Sleep at 12 months: what’s normal around the first birthday, and when should you get help?

Changes around the first birthday

By age 1, the CDC lists milestones such as pulling up to stand, walking while holding onto furniture, waving bye-bye, calling a parent “mama” or “dada”, and searching for things you hide. First steps may not be far off. Separation anxiety is frequently intense; according to the AAP it typically peaks between 10 and 18 months.

Many families decide at the first birthday that they have had enough of broken nights. A 1 year old is completely capable of learning to sleep independently, but toddlers can protest for much longer than babies, so the plan needs to suit the child. Actually Sleeping coaches families through the toddler years with a plan written by Dr. Sam.

Sources: the AASM consensus statement; the Galland 2012 review; the AAP. The nap numbers are averages across many children and reflect a gradual change, not one that flips on the birthday.

What counts as normal

At 12 months, two naps remain the most common pattern. A systematic review showed two-nap days dropping sharply between 12 and 18 months, and fewer than 2.5% of children give up napping completely before age 2. For babies under 12 months who napped, total nap time averaged about 3.1 hours a day; among 1 to 2 year olds the average was 2.3 hours.

What parents struggle with most

• The 12-month nap wobble. Lots of babies refuse one nap for a stretch, which makes it tricky to tell a passing phase from genuine readiness.
• Practicing walking. Standing and cruising in the crib carry on.
• Daycare switching to one nap before your child is ready for it.
• Changes to milk. If your pediatrician moves your child off formula or adjusts feeds, expect a period of adjustment.

Safe sleep once your child turns one

• The crib is still the safest place for sleep. Leave the mattress on its lowest setting.
• As part of its advice on preventing tooth decay, the AAP recommends against putting a child to bed with a bottle.
• Switch to a bed once your child reaches 35 inches (89 cm) tall or the rail sits below roughly three-quarters of their height, according to the AAP and MedlinePlus. Most 1 year olds are far from that point.
• Check with your pediatrician before introducing a pillow or blanket.

Night feeds

Whether a 1 year old still needs anything overnight is something to raise at the 12-month visit. Your pediatrician makes that call, and a sleep plan is built around it.

When to speak with the pediatrician

• Snoring on most nights, gasping, or pauses in breathing. The AAP names frequent snoring, breathing problems at night, daytime sleepiness, difficulty paying attention and behavior problems as signs of sleep apnea.
• Waking up in pain or with a fever.
• Your child is not pulling to stand yet, not using gestures, or not saying any special name for a parent.

Next steps

If the first year has wrapped up and nights are still broken, this is a very workable age to turn things around. Actually Sleeping has coached 700+ families, and each plan includes bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, 1:1 check-ins every day and the written guarantee: We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Hear what parents say in our 10 to 12 month reviews. Related reading: the 12-month regression, the 12-month schedule, and nap transitions. To begin, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam.