12 Month Old Sleep Schedule: Wake Windows, 2 Naps, and the 12-Month Regression

What Changes at 12 Months

The first birthday brings two things at once: a real physical leap, often walking or nearly there, and molars that can make gums sore for a while. Together, these can unsettle a sleep pattern that's otherwise been steady for months — this is sometimes called the 12-month regression.

It's also a common time for parents to wonder about dropping to 1 nap. Most babies aren't there yet at 12 months. The typical transition happens between 12 and 18 months, and there's no advantage to rushing it — 2 naps is still the right pattern for most one-year-olds.

How Much Sleep a 12-Month-Old Needs

At 12 months, babies typically need 12–14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, with a normal range of 11–14 hours. This breaks down roughly as:

• Nighttime: 11–12 hours
• Daytime naps: most still 2 naps, 2–3 hours daytime total
• Total: 12–14 hours (normal range 11–14 hours)

These figures are a guide, not a checklist. Some babies land toward the lower end of the range and are perfectly well-rested; others need closer to 14 hours. What matters more than hitting an exact number is whether your baby wakes reasonably content and naps without excessive fighting.

Wake Windows at 12 Months

Wake windows at 12 months typically fall between 3 and 4 hours, with the last window before bed sometimes stretching up to 4 hours.

Naps at 12 Months

Most 12-month-olds are still on 2 naps, totaling roughly 2–3 hours of daytime sleep. The move to 1 nap usually happens between 12 and 18 months — don't rush it just because the first birthday has passed.

• Keep 2 naps for now: If both naps are still going reasonably well, there's no need to change the pattern at 12 months.
• Signs of readiness for 1 nap: Consistently fighting one nap, one nap shrinking to almost nothing, or bedtime becoming hard to settle because the last wake window is too short.
• Not a single-day switch: Even when the signs appear, most families move through a gradual adjustment rather than dropping a nap overnight.

Sample 12-Month-Old Sleep Schedule

This is one realistic example for a baby on 2 naps. Exact timing will shift earlier or later depending on your baby's morning wake time.

Walking, Molars, and Night Waking at 12 Months

A night feed isn't expected at 12 months for a healthy, well-fed baby, though your pediatrician's guidance always comes first if you have specific concerns about intake or growth.

More common at this age is a temporary bump in night waking tied to walking practice and molars coming in. Both tend to settle within a few weeks as the new skill becomes routine and the teeth finish coming through. Staying consistent with the existing bedtime routine, rather than introducing new sleep habits during this phase, usually helps things return to normal faster.

Frequently Asked Questions About 12-Month-Old Sleep