Lulla TeamWe review current pediatric literature and synthesise it into accessible language for parents. All recommendations follow WHO and AAP guidelines.
How many hours should your baby sleep? Age-by-age guide
One of the most frequent questions parents ask. Here are the official WHO and AAP recommendations:
Recommendations by age
0-3 months: 14-17 hours/day (including frequent naps)
4-11 months: 12-15 hours/day (2-3 naps + night)
1-2 years: 11-14 hours/day (1-2 naps + night)
2-3 years: 10-13 hours/day (1 nap + night)
When not to worry
Every child is different. If your baby sleeps 13 hours at 8 months (below the recommended 15), but wakes up happy, eats well, and develops normally — everything is fine.
Only worry if:
- Baby consistently sleeps below the recommended minimum AND is irritable during the day
- Wakes more than 4 times a night after 6 months
- Snores constantly or has breathing pauses
How you track with Lulla
The Sleep Score includes a "Duration" component that automatically compares the daily total against the WHO recommendation for your baby's exact age. On the Home screen you can see at a glance whether you're on target. If your baby is between 3 and 5 months, also read about the 4-month sleep regression — it explains a lot of seemingly inexplicable wake-ups.
Sources and references
This article draws on official guidelines and peer-reviewed studies. Verify the sources directly:
- World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age.
- Paruthi S et al. (2016). Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med, 12(6), 785–786. (AAP-endorsed)
- Hirshkowitz M et al. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40–43.
- Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222.
- American Academy of Pediatrics — How Many Hours of Sleep Does Your Child Need? (HealthyChildren.org)
📖 Read also:
- How to build the perfect sleep routine for your baby
- What the sleep score means and how to improve it
- The 4-month sleep regression: what it is and how to get through it
Or check out the complete baby sleep guide — all 7 articles condensed in one place.