A 12 month old usually manages wake windows of 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours and takes 2 naps a day, each lasting about 50 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes. Bedtime usually lands somewhere between 6pm and 8:30pm. Total sleep across 24 hours is typically 11 to 14 hours.
These numbers come from OBubba's own sleep engine for weeks 52 to 56. They are a guide to start from, not a target your baby has to hit.
At a glance
- Wake windows: 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours
- Naps: 2 naps a day
- Nap length: 50 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes each
- Total day sleep: 2 to 3 hours
- Total sleep in 24 hours: 11 to 14 hours
- Bedtime window: 6pm to 8:30pm
A sample day
Here is one example of how a day could look, starting with a 7am wake up. It is just one example: babies vary, and so do days.
- 7:00am Wake up for the day, milk feed
- 10:15am Nap 1 (1 hour), after 3 hours 15 minutes awake
- 11:15am Awake
- 3:00pm Nap 2 (1 hour), after 3 hours 45 minutes awake
- 4:00pm Awake
- 8:00pm Asleep for the night, after 4 hours awake (bedtime routine starts around 7:30pm)
That adds up to 2 hours of day sleep. Some first birthday babies still love long naps, and others are happy with shorter ones. What matters is how the whole day fits together.
What's changing at this age
Happy first birthday to your little one. At twelve months most babies are still on 2 naps, with wake windows of roughly 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours. Bedtime can now sit anywhere from 6pm to 8:30pm, depending on how the day has gone.
The move to 1 nap usually comes later, often well into the second year. Around now some babies refuse one of their naps for a while, which can look like readiness for 1 nap but is often a short phase.
Walking, first words and a big jump in understanding all make this an exciting, busy age. A development wave can show up as clinginess or a few unsettled nights. A short, predictable bedtime routine helps your toddler wind down.
Common sleep problems and gentle fixes
Refusing the second nap
Try keeping both naps on offer and using a slightly earlier bedtime on days the second nap is skipped. Changing to 1 nap too early can lead to a very tired evening.
Early waking
Look at total day sleep and the last wake window together. Small 15 minute changes are usually enough.
Night waking around big milestones
Walking and talking can briefly unsettle sleep. A calm, consistent response at night helps.
Long bedtime settle
If your toddler is chatting and playing at bedtime, a slightly later bedtime within the window may suit them better.
If things feel hard, you are not doing anything wrong. Small, gentle changes made one at a time, and watched for a few days, are usually kinder for everyone than a big overhaul. Look after yourself too: rest when you can, and lean on the people around you.
How OBubba helps
An age chart can only tell you what is typical. OBubba predicts your baby's next nap and bedtime from their own rhythm, not just the numbers on this page, and adjusts through the day as naps run long or short. After around four days of logging, the guidance becomes personal to your baby.
Find out more about nap prediction and how OBubba works as a gentle sleep consultant app in your pocket.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a 12 month old be awake between naps?
Usually 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours.
How many naps does a 12 month old need?
Typically 2 naps, lasting roughly 50 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes each.
When do babies go to 1 nap?
Most babies are still on 2 naps at 12 months. The move to 1 nap usually comes later in the second year.
What time should a 1 year old go to bed?
Somewhere between 6pm and 8:30pm suits many 1 year olds.
Safety and a gentle reminder
Every sleep, day and night, should follow safer sleep guidance. See The Lullaby Trust safer sleep advice and NHS: helping your baby to sleep. If your baby was born prematurely, use their corrected age when reading these ranges. The ranges are guides, not targets. If you are worried about your baby's sleep, feeding or health, speak to your health visitor or GP.
Keep reading
- Previous month: 11 Month Old Sleep Schedule, Wake Windows and Naps
- Every age on one page: wake windows by age
- The clocks have just changed? Try our gentle reset after the clocks change
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