1 month / 4 week old sleep schedule: Bedtime and nap schedule

Sleep can be pretty chaotic during the newborn period, as babies won’t start following a typical 24-hour cycle for sleeping and eating until 3 - 4 months old. While we don’t expect any regularity in terms of a “schedule” at this age, we’ve got all you need to know about your 1 month old baby’s wake windows and sleep patterns.

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How much should a 1 month old sleep?

At this age, we hope to see at least 15.5 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Most babies are able to comfortably stay awake for only 30 - 90 minutes, so expect lots of day sleep. It’s very common to feel like all you’re doing is changing diapers and feeding your baby before it’s time for them to sleep again!

[Note: for children who were born early, we go by their adjusted age for sleep development.]

Top sleep tip for 1 month old babies

Many families find it helpful to follow an “eat, play, sleep” routine in the early months. This means that you feed your baby when they wake, and then follow it up with an activity period. Don’t worry if your “play” period is only long enough for a diaper change and some eye contact before they’re ready for sleep again.

Sleep fact for 1 month old babies

Nap “schedules” and durations vary quite a bit in the beginning. We won’t expect much regularity with their sleep schedule until after 3 - 4 months old.

Sample 1 month old sleep schedule

Note: Sleep needs vary by child and this chart should be viewed as an example only.

Naptime schedule for a 1 month old baby

How long should a 1 month old nap?

Expect your baby’s nap lengths to be unpredictable at this age. Since babies aren't born with predictable or organized sleep cycles, your baby may nap for 10 minutes or 2 hours. The important thing to remember is that your baby will usually need to drift off after a wake period of 30 - 90 minutes.

How many naps should a 1 month old take in a day?

Since babies are born without an organized circadian rhythm, it can be difficult to determine what constitutes a “nap” and what constitutes “night sleep.”  We don’t recommend trying to follow a specific baby sleep schedule at this age. Newborn sleep tends to be without a pattern, meaning you're likely to see both short and long periods of sleep, punctuated by frequent wakings for nourishment and comfort.

Here’s a sample of what your one month old’s day may look like. However, don’t be concerned if your day looks quite different. Your newborn will spend most of their time in light sleep; we can't control or predict when deep sleep will happen, or how long naps will be, until they’re older.

6-Nap Schedule

Bedtime for a 1 month old

What time should a 1 month old go to bed?

Your baby may have a very late bedtime at this age. Since a newborn’s schedule is irregular at this stage of development, don’t be surprised if the longest stretch of sleep starts at 10:00 PM or even much later. A one month old’s sleep schedule will often be on the later side. However, by 3-4 months of age, most babies will be ready for an earlier bedtime.

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