Baby sleep calculator.
Enter your baby's date of birth to see the total sleep in 24 hours that World Health Organization guidance describes for their age, naps included.
This tool is educational and does not replace your midwife or doctor. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Sleep by age
| Age | Total sleep in 24 hours, including naps |
|---|---|
| 0–3 months | 14–17 hours |
| 4–11 months | 12–16 hours |
| 1–2 years | 11–14 hours |
| 3–4 years | 10–13 hours |
These figures are from the WHO guidelines for children under five. They describe good-quality sleep across the whole day and night, not a number to reach in one stretch.
Babies' sleep varies a lot. Some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts.
That is how the NHS puts it, and it is why a range is more honest than a schedule. Newborns wake to feed around the clock; the NHS says babies feed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours in the first weeks.
Safe sleep, every sleep
- On their back, with feet at the foot of the cot.
- In their own cot or Moses basket, in your room, for at least the first 6 months.
- A firm, flat mattress.
- A clear cot: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys.
Read the full guide to safe sleep for babies, or work out a corrected age if your baby was born early.
Questions, answered
How much sleep does a newborn need?
WHO guidance describes 14 to 17 hours of good-quality sleep in 24 hours, including naps, for babies aged 0 to 3 months.
How much sleep does a 6-month-old need?
WHO guidance describes 12 to 16 hours of good-quality sleep in 24 hours, including naps, for babies aged 4 to 11 months.
How much sleep does a 1-year-old need?
WHO guidance describes 11 to 14 hours of good-quality sleep, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times, for children aged 1 to 2 years.
My baby sleeps less than the range. Is that a problem?
The NHS says babies' sleep varies a lot: some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts, and patterns change as they grow. If you are worried about your baby's sleep, feeding or alertness, speak to your health visitor or doctor.
What is the safest way for a baby to sleep?
The NHS advises always placing your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position, in their own cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months, on a firm, flat mattress with the cot kept clear.
Sources
- WHO: Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleep
- NHS: Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Sources last checked on 11 November 2026.