6 month old sleep schedule: wake windows, naps and night sleep

At 6 months most babies need 12 to 16 hours of sleep in 24 hours, split into 2 to 3 naps and a night. The third nap starts to drop out, usually the late afternoon one first.

Total sleep in 24 hours	12 to 16 hours
Wake window	2 hr to 2 hr 45 min
Naps per day	2 to 3
Daytime sleep	3 to 4 hours
Night sleep	10 to 12 hours

A wake window is the awake time between one sleep and the next, measured from the moment your baby wakes to the moment they fall asleep again. At this age it usually runs 2 hr to 2 hr 45 min. Start watching for sleepy signs at the lower end rather than waiting for the upper end: staring, losing interest in play and jerky movements almost always arrive before the yawn.

A workable day at 6 months is: wake for the day, feed, then a wake window of about 2 hr to 2 hr 45 min before each nap, aiming for 3 to 4 hours of daytime sleep in 2 to 3 naps, and a bedtime roughly one wake window after the last nap ends. Overnight, expect 10 to 12 hours.

Every chart on the internet, including this one, describes an average. The number that actually helps you is your own baby's average awake time before a good nap, and it takes about two weeks of logs to see it. A short nap after a long window usually means overtired, not undertired.

The third nap starts to drop out, usually the late afternoon one first. If sleep changes suddenly and stays changed for more than two weeks, or your baby seems in pain or is not gaining weight, that is a conversation for your doctor rather than a schedule problem.

Try the calculator

Work out the next nap from the time your baby woke up with the wake window calculator, or read baby sleep patterns by age for the full picture. This page is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much sleep does a 6 month old need?

About 12 to 16 hours in 24 hours, typically 3 to 4 hours of that across 2 to 3 naps and the rest at night.

What is the wake window for a 6 month old?

Usually 2 hr to 2 hr 45 min between sleeps. Your own logged average is more reliable than the chart.

How many naps should a 6 month old take?

2 to 3 naps a day is typical at this age, adding up to roughly 3 to 4 hours of daytime sleep.

How long should a 6 month old sleep at night?

Around 10 to 12 hours. Wide variation between healthy babies is normal, so watch the trend across weeks rather than one night.