How much sleep does a baby or toddler need? Australian ranges, age by age
Updated 25 October 2026 · 2 minute read · General information, not medical advice
Short answer: Over 24 hours including naps, the Australian guidelines say 14–17 hours for 0–3 months, 12–16 hours for 4–11 months, 11–14 hours for 1–2 year olds and 10–13 hours for 3–5 year olds. The normal range is wide, so a child sleeping a little more or less than this can still be fine.
If you've ever lain awake doing the maths on your baby's sleep, this is the page to bookmark. The short version: the official ranges are generous, and children vary a lot.
The Australian ranges
The Australian Government's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for birth to 5 years [1][2] and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's consensus statement [3] give the same numbers from 4 months up.
| Age | Sleep in 24 hours, including naps |
|---|---|
| 0–3 months | 14–17 hours |
| 4–11 months | 12–16 hours |
| 1–2 years | 11–14 hours |
| 3–5 years | 10–13 hours, which may include a nap |
The American panel didn't set a target under 4 months at all, because normal sleep varies so widely at that age [3].
What it tends to look like
Newborns sleep in bursts of 2–3 hours and wake often to feed. Some are tired after only 1 to 1½ hours awake [4].
3–6 months: usually 2–3 daytime sleeps of up to 2 hours. Some babies manage a 6-hour stretch at night by 6 months, and plenty don't [5].
6–12 months: 1–3 naps of 30 minutes to 2 hours. More than a third of parents say their baby has sleep problems at this age, so you're in big company [5].
1–2 years: usually 10–12 hours at night plus a nap of 1–2 hours, often with bedtime between 6.30pm and 7.30pm [6].
3–5 years: some still nap for about an hour; many have stopped [7].
About awake windows
You'll see precise "wake window" charts everywhere. Paediatricians quoted by Parents.com say the idea isn't science-based [8], and an Australian infant-sleep clinician group cautions against rigid daytime-sleep targets [9]. Raising Children Network's tired-sign timings are a softer guide: a 3–6 month old "might be tired after 1½–3 hours awake" and a 6–12 month old after 2–3 hours [10]. Yawning, staring, jerky movements, grizzling and clinginess tell you more than the clock does.
When to get help
If your child snores loudly most nights, has pauses in breathing, is very hard to wake or seems unusually sleepy during the day, see your GP. For everyday sleep worries, your child health nurse is free, and a sleep consultant can help you build a plan.
Sources
- Australian Government Department of Health. Recommendations for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (birth to 5 years). health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical…
- Australian Government. 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, Birth to 5 years. health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/24-hour-…
- Paruthi S et al. Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12(6):785–6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4877308/
- Raising Children Network. Newborn sleep: what to expect. raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/sleep/understanding-sleep/ne…
- Raising Children Network. Baby sleep patterns at 2–12 months. raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep/understanding-sleep/baby…
- Raising Children Network. Toddler sleep guide. raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/understanding-sleep/to…
- Raising Children Network. Sleep patterns and cycles. raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/understanding-sleep/ab…
- Parents.com. Wake windows by age. parents.com/wake-windows-by-age-8678613
- NDC Institute. How much daytime sleep does your baby need? ndcinstitute.com.au/article/d96f6385-c65d-430c-a0a6-90f26d2b…
- Raising Children Network. Tired signs in babies and toddlers. raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep/understanding-sleep/tire…
Quick questions
How many hours should a 6 month old sleep?
Babies aged 4–11 months need 12–16 hours over 24 hours, including naps, according to the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Many have 2–3 daytime sleeps at this age.
How much sleep does a 2 year old need?
The guideline for 1–2 year olds is 11–14 hours over 24 hours. That's often 10–12 hours at night plus a nap of 1–2 hours.
Are awake windows evidence-based?
Not really. Paediatricians describe wake windows as a social-media-era idea that isn't science-based. Raising Children Network's tired-sign timings are a gentler guide, and your child's tired signs matter more than the clock.