The sleep experts at the AASM recommend 12–16 hours of sleep in 24 hours for babies aged four to twelve months. Naps count too. They do not set a range for babies under four months. These figures are a guide, not an exact sleep plan for your baby.
Sources: Paruthi et al. (2016)
Sleep across the whole day
The AASM does not set an hourly range for this age.
Night sleep and naps together.
What an age chart actually shows
The chart shows the recommended range from four months. It includes day and night sleep together. This recommendation does not give a fixed number of hours for younger babies.
You do not need to make your baby reach a chosen number of hours. The recommendation does not set a nap count or bedtime either.
Sources: Paruthi et al. (2016)
Avoid common counting mistakes
Choose a start and end for the observation. If your window runs from 7am to 7am, sleep after midnight still belongs to that window. Count only the portion inside it and do not count overlapping entries twice.
Count time asleep, not simply time in bed. Note any missing entries. An average from incomplete notes can be misleading.
What has changed over the last few days?
Think about what you want to find out. Have nap times changed? Is the last nap later? Does your baby need more help at night? This helps you choose which notes to look at.
The total shows how much sleep you recorded. The timeline shows when it happened. Two days with the same amount of sleep can still feel very different. Talk about how you are coping too.
What a number cannot decide
A sleep chart cannot decide whether to skip night feeds or wake a baby. Feeding, growth and individual medical advice matter. Ask your clinician when unsure.
Use the overview to start a conversation. If recording creates more pressure than clarity, a few notes about your real question may be enough.
Sources: NHS
When to seek support
Discuss persistent concerns about too little or too much sleep with your baby’s clinician. Unusual sleepiness with poor feeding or markedly fewer wet diapers needs prompt attention rather than more days of logging.
Sources: Paruthi et al. (2016) · NHS
Common questions
Do naps count in the 12–16 hours?
Yes. The AASM recommendation for ages four to twelve months covers all sleep over 24 hours.
Does one short night mean a sleep problem?
A single total cannot establish that. The pattern, wellbeing and other symptoms matter.
Sources & further information
The sources for this guide are linked below. Examples and everyday tips help explain the topic; they are not a personal plan for your baby. Sources last accessed on 20 September 2026.
- Paruthi et al. (2016): AASM-Konsens zur Schlafdauer
Professional guidance; see the linked publication for context.
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleep
UK public-health guidance.
- NHS: Dehydration
UK public-health guidance.
This guide was created with AI assistance and has not been medically reviewed. How we create our guides.
