Daily routine
The daily routine, age by age
What a day looks like at each age: how many naps, where they fall, the awake windows and the bedtime that follows. Calculated from your wake-up time, not copied from a ready-made plan.
| By age | Naps | Daytime sleep | Bedtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 4 | 5 h 15 | 20:45 |
| 4 months | 3 | 4 h 15 | 20:45 |
| 5 months | 3 | 3 h 45 | 20:30 |
| 6 months | 3 | 3 h 45 | 20:15 |
| 7 months | 3 | 3 h 30 | 20:00 |
| 8 months | 2 | 2 h 45 | 20:00 |
| 9 months | 2 | 2 h 30 | 20:00 |
| 10 months | 2 | 2 h 15 | 20:00 |
| 11 months | 2 | 2 h 15 | 20:00 |
| 12 months | 2 | 2 h 30 | 20:00 |
| 15 months | 2 | 2 h 45 | 20:00 |
| 18 months | 1 | 1 h 45 | 20:00 |
| 2 years | 1 | 1 h 30 | 20:00 |
Calculated from the figures for this age. These are starting points, not instructions: your child’s tiredness signals come before the clock.
The daily routine of a 3-month-old
At 3 months, four naps and a first recognisable rhythm. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 4-month-old
At 4 months you drop to three naps and sleep changes its nature. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 5-month-old
At 5 months, three well-placed but often short naps. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 6-month-old
At 6 months, three naps at recognisable times and longer nights. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 7-month-old
At 7 months, three naps with one starting to drop out. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of an 8-month-old
At 8 months, two naps and awake windows that lengthen sharply. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 9-month-old
At 9 months, two well-established naps and regular days. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 10-month-old
At 10 months, two naps and a morning refusal that fools many parents. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of an 11-month-old
At 11 months, two naps to hold on to while walking arrives. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 12-month-old
At 1 year, two naps remain the norm despite what you will hear. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 15-month-old
At 15 months, some days call for two naps and others for one. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of an 18-month-old
At 18 months, one nap after lunch and a long night. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.
The daily routine of a 2-year-old
At 2 years, a shorter nap and a bedtime that gets negotiated. The typical day hour by hour, calculated from your wake-up time.