# 12 month old sleep schedule: what does a good day look like?

> Most 12–14 month olds still need 2 naps. Typical wake windows run 3–4.5 hours, and the AASM advises 11–14 hours of total sleep for ages 1–2…

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/12-month-old-sleep-schedule/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

Two naps still suit most toddlers between 12 and 14 months, and wake windows of 3–4.5 hours are a widely used rule of thumb. For ages 1–2, the AASM advises 11–14 hours of sleep across 24 hours, counting naps. Expect a bedtime somewhere from 7 to 8 p.m., roughly 11–12 hours of night sleep, and 2–2.5 hours of daytime sleep. 

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## Typical sleep between 12 and 14 months  
| Measure | Usual range | 
|---|---|
| Sleep across 24 hours | 11–14 hours (AASM, ages 1–2 years) | 
| Findings from studies of healthy babies | From 12 months the average was 12.9 hours; children aged 1–2 averaged 1.2 naps per day (Galland 2012) | 
| Overnight sleep (common practice range) | 11–12 hours | 
| Daytime naps (common practice range) | 2, adding up to roughly 2–2.5 hours | 
| Wake windows (a rule of thumb, not something research established) | 3–4.5 hours on a two-nap day; the first window is the shortest and the one before bed the longest | 
| Night feeds | Most toddlers no longer have any. Your custom plan decides how night feeds are handled, based on your baby’s age. | 
 

Where a row says AASM, it reflects the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendation, which the AAP endorses. Rows citing Galland 2012 draw on a systematic review of observational studies. Everything else is a common practice range rather than a research result. All of these describe an average baby, and plenty of healthy babies fall above or below each one. 

A schedule that ran smoothly at 10 months can start producing skipped naps or early wake-ups right around the first birthday, and toddlers can protest far longer than babies do. Actually Sleeping supports babies and toddlers from the newborn stage onward. Dr. Sam builds a plan for your own toddler rather than a typical 1 year old, every caregiver follows that same plan, and you get 1:1 check-ins every day. 

## Developmental changes at this age 

Your child is walking or close to it, saying first words, pointing, and holding firm opinions. Many families also switch milks and trade bottles for cups around the first birthday; follow your pediatrician’s advice on those changes. The amount of sleep needed each day dips a little too: at age 1, the AASM range shifts from 12–16 hours down to 11–14 hours. 

## Why a standard 12-month schedule often falls short  
- **Refused naps and fresh night waking:** read about [the 12-month sleep regression](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/12-month-sleep-regression/). 
- **Moving to one nap too early:** a large review placed the steep decline in two-nap days between 12 and 18 months, so timing varies a lot from child to child. Read about [nap transitions](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/nap-transitions-3-to-2-to-1/). 
- **Waking too early:** read about [early morning waking](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/early-morning-waking/). 
- **Falling asleep on the bottle or breast:** read about [the feed-to-sleep association](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/feed-to-sleep-association/). 
 

None of these plays out the same way in a toddler who walks, answers back and spends weekdays with a different caregiver. A schedule designed for an average 1 year old has no way to factor that in. 

## Keeping sleep safe from 12 to 14 months  
- The AAP’s infant safe sleep recommendations, which include keeping soft and loose bedding out of the sleep space, apply to babies up to 1 year. Check with your pediatrician before introducing a pillow or blanket. 
- Leave the mattress on its lowest setting. According to the AAP and MedlinePlus, it is time to move out of the crib once your child reaches 35 inches (89 cm) tall. 
 

## Can you sleep train at this age? 

Yes. Toddlers between 12 and 14 months are entirely capable of learning to fall asleep on their own. What matters most at this stage is that every caregiver responds the same way, so Actually Sleeping plans are written for the whole household to follow. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Toddler parents describe how it went in our [12 months and up reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/12-months-plus/). Read [the best age to sleep train](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/best-age-to-sleep-train/), then book a free consultation with Dr. Sam. 

## Related guides
- [9 month old sleep schedule: what does a good day look like?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/9-month-old-sleep-schedule/)
- [What sleep schedule suits an 8 month old?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/8-month-old-sleep-schedule/)
- [What sleep schedule works for a 7 month old?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/7-month-old-sleep-schedule/)
- [A sleep schedule that works for a 6 month old](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/6-month-old-sleep-schedule/)
- [5 month old sleep schedule: what works well?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/5-month-old-sleep-schedule/)
 

## Ready to solve this for your baby?

Actually Sleeping offers 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style preparation before night one, and we check in every day until it works. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee of 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or your money back in full.

[Book your free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [Hear from families](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Frequently asked 

### Is one nap enough for a 12 month old?

Not for most, yet. One large review showed two-nap days falling off steeply between 12 and 18 months, which means plenty of 1 year olds still need both naps. Readiness comes down to how your toddler copes, and Dr. Sam watches that with you. 

### How many hours of sleep does a 12 month old need?

For ages 1–2 years, the AASM advises 11–14 hours in every 24, naps included, and the AAP backs that range. Research found children from 12 months averaged roughly 12.9 hours, with healthy toddlers landing both above and below it. 

### Is a blanket or pillow OK for my 1 year old?

The AAP’s infant safe sleep recommendations, which keep soft bedding out of the crib, cover babies up to 1 year. Beyond that point, check with your pediatrician. A wearable blanket is still the easy choice. 

### What is a good bedtime for a 12 month old?

The usual rule of thumb is somewhere from 7 to 8 p.m. Your toddler’s ideal time depends on their naps, so an Actually Sleeping plan chooses it for them and shifts it as the nap transition happens.  

## References
1. [Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785–786.](https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/pediatricsleepdurationconsensus.pdf)
2. [Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med Rev. 2012;16(3):213–222.](https://www.nationaljewish.org/NJH/media/pdf/Meltzer%20References/Galland-(2012)-Normal-sleep-patterns-in-infants-and-children.pdf)
3. [Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0-12 years. Sleep Med Rev. 2020.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9704850/)
4. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx)
5. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Make Baby's Room Safe: Parent Checklist.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Make-Babys-Room-Safe.aspx)
6. [MedlinePlus (NIH). Cribs and crib safety.](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000542.htm)