your baby:

• stops breathing for more than 20 seconds;
• is breathing very fast or with great effort — grunting, or sucking their tummy in with each breath;
• has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue;
• is very hard to wake, or will not wake up;
• is floppy, or is not feeding;
• has a seizure (fit), or a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it.

Sources

• Paruthi S. et al. (2016), Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine — PMC4877308
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org — Sleep apnea: signs to watch for
• American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org — When to call the pediatrician: fever
• NHS — Helping your baby to sleep
• NHS — Is your baby or toddler seriously ill?
• KidsHealth (Nemours) — Sleep and your newborn
• KidsHealth (Nemours) — Sleep and your baby
• KidsHealth (Nemours) — Your child's checkup: 4 months
• KidsHealth (Nemours) — Failure to thrive: when to see a doctor
• Cleveland Clinic — Sleep in your baby's first year