Naps
Wake windows: the gentle way to time naps
A wake window is the stretch of time your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleeps. Hit it right, and naps fall into place. Miss it, and you get tears, bounced naps, and very long evenings.
Wake windows by age
| Age | Wake window | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 weeks | 35–60 min | Often back to sleep almost immediately. |
| 2–3 months | 60–90 min | First hints of a daytime pattern emerge. |
| 4–5 months | 1.5–2 h | Sleep cycles mature — the famous '4-month regression' lands here. |
| 6–8 months | 2–3 h | Usually 3 naps with a longer final wake window. |
| 9–12 months | 2.5–3.5 h | Most babies drop to 2 naps. |
| 12–18 months | 3–4 h | Transition to 1 nap typically between 13–18 months. |
| 18–24 months | 4–6 h | One solid midday nap plus an earlier bedtime. |
Early signs your baby is ready for sleep
- Slower movements, "zoning out"
- Reduced interest in toys or faces
- Quieter, longer blinks
- Subtle yawn or ear pull
By the time you see crying, arching, or rubbing eyes hard, you're usually in overtired territory. Aim to offer sleep at the first set of cues.
Tips that actually help
- Track 3 days, not 3 hours — patterns appear over a week.
- Lengthen the last wake window of the day slightly.
- Don't chase the chart — use it as a starting point, not a rule.
- An overtired baby usually needs an earlier bedtime, not a later one.
Let Caro do the math
Caro Baby suggests the next wake window automatically based on age and how the day has gone so far.
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