Parenting blogs and apps are full of wake window charts by age: so many minutes for a newborn, so many hours for a six-month-old. How long can your baby really stay awake between naps? Here is what Belgium's child health agencies, Kind en Gezin in Flanders and ONE in Wallonia and Brussels, the Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi) and the Dutch youth health service say.
Is there a fixed wake window for each age?
According to the Dutch youth health care guideline (in Dutch), there is no known evidence-based data on what normal wake times are for babies; the guideline says this in its section on babies aged 0 to 6 months. That is why it matters to watch closely for signs of tiredness. What Kind en Gezin and ONE write about sleep does not give wake windows by age either.
Not every child needs the same amount of sleep, says NJi (in Dutch). Watch closely for your child's sleepy signs, NJi advises.
How to tell your baby is getting tired
When your baby starts to get tired, you can often see it before they start to cry, says NJi. According to NJi and the Dutch guideline, a baby who is getting tired may:
- yawn or let out a deep sigh
- look away from what they are doing, or stop looking at you
- fiddle with their ears
- rub their eyes (older babies, according to NJi)
- start to fuss or grizzle
- get red cheeks
- become more active, make more noise or get overexcited
In its brochure on sleep (in French), ONE also mentions thumb sucking, a bad mood, crying and falling asleep on the spot. Signs of tiredness differ from baby to baby, and they can sometimes point to another discomfort or to boredom, says Kind en Gezin (in Dutch) in its booklet for parents of a moderately premature baby.
Note that a child who sleeps too little does not always seem sleepier. According to the Dutch guideline, younger children are then sometimes mainly more active.
Put your baby down at the first signs
In its FAQ on sleep (in Dutch), Kind en Gezin advises putting your baby down to sleep at the first signs of tiredness. If your baby is overtired, falling asleep is often harder.
"Restlessness and crying are signs of tiredness that come too late."
Flash Accueil, ONE's magazine for childcare settings (2015, translated from French)
If your baby has trouble falling asleep and you notice they are not tired enough yet, try again a little later, NJi advises.
How many naps a day?
On the number of naps, the sources do give pointers:
- From about 6 months, a baby naps 2 or 3 times during the day, on average 1 or 2 hours at a time (NJi).
- From about 9 months, most babies nap about 2 times a day (NJi).
- At around 1 year, the sources differ. According to ONE, sleep then settles into one continuous stretch at night and 2 naps, one in the morning and one in the afternoon (ONE, Flash Accueil n°46, 2022, in French). According to NJi, 1-year-olds often still have an afternoon nap of 1.5 to 2 hours.
How many hours of sleep your baby needs at each age is covered in our article on baby sleep patterns. Is your baby suddenly sleeping worse? Read our article on teething or sleep regression.
Predictive Sleep in the Owlet Dream app
If you have a Dream Sock, the Predictive Sleep feature in the Owlet Dream app suggests the next sleep window, based on your baby's historical sleep data and age. According to Owlet's help centre, it is a guideline based on average sleep needs, and not a replacement for following your baby's cues. Read more in our article What is Predictive Sleep?
The Dream Sock also measures heart rate and oxygen level: if a reading moves outside the preset zones, the base station gives a light and sound signal and you get a notification in the app. The Dream Sock is intended for routine home monitoring of healthy babies. Its notifications help you decide whether to seek medical advice. They do not replace a diagnosis or treatment by a doctor. More questions? See our FAQ.
When to ask for advice
If you are worried about your baby's sleep, do not wait. In Flanders you can call the Kind en Gezin line (078 150 100) or talk to your Kind en Gezin nurse; ONE's free consultations are there for questions about sleep too. You can also talk to your GP. In an emergency, call 112.