11 month old sleep schedule: Bedtime and nap schedule

Don’t be fooled by your baby’s nap resistance at 11 months old! While some parents interpret skipped naps at this age as a sign that their baby is ready to transition to 1 nap, most babies continue to need 2 naps (at least some of the time) until at least 15 months old. 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

How much should an 11 month old sleep?

At 11 months old, we’ll continue to aim for at least 13.5 hours of total sleep per day (11 - 12 hours at night and 2 - 3 hours of day sleep over 2 naps). Most children need 3 - 3.75 hours of awake time in between sleep periods at this age.

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

Top sleep tip for 11 month olds

If your baby is regularly resisting naps,  this may mean that they’re ready for longer periods of wakefulness. Instead of chalking up day sleep difficulties to a “nap regression,” try lengthening your baby’s wake windows to 3.5 - 3.75 hours. This will make it easier for them to fall asleep during the day.

Sleep fact for 11 month old babies 

Early waking is often caused by hunger. If your baby is night weaned and rising too early in the morning, consider whether you can add more milk or formula during the day. Alternatively, some parents find that pushing dinnertime a bit later in the evening can help their baby wake later in the morning.

Sample 11 month old sleep schedule

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

Naptime schedule for 11 month old

How long should an 11 month old nap?

Ideally, your baby will be taking 2 naps for a total of 2 - 3 hours of day sleep. Each nap should be at least 60 minutes long.

How many naps for an 11 month old?

Most 11 month olds take 2 naps per day. At this age we expect babies to need a nap after about 3 - 3.75 hours of awake time. Many pediatric sleep consultants recommend planning naps, ‘by the clock’ at this point in your baby’s development, meaning that naps are offered at the same time each day, even if your baby wakes a little earlier or later than usual.

Here’s an example schedule for this age:

2-nap schedule

Bedtime for 11 month old

What time should an 11 month old go to bed?

A typical bedtime at this age is 12 - 13 hours after waking in the morning. For example, if your baby wakes around 6:30 AM, then you’ll want to target a 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM bedtime.

If your baby resists their afternoon nap, and ends up taking it later than usual, you may find that bedtime gets pushed a bit later as a result. This is typically okay as long as your baby averages at least 10 hours of sleep at night.

On the other hand, if your baby skips a nap, opt for an earlier bedtime in order to limit overtiredness, which can lead to increased night waking. Resist making bedtime earlier than 6:00 PM, as that can lead to early rising issues.