Credit: Lucy Shrimpton is the Founder of The Sleep Nanny® and an expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to Birmingham NEC from 8th – 10th May. For more information, please visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk/nec
There is something quietly reassuring about knowing your baby is getting the sleep they need. Not just because it means you might get a moment to breathe, but because sleep is one of the most powerful foundations for your baby’s growth, development, and overall wellbeing.
And yet, one of the most common questions parents ask is also one of the most confusing.
How much sleep should my baby actually be getting?
The answer is not as rigid as you might expect, but there are some very helpful guidelines that can give you clarity and confidence.
In the early weeks, newborns typically sleep between 14 and 17 hours across a 24 hour period. This sleep is spread unevenly throughout the day and night, often in short bursts, because their internal body clock is still developing. It is completely normal for sleep to feel unpredictable at this stage.
As your baby grows, their sleep begins to consolidate. By around three to six months, many babies need somewhere between 12 and 15 hours of sleep in total, including naps. You may start to notice longer stretches at night and a more recognisable rhythm to the day.
Between six and twelve months, most babies still need around 12 to 14 hours of sleep. This usually includes two or three naps in the day and a longer stretch overnight. By the time your baby reaches toddlerhood, their total sleep needs may reduce slightly to around 11 to 14 hours, often with one or two daytime naps.
These ranges are helpful, but they are not targets to rigidly chase. Every child is unique. Some will naturally need a little more sleep, others a little less. What matters most is not hitting an exact number, but understanding whether your baby is getting enough for them.
So how can you tell?
A well rested baby tends to be more settled, more engaged, and able to move through their day without becoming overtired too quickly. An overtired baby, on the other hand, can become harder to settle, more unsettled during sleep, and may wake more frequently.
This is where many parents find themselves caught in a cycle that feels confusing. It is easy to assume that keeping a baby awake for longer will help them sleep better, but in reality, overtiredness often leads to more disrupted sleep, not less.
Sleep is not simply about rest. It is an active, biological process that plays a critical role in your baby’s development. During sleep, your baby’s brain is processing new information, forming connections, and supporting learning and memory. Growth hormone is released, supporting physical development. The immune system is strengthened, helping your baby stay well.
In other words, sleep is not a luxury. It is essential.
When we begin to see sleep through this lens, it shifts the way we approach it. Instead of focusing purely on getting longer stretches or fewer wake ups, we start to think about how we can support healthy, restorative sleep overall.
This might look like creating a calm and consistent bedtime routine that signals to your baby that sleep is coming. It might mean paying attention to your baby’s natural rhythms and recognising when they are ready for sleep, rather than pushing them past that point. It might also involve gently shaping their sleep environment so it feels safe, comfortable, and conducive to rest.
There is no one size fits all approach, and there is no perfect routine that works for every baby. But there is always a way to understand your baby’s needs and respond in a way that supports both their sleep and your confidence as a parent.
If you find yourself wondering whether your baby is getting enough sleep, or feeling unsure about what is normal, you are not alone. These questions are part of the journey, and they are often the starting point for creating positive, lasting change.
Sleep is not about strict rules or rigid expectations. It is about understanding, consistency, and support.
And when those pieces come together, everything begins to feel a little calmer, a little clearer, and a lot more manageable for the whole family.
For more support with your baby’s sleep and family wellbeing, visit our website: www.sleepnanny.co.uk
