What is normal at each age

Where this comes from

• NHS, your baby's sleep patterns, newborn sleep ranges, tiny tummies, solid foods and night waking, and the "growing, alert and happy" reassurance test.
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children's Health (NHS), sleep, the hours-by-age table.
• Galland et al. 2012, Sleep Medicine Reviews, systematic review of 34 studies, ages 0 to 12: average total sleep and the normal ranges around it, and night-waking ranges.
• Pennestri et al. 2018, Pediatrics, the proportion of 6 and 12 month olds not sleeping through, and the absence of any association with development or maternal mood.
• Henderson et al. 2010, Pediatrics, the three competing definitions of sleeping through the night and the proportions still not meeting them at 12 months.
• BASIS, infant sleep biology, circadian development, sleep cycle length, settling at 3 to 6 months, arousal as protective, and "sleep regression" lacking a biological basis.
• BASIS, human culture and infant sleep, the cultural history of expectations and the line about expectations rather than babies being the problem.
• The Lullaby Trust, sleep deprivation, the UK parent survey figures, and their statement that around a third of babies will never have slept all night by 12 months.
• General Practice Infant Feeding Network, sleep and safe sleeping, Brown and Harries 2015 on feeding method and night waking.
• Derbyshire Family Health Service (NHS), baby sleep, increased waking around 4 to 5 and 8 to 9 months.
• NHS, separation anxiety, that it commonly emerges between 6 months and 3 years.
• UNICEF UK Baby Friendly, night feeding being normal and essential, not adding anything to bottle feeds, and why accepting normal infant sleep relieves pressure.
• The Sleep Charity, sleep guidance for ages 7 to 12 and their caveat that the hours are a guide.

Last checked 1 August 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your child, speak to your health visitor or GP.