Can you believe how much your 12-month-old baby’s sleep has changed since they were a newborn. Back then their sleep was super disorganized; now, it’s taken on a predictable rhythm. Your baby’s sleep will continue to change as they grow, including around their first birthday.
To help you navigate the next step in your baby’s journey, we’ve gathered expert advice on a 12-month-old’s sleep schedule. Here we’ll answer some of the most common questions about a 12-month-old’s sleep, including “how much should a 12-month-old sleep at night?” and “Does teething pain disrupt sleep?
{{table_of_contents}}
For more insights into your baby’s sleep, and for step-by-step guidance on how to help your baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™. We know from our own experience how frustrating and confusing sleep coaching can be – but we also know that sleep coaching can be a growing experience, too. The Smart Sleep Coach aims to bring more growth and less confusion to you and your baby’s sleep coaching journey.
From 1-click sleep tracking to mini-articles explaining the science behind sleep coaching to step-by-step guidance into how to sleep coach, the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ is your one-stop go-to for sleep coaching.
Best of all, the Smart Sleep Coach is so effective that most users see results in one week or less!
A Sleep Schedule for a 12-Month-Old with 2 Naps
We’ve included clock times here just as examples. Your baby has their own schedule. When building your baby’s schedule, focus less on actual time and more on your baby’s wake windows and sleepy cues.
Wake Windows: The amount of time your baby is awake between sleeps. For example, if your baby wakes up at 7am and naps at 10am, their morning wake window is 3 hours.
Wake windows change as your baby grows, which is why it’s important to make sure your baby is getting the right amount of sleep for their age.
Get a personalized schedule and sleep plan by downloading the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™. It guides you every step of the way, so your baby and you can rest easier.
Sleepy Cues: The actions your baby does when they’re tired, such as yawning, pulling their ears, becoming fussy, or turning away from you. When you see these sleepy cues, your baby’s wake window is closing and it’s time to start your bedtime routine.
Note: The schedule here reflects two naps. Most 12-month-olds are still taking two naps, though some may be ready for their 2-to-1 nap transition. For more insights into dropping naps, read our piece on when and how to nap transition.
Can a 12-month-old baby sleep through the night?
Yes, most 12-month-olds can sleep through the night. By now most babies have gained enough weight to forego night feedings – confirm your baby is ready with your baby’s pediatrician – and can therefore sleep through the night, but they’ll sleep more if they’re sleep trained.
Sleep training helps babies sleep better in two ways:
- Sleep training shapes your baby’s circadian rhythm to help them consolidate their sleep at night.
- Sleep training strengthens your baby’s ability to self-soothe themselves to sleep. This means sleep coached babies can fall asleep independently at bedtime and that sleep coached babies can lull themselves back to sleep if they wake in the night.
This all means that sleep trained babies fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer – and that parents sleep better, too, which in turn translates to being a more attentive, loving, and safe caretaker. Everybody wins!
If you haven’t sleep coached your baby and would like to start today, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™. This expert-backed app is so easy to use: in addition to 1-click sleep tracking, the Smart Sleep Coach walks you step-by-step through the entire process – from building a bedtime routine to customizing a sleep coaching method for your unique little one, and all so you and your family can sleep well for years to come.
How many hours should a 12-month-old sleep each day?
Experts agree that a 12-month-old should sleep about 13 hours and 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.
How much nighttime sleep for a 12-month-old?
While every baby is unique, on average 12-month-olds sleep 11-12 hours at night to ensure they keep growing well and meet all of their developmental milestones.
How much daytime sleep for a 12-month-old?
It’s best that your 12-month-old get about 2-3 hours of daytime sleep divided between 2 naps.
Note: Some 12-month-olds will start to resist an afternoon nap. While some babies will naturally transition to 1 nap around now, we suggest keeping your baby on two naps for as long as possible.
For more information on baby nap transitions and how to drop naps, please read our dedicated article on nap transitions.
Is there a 12-month-old regression?
No, there is not an easily defined 12-month sleep regression, though some babies this age are coping with some separation anxiety or teething.
What To Do When Babies Say ‘No’ at Bedtime?
Your baby is becoming more independent and learning the word “no.” This can lead to some more robust bedtime protests than before. Rest assured this is normal, but to keep your baby’s sleep on track, it’s important you stay firm in your bedtime routine and schedule.
Even letting your baby stay up later “just this once” can skew their entire sleep cycle.
Do 12-Month-Old’s Have Teething Pain?
Teething typically begins between 6-12 months, and, yes, teething can be uncomfortable for babies and disrupt sleep.
Many parents ask if teething pain is worse at night – it is not; however, your baby has less distractions at night and therefore they may become more aware of the teething pain.
Here are some tips on soothing teething pain at night:
Use a Soft Cloth to Wipe Drool: Teething causes your baby to drool more than usual. This can lead to drool rash, which can disrupt sleep. Help your teething baby sleep better by keeping their chin and cheeks dry during teething.
Let Your Baby Chew on Chilled Fruit: Chilled fruit or wash cloth alleviate teething pain by numbing it, while the chewing motion lets your baby target the area that’s most uncomfortable.
Give Your Baby a Gum Massage: With a clean finger, gently rub the red and/or swollen area of the gum where a new tooth is appearing.
Give Your Baby a Soothing Bath: While a bath itself won’t alleviate teething pain; a warm bath is a great way to settle an upset baby.
For more information on this subject, read our article on how to sleep train through teething. LINK TK
Can 12-Month-Old’s Escape Their Crib?
Yes, some 12-month-old’s can escape their crib. Twelve-month-olds have both the upper body strength to lift themselves – they’re also starting to cruise around now – and a 12-month-old is developing their problem-solving skills. The combination of these two developmental milestones a 12-month-old may figure out how to climb over the crib wall or even open the crib if it has a drop-down side.
To stop your baby from escaping their crib – and to prevent potential injury – lower your baby’s crib mattress as they grow. A good rule of thumb for the best crib mattress height is just low enough that your baby can’t reach the top of their crib. It’s time to move your baby from their crib when they’re 3 feet tall or about 3 or 4-years old, whichever comes first.
For more information on sleep safety, sleep schedules, and how to continue sleep coaching after 12 months, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™.
And if you haven’t sleep trained your baby yet, there’s still plenty of time – and it’s so easy. Simply download the Smart Sleep Coach, share some basic onformati0on about your baby’s current sleep habits, and this easy-to-use app will start your baby and you on your sleep coaching journey.
Sources:
“Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0-12 years,” Sleep Medicine Review.
“Infant sleep problems and interventions: A review,” Infant Behavior and Development.
“Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study,” Pediatrics.
How We Wrote This Article:
The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
