How Much Sleep Does your Little One Need?

They are the total amount of sleep your baby gets in a 24 hour period. These ranges were created by the National Sleep Foundation (see below for the chart). They are where the labels of high sleep total baby and low sleep total baby come from.

The most important thing to remember with these is that they are ranges.

The NSF recognizes that sleep requirements will vary child to child and even day to day.

For example, there may be a newborn (0-3 months) who sleeps 18 hours total in a 24 hour period. That would be above the normal range in the chart, but considered normal. There also may be a newborn of the same age that only sleeps 13-14 total hours over a 24 hour period, but is usually content and rested, also considered normal.

Although the same age, these two babies naps and overnights may look completely different based on their 24 hour sleep total needs. This is where comparison can steal our peace when it comes to baby sleep.

Your baby might not take the same number of naps as your friend’s baby who is around the same age. Your baby’s naps might be shorter or longer than your friend’s baby. Your baby may go to bed later and wake earlier or later than your friend’s baby. Thats all normal.

Baby sleep is not a one sized fits all approach. You need to look at your unique baby to really know how much sleep they need to feel rested and content. They will tell you! We don’t need to and can’t force it. Below is the chart of recommendations and averages for baby sleep totals from newborns to preschoolers. Remember there will always be outliers on both high and low ends.

As long as babies seem rested and content, they are getting what they need.