About the Baby Sleep Needs Calculator
This baby sleep needs calculator shows how many hours of sleep your child needs in 24 hours for their age, from newborn to 17 years, using the ranges the CDC publishes: the American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus (2016, supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics) for 4 months to 17 years, and the National Sleep Foundation range for newborns, for whom the AASM makes no recommendation. It also suggests a typical number of naps, how that sleep usually splits between day and night, and a bedtime that fits your child’s usual wake-up time.
It is for parents wondering “how much should my baby sleep?”, for planning a toddler schedule as naps drop, and for checking whether a school-age child or teen is getting enough. Enter how much your child actually sleeps (naps included) and the calculator tells you whether that falls inside the recommended range.
The recommended ranges are official; the nap counts and day/night split are typical patterns, not rules. Children vary, and a child who is cheerful, growing well and wakes easily is usually getting enough. Newborns sleep in short stretches around the clock and should be fed on demand, so a fixed bedtime does not apply yet. Always follow safe sleep advice: baby on their back, in their own flat, empty sleep space.
How to use the baby sleep needs calculator
- 1Enter your child’s age in years and months.
- 2Enter the time your child usually wakes up in the morning.
- 3Optionally enter how many hours they actually sleep, naps included.
- 4Read the recommended range, typical naps and suggested bedtime.
- 5Adjust bedtime by 15 minutes at a time if your child is short of the range.
Formula and method
The recommended total sleep per 24 hours comes from the CDC table: 14–17 hours for newborns (0–3 months, a National Sleep Foundation figure) and, from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine consensus, 12–16 hours for infants 4–12 months, 11–14 hours for toddlers 1–2 years, 10–13 hours for ages 3–5, 9–12 hours for ages 6–12 and 8–10 hours for teens. Up to age 5 these totals include naps.
The typical nap count and day/night split are common patterns within that range — for example an 8-month-old often sleeps about 11 hours at night plus 3 hours in two or three naps. The suggested bedtime counts back the typical night sleep from your child’s usual wake-up time, so a 7:00 AM riser who needs 11 hours at night goes to sleep around 8:00 PM.
- Range
- Recommended hours of sleep per 24 hours for the age group
- Night sleep
- Typical overnight sleep for the age, in hours
Worked examples
8-month-old waking at 7:00 AM
Infants 4–12 months need 12–16 hours in 24 hours. A typical 8-month-old pattern is about 11 hours overnight plus 3 hours in 2–3 naps, so counting 11 hours back from a 7:00 AM wake-up gives an 8:00 PM bedtime. Their actual 13 hours is within range.
2-year-old sleeping 10.5 hours
Toddlers 1–2 years need 11–14 hours including naps. With one nap and about 11 hours at night, a 6:30 AM riser should be asleep by about 7:30 PM. Sleeping only 10.5 hours in total is half an hour short of the range.
10-year-old
Children aged 6–12 need 9–12 hours per 24 hours. Aiming for about 10 hours with a 7:00 AM wake-up means lights out at 9:00 PM; 9.5 hours of sleep is inside the range.
15-year-old waking at 6:30 for school
Teens 13–17 need 8–10 hours. To get about 9 hours before a 6:30 AM alarm, sleep should start around 9:30 PM. Seven hours a night is a full hour below the minimum recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
How much sleep does a baby need?+
Newborns up to 3 months typically need 14–17 hours in 24 hours, and babies 4–12 months need 12–16 hours, including naps. Night sleep is broken up by feeds for most of the first year.
How many naps should my baby take?+
A common pattern is 3 naps around 4–5 months, 2–3 naps from 6–8 months, 2 naps from about 9 months, and a move to 1 nap between 12 and 18 months. Most children drop the last nap between 3 and 5.
What time should a toddler go to bed?+
Most toddlers need about 11 hours at night, so bedtime is usually 11 hours before their natural wake-up time — around 7:00–8:00 PM for a child who wakes at 6:00–7:00 AM.
How much sleep does a teenager need?+
The CDC and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend 8–10 hours per night for teens aged 13–17. Many teens get less because of later body clocks and early school start times.
Are these sleep recommendations official?+
The hour ranges are the ones the CDC publishes: the AASM consensus statement (supported by the AAP) for ages 4 months to 17 years, and the National Sleep Foundation for newborns 0–3 months. Nap counts and suggested bedtimes are typical patterns to help you plan, not official requirements.
This tool gives general estimates and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or qualified professional about your health, diet or training.