Next nap window · guidance
12:04 pm – 12:34 pm
Wake window trimmed to 2h 4m because the last nap ran short.
Suggested bedtime
about 7:30 pmwindow 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm
Rest of today, if later naps last about 1 h
- Nap 212:04 pm – 12:34 pm
- Nap 33:49 pm – 4:19 pm
- Bedtime7:15 pm – 7:45 pm
A projection, not a timetable. When the next nap really happens, run it again from the new wake time.
How it works
Four rules, no black box
Your baby’s age picks a band
Five age bands, from newborn to 24 months, each with a number of naps a day and a shortest and longest wake window.
Windows grow through the day
The first window of the day is the band’s shortest and the last one before bedtime is its longest, with the ones between spaced evenly.
A short nap trims the next window
If the last nap was under 45 minutes, the next wake window is 17.5% shorter.
Bedtime stays near your usual time
The suggested bedtime is kept between an hour before and 30 minutes after your usual bedtime. Every time is shown as a 30-minute window, not a single minute.
| Age band | Age in weeks | Naps a day | Wake window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 0–11 weeks | 4–5 | 45m – 1h 15m |
| 3–6 months | 12–25 weeks | 3–4 | 1h 45m – 2h 30m |
| 6–9 months | 26–38 weeks | 3 | 2h 15m – 3h |
| 9–14 months | 39–60 weeks | 2 | 2h 45m – 3h 45m |
| 14–24 months | 61+ weeks | 1–2 | 4h – 6h |
Wake windows are the time awake between sleeps. Age in weeks is counted from the date of birth.
FAQ
Questions parents ask
What is a wake window?
A wake window is the time a baby spends awake between one sleep and the next. Wake windows tend to get longer as babies get older and as the day goes on, which is why this calculator starts each day with the shortest window for your baby’s age band and works up to the longest before bedtime.
How long should my baby’s wake window be?
In BabyRelay’s guide, newborns (0–11 weeks) are awake about 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes at a time, 3–6 months about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, 6–9 months about 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours, 9–14 months about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes, and 14–24 months about 4 to 6 hours. Every baby is different, so treat these as a starting point.
Why does a short nap make the next nap come sooner?
The calculator follows the same rule as the BabyRelay app: a nap under 45 minutes counts as short, and the next wake window is trimmed by 17.5%. So after a 30-minute nap, a 2 hour 30 minute window becomes about 2 hours 4 minutes.
How is the suggested bedtime worked out?
After the last nap of the day, the final wake window points to bedtime. If that lands more than 30 minutes after your usual bedtime, the calculator holds it at 30 minutes after. If it lands more than an hour before, it moves it to an hour before. Later naps in the projection assume the length you choose, so re-run it when the next nap really happens.
Is this medical advice?
No. This is guidance, not medical advice; every baby is different. If you are worried about your baby’s sleep, talk to your health visitor, GP or pediatrician.
Can grandparents, a nanny or my partner see the same schedule?
Yes, in the BabyRelay app. Everyone you invite logs naps on the same timeline and sees the next nap window update as the day goes. The free plan covers 1 child, you and 1 other caregiver; BabyRelay Family adds more children and caregivers.
Sources
Where this comes from
The wake-window ranges and rules here are BabyRelay’s own scheduling guide: the same table and rules the app uses. They are not published by the NHS or the AAP. We link to them for general information about baby sleep.
- NHS: Helping your baby to sleepGeneral information on baby sleep from the UK National Health Service.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Getting Your Baby to SleepGeneral information on baby sleep from the AAP’s parent website.
Clocks changing soon? Try the clock-change nap planner.
