Wake windows lengthen with age, from roughly 30–60 minutes for a newborn to 3–4 hours near a year. The idea is that babies build up 'sleep pressure' the longer they're awake, so catching them at the right point makes settling easier. The first window of the day is usually the shortest and the last before bed the longest. Treat windows as a rough heads-up for when to watch for tired cues — the cues themselves are far more reliable than the clock.
Glossary
Wake window
A wake window is the length of time a baby is happily awake between one sleep and the next — including the feed, nappy change and play.
Related guides
Wake windows: how long awake between sleeps
A wake window is simply the awake time between sleeps, and it grows slowly as your baby does.
Naps and nap transitions
Your baby's daytime sleep shifts naturally as they grow, and a few gentle signs help you read when a nap is on its way out.
Try the tool: Wake Window Calculator
Related terms
General information, not medical advice. For concerns about your child, talk with your doctor or child-health nurse.