All Things Wake Windows
What are wake windows?
Simply put- wake windows are the windows of time during which your baby is awake.
Why should I care?
Wake windows are a great starting point for supporting good sleep from birth. When you know the developmentally appropriate amount of time to keep your baby up between naps, it is much easier to help them stay rested.
While there is a range from baby to baby, it is not as wide as people may think. Many new caregivers don’t realize how much sleep their children actually need- and are capable of getting. Babies tend to get more and better sleep if they are settled to bed before they are too tired.
How do I know what my baby’s wake window should be?
Start from an average amount of time for your baby’s age, then adjust as needed. Is your baby extra fussy before or after a nap? Do they take a really long time to fall asleep? Maybe try a little longer or shorter wake window for a week or so and see how it goes.
Here are some general guidelines, however if you find something out of the typical range that works for your baby- great! No need to change anything.
A brand new baby typically has a wake window around 45-60 minutes.
For the first three months, wake windows are not more than 90 minutes total.
Between three and six months, wake windows may range from 1-2 hours.
Between six and nine months, baby’s wake windows become longer: 2-4 hours. The shortest wake windows are in the morning and the longest, before bedtime.
From nine to sixteen months, wake windows are steadily around 3-4 hours.
Between sixteen and twenty four months, wake windows extend to 4-6+ hours.
Once children stop napping, they are awake for 11-13 hours.
What about nights?
During the night, no need for wake windows! If your baby wakes up, you can keep the lights dim, feed them, help them calm down, change a diaper, or whatever they need, then put them back to bed.
If you have questions about wake windows or anything else related to early sleep and parenting, please reach out!
