Raising Littles

How much sleep does my baby need?

That depends on each individual baby!

Sleep needs vary from individual to individual. While I can provide you with recommendations, it’s important to note that there is a fair amount of variability in sleep totals and they may need to be adjusted 30-60 minutes more or less. Your baby’s sleep needs will also fluctuate as they get older, during periods of growth, teething, activity, and illness. Therefore, it’s best to tune into your baby, read their cues, and examine their mood. If your baby is generally happy, easy to soothe, growing, meeting milestones, and falling asleep within 15-20 minutes they are likely meeting their sleep needs.

I want to add that the research we have on sleep totals is largely based on Western parent report, rather than robust scientific inquiry (e.g., large numbers of babies studied over time in a lab). So please don’t get too caught up in these numbers.