The term wake window simply refers to the amount of time your little one is awake before their next nap or bedtime. Before any sleep situation, a little one needs to have built sufficient sleep pressure to be able to fall asleep (and then stay asleep for the right amount of time). And whilst ensuring that a little one is tired enough for sleep, we also want to protect against them being awake too long, and so becoming overtired and unable to drop off easily. That’s where wake windows come in.
For little ones up to the age of about 4 or 5 months, it’s really important to observe your little one’s sleep cues to ascertain when they might be ready for their next nap, alongside wake windows. As babies get older however, it can be harder to spot their sleep cues, and so observing wake windows will help you get your little one into their crib at the right time.
It is worth noting that while these wake windows will be about right for the majority of little ones, there are always babies whose sleep needs might be higher or lower than average. For these little ones, you may find that they need either shorter or longer wake windows than presented here. However, I always recommend using these wake windows as a starting point, and adjusting them slightly as necessary.
Wake windows by age
Age |
Wake window after a long nap (an hour or more) |
Wake window after a short nap (less than an hour) |
| 0-8 weeks | 35-60 mins | – |
| 2-3 months | 60 mins | 30-45 mins |
| 4-5 months | 60-90 mins | 45-60 mins |
| 6-8 months | 2 hours | 90 mins |
| 9-11 months | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| 12-18 months | 3.5-4 hours | 3-3.5 hours |
When should I adjust my little one’s wake windows?
As your little one grows, their wake windows will start to lengthen naturally. Some signs that your little one needs a longer wake window include:
- They’re taking longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep for a nap or at bedtime (due to being undertired). They may often be happy to start with, but may get increasingly frustrated and cross as they struggle to fall asleep.
- They are having short naps, and waking up from them happy and content.
- They are approaching a nap transition and won’t take their final nap of the day (but without that nap the wake window into bed is far too long. In this case increasing wake windows will mean that their naps get pushed later and so the wake window into bed is preserved).
Always increase wake windows gradually. Start by extending your little one’s wake window by 10 or 15 minutes and see how they respond for a couple of days.
If you’re concerned that your little one’s wake windows are too long, the first thing to do is make a note of them for a few days, and then compare them with the wake windows above. Are they similar? Or are you keeping your little one awake much longer than suggested here? Signs that your little one’s wake windows may be too long include:
- Battling naptime and bedtime
- Having short naps, early starts, waking frequently in the night
- Waking from short naps distressed and tired
- Falling asleep within a few minutes of being put down
- Poor mood during wake times – often grumpy and miserable
If you think you need to decrease your little one’s wake windows, you can do so immediately. Use the wake windows in the table above as a starting point.
Let me know if you have any questions below!
