Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

Sleep at 12 months: what’s normal at the first birthday and when to get help

At the first birthday, the AASM range shifts from 12 to 16 hours for babies to 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours for 1 to 2 year olds, including naps. Most 1 year olds still take 2 naps; the move to one usually happens between 12 and 18 months. The AAP’s infant safe sleep recommendations cover the first year.

What changes at the first birthday

By 1 year, the CDC lists pulling up to stand, walking while holding furniture, waving bye-bye, calling a parent “mama” or “dada”, and looking for things you hide. First steps may be close. Separation anxiety is often strong; the AAP says it usually peaks between 10 and 18 months.

At the first birthday	Before	After
AASM recommended sleep	12 to 16 hours (4 to 12 months)	11 to 14 hours (1 to 2 years)
Average total in studies	12.6 hours (from 9 months)	12.9 hours (from 12 months)
Daytime naps in studies	2.2 on average (6 to 11 months)	1.2 on average (1 to 2 years)
AAP infant safe sleep recommendations	Apply	Written for babies up to 1 year

The first birthday is a common point for families to decide they are done with broken nights. A 1 year old is fully able to learn to sleep independently, but toddlers protest with more stamina than babies, so the plan has to fit the child. Actually Sleeping coaches families through toddlerhood with a plan written by Dr. Sam.

Sources: AASM consensus statement; Galland 2012 review; AAP. The nap figures are averages across many children and show a gradual shift, not a switch on the birthday.

What is normal

Two naps is still the most common pattern at 12 months. A systematic review found a dramatic drop in two-nap days between 12 and 18 months, and fewer than 2.5% of children stop napping altogether before age 2. Among babies under 12 months who napped, naps averaged about 3.1 hours a day in total; for 1 to 2 year olds the average was 2.3 hours.

What parents find hardest

The 12-month nap wobble. Many babies refuse one nap for a while, which makes it hard to tell a phase from real readiness.
Walking practice. Standing and cruising in the crib continue.
Daycare moving to one nap before your child is ready.
Milk changes. If your pediatrician moves your child from formula or changes feeds, expect some adjustment.

Safe sleep after the first birthday

The crib remains the safest place to sleep. Keep the mattress at its lowest setting.
The AAP advises against putting a child to bed with a bottle, as part of its tooth decay prevention advice.
Move to a bed when your child is 35 inches (89 cm) tall or the rail is below about three-quarters of their height, per the AAP and MedlinePlus. Most 1 year olds are nowhere near.
Ask your pediatrician before adding a pillow or blanket.

Night feeds

Whether a 1 year old still needs anything at night is a question for the 12-month visit. Your pediatrician decides; a sleep plan works around that decision.

When to talk to the pediatrician

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

Where to go from here

If the year has ended with nights still broken, this is a very workable age to change it. Actually Sleeping has coached 700+ families, and the plan comes with bootcamp-style coaching before night one, daily 1:1 check-ins 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. You can see what parents say on our 10 to 12 month reviews. Related: the 12-month regression, the 12-month schedule, and nap transitions. Book a free consultation with Dr. Sam to start.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

How much should a 1 year old sleep?

The AASM recommends 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours, including naps, for children 1 to 2 years old, and the AAP supports it. Babies under 12 months fall in the 12 to 16 hour range, so the two ranges overlap at the first birthday.

Should my 1 year old be on one nap?

Most are still on two. A review of napping studies found the big drop in two-nap days happens between 12 and 18 months. When your child is ready depends on how they cope without the second nap, which Dr. Sam judges with you in a custom plan.

Can my 1 year old have a pillow or blanket now?

The AAP’s infant safe sleep recommendations are written for babies up to 1 year. There is no rush to add anything after that. A sleep sack keeps a toddler warm without loose bedding. Ask your pediatrician before you add a pillow.