Have you ever heard the term ‘wake window’ and wondered what it means for your baby’s sleep? Simply put, a wake window is the amount of time your baby can comfortably stay awake between sleep periods without becoming overtired or undertired.
Getting wake windows right can significantly impact nap quality and how easily your baby falls asleep at night. An overtired baby often struggles to fall asleep and stay asleep, while an undertired baby might resist sleep altogether.
General guidelines exist (e.g., newborns 45-60 min, 6-9 months 2-3 hours), but every baby is different. Learning your baby’s sweet spot can take some observation.
How do you figure out your baby’s ideal wake windows? Do you track them precisely, or do you go more by sleepy cues?