12 month / 1 year old sleep schedule: Bedtime and nap schedule

Don’t be alarmed if your 12 month old baby starts resisting naps. It’s common to see nap regressions at this age, but it’s typically too early to fully transition to a 1-nap schedule. Rather than dropping to 1 nap right now (which can lead to chronic overtiredness and result in disruptive sleep habits), we recommend lengthening the wake windows in order to preserve the 2-nap schedule for a bit longer.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

How much should a 12 month old sleep?

At 12 months old, we’ll aim for at least 13.25 hours of total sleep per day (11 - 12 hours at night and 2 - 3 hours of day sleep over 2 naps). Most babies need 3.25 - 4 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 12 month olds

It might be time for more coziness at bedtime! Check with your pediatrician about introducing a pillow or lovey into your baby’s sleep space after their first birthday.

Sleep fact for 12 month old babies 

Many daycare providers move children to 1 nap at this age, which can lead to a lot of overtiredness by the time you start your baby’s bedtime routine. Offering an earlier bedtime on 1-nap days (and sticking to 2 naps on the weekend) can help make the adjustment easier. 

Sample 12 month old sleep schedule

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

Naptime schedule for a 12 month old

How long should a 12 month old nap?

A 12 month old’s nap schedule should allow for 2 - 3 hours of day sleep. Expect your baby to take two naps each day. Ideally, each will be about 60 - 120 minutes long. Most babies need between 3.25 - 4 hours of awake time in between naps at this age.

How many naps for a 12 month old?

Plan for 2 naps a day. The morning nap is typically 3.25 hours after waking in the morning, and the afternoon nap should be offered about 3.5 hours after your baby typically wakes from the first nap. However, if you find that your baby is consistently resisting naps, consider lengthening the wake window before each nap by 15 - 30 minutes.

Here’s an example of what your day may look like at this age:

2-nap schedule with standard wake windows

2-nap schedule with longer wake windows

Bedtime for a 12 month old

What time should a 12 month old go to bed?

Ideally, your 12 month old will be getting 11 - 12 hours of sleep at night, so bedtime should be 12 - 13 hours after waking in the morning. That said, some babies this age need longer periods of wakefulness between naps, which means bedtime will be shifted later.

If your baby resists the typical 2-nap schedule and needs more awake time between naps, expect that night sleep will temporarily be shorter. This is usually okay as long as your baby averages at least 10 hours of sleep each night, and a better option than prematurely transitioning to a 1-nap schedule.