Sleep needs by age
How much sleep children need from birth to 18 — total sleep, night sleep, and naps — based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s consensus recommendations.
| Age | Total sleep (per 24 h) | Night sleep (typical) | Naps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborns (0–3 months) | No formal recommendation | No formal recommendation | 3–5 short naps; sleep is irregular |
| Infants (4–12 months) | 12–16 h | 10–12 h | 2–3 naps (2–4 hours total) |
| Toddlers (1–2 years) | 11–14 h | 10–12 h | 1–2 naps (1–3 hours total) |
| Preschoolers (3–5 years) | 10–13 h | 10–12.5 h | 0–1 nap (fading) |
| School age (6–12 years) | 9–12 h | 9–12 h | None for most children |
| Teens (13–18 years) | 8–10 h | 8–10 h | None |
Nap transitions
Newborns (0–3 months): A day–night rhythm usually emerges around 3–4 months.
Infants (4–12 months): Most drop the third nap by around 9 months.
Toddlers (1–2 years): Most drop to one nap around 15–18 months.
Preschoolers (3–5 years): Most stop napping between ages 3 and 5.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers drop their nap?
Most toddlers move from two naps to one around 15–18 months, and most children stop napping altogether between ages 3 and 5.
How much sleep does a 7-year-old need?
School-age children (6–12) need 9–12 hours of sleep a night, per the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Do teenagers really need 10 hours of sleep?
Teens (13–18) need 8–10 hours a night. Many get far less on school nights, which is why sleep experts recommend protecting a consistent bedtime even for teens.
How much should a newborn sleep?
There is no formal recommendation for 0–3 months — newborn sleep is irregular by nature, arriving in short stretches around the clock. A day–night rhythm usually emerges around 3–4 months.
Ready to put it into practice? Use the bedtime calculator to turn your child’s wake-up time into a recommended bedtime, or the nap schedule calculator to map out daytime naps. General guidance, not medical advice — talk to your paediatrician about your child’s individual needs.