Need one sleep chart to grow with your child? This (FREE) comprehensive baby sleep chart printable sticks with your baby as they grow; includes recommended baby awake times chart, a wake time chart, wake up times by age, baby sleep chart and sleep chart by age. 

Plus, if you want to build an excellent routine for good sleep throughout childhood,Mastering Sleep & Schedules has 40+ routines plus how to establish a routine, modify your daily routine, deal with dropping naps, and more sleep related topics. 

Baby Sleep Chart: From Baby to Big Kids, a Printable Sleep Chart by Age 

When I was a first-time Mom, I was clueless about schedules and how much sleep babies and children need spread between nap and nighttimes.

That was, until I found a comprehensive sleep chart which could help me ensure my kids were getting the right amount of quality sleep they need.

Now, six years later and raising three kids who are great sleepers (part being so active they wear themselves right out and part having a solid routine), I can tell you what happens when they aren’t well rested.

It’s not pretty. Whining, tantrums, poor choices, waking up too early, and unneccessary power struggles at the drop of a hat ensue… which are all things I think every parent would rather avoid.

It was definitely a learning curve at the beginning, trying to find a balance between nap and bedtimes, but the guidelines I’m sharing with you are the same all of my kids have followed from infancy through school-age and they’re spot on. This wake time chart will help you keep your kids on track for solid naps and a goodnights sleep.

All three of my children are great sleepers and as they’ve grown, we’ve noticed how their bodies have instinctually followed along with this specific sleep chart.

It really goes beyond just being a baby awake time chart or sleep chart for kids – it’s the foundation for a great routine.

Let’s face it – a great sleep routine is not only stellar for kids, but for parents as well!

 

 

The Research on the Importance of Sleep for Kids

Research studies prove children, who are naturally creatures of habit, thrive with the consistency and safety of having a routine.

Over the course of a day, routines move from one point to the next with many transition points and things can either go smoothly, or turn into one crisis after another for a child who struggle with them.

Of course, transitions from one activity to the next, or moving from one place to another takes a lot of energy and requires a mindset shift.

It’s no wonder they’re hard for most people, not just children.

When you ask a child to change directions and go from doing something fun or playful they want to do, and mentally shift to doing something they must do or are told, this transition often proves to be the biggest challenge for parents.

 

 

Help Your Child Get the Rest They Need

Research consistently shows that putting kids to bed early and having consistent quality sleep schedules is beneficial for kid’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Well-rested children who consistently get enough quality sleep, function at a higher-degree while at school.

In this study, they found that consistent sleep schedules and earlier bedtimes allowed children to have better sleep patterns and quality sleep.

In another study, it was reported that 18-month-olds who went to bed before 10pm were at a lower risk for motor, language and social deficits compared with kids that went to bed later.

I have found that when I stick with a consistent sleep schedule which includes daily naps and early bedtimes they’re much happier, less fussy during the day and overall more enjoyable to be around.

As a note, my 2-year-old goes to bed at 6:30pm and my nearly 6-year-old twins still go to bed at 7:30pm. All three wake at 7am.

 

The Importance of Quality Sleep for Children 

According to surveys by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 30 percent of children under the age of 11, and more than half of adolescents don’t get the recommended amount of sleep.

And while many sleep experts suggest that young kids (7 and under) go to bed between 6PM and 8PM, more than half of toddlers and preschoolers, and more than 60 percent of school-age children (between 1st – 5th grades) go to bed after 9pm.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, research shows that an early bedtime (between 7 PM and 8 PM works best for babies and kids through school-age) and a consistent, soothing, wind-down routine with no screen time—such as TVs, tablets, and the like—will lead to higher quality sleep.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) here are the current sleep recommendations for kids at different ages:

• Ages 4-12 months: 12-16 hours (including naps)
• Ages 1-2 years: 11-14 hours (including naps)
• Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (including naps)
• Age 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
• Age 13-18 years: 8-10 hours

When you follow these guidelines from the AAP and learn how to Master your Schedule, you will see a transform to your child, to your home and stress levels.

Free Printable Sleep Chart & Tracker 

Instead of having multiple charts for naps, sleep, bedtimes and baby awake time, I’ve combined everything into one place so as your children grow beyond using it as a baby awake time chart and especially if you have multiple kids, this will be something to reference for a long time.

DOWNLOAD YOUR SLEEP CHART (CLICK THIS LINK OR THE IMAGE BELOW)

 

You Might Like…

• 8 Common Toddler Sleep Problems & How to Handle Them
• Is Your Kid Waking Too Early? Why this Happens & How to Fix It!
• 10 Helpful Ways to Calm the Kid Who Fights Bedtime
• Toddler Sleep Regressions: What You Need to Know About Your Two Year Old’s Sleep
• How to Create a Peaceful Bedtime Routine
• Create a Routine That Works for Your Children & Family
• The Benefits of Having a Daily Routine
• How to Create a Positive Home for Your Children (And Why This Will Affect Them Forever)