What are “Wake Windows”?

If you’re parent struggling with sleep, you’ve probably seen the concept of “wake windows” floating around the internet. Everyone seems to know what they are, so you might be afraid to ask. Have no fear, the Nighttime Heroes are here to educate!

A wake window is an amount of time your baby can be awake at a time before they need to go back to sleep. Simple enough, right?

Sort of!

Photo by Amel Majanovic on Unsplash

When new parents find out just how little amount of time babies can be awake before they become cranky messes, they are shocked. Shocked I say!

As newborns, babies can only be up for under an hour at a time, and this amount of time slowly, slowly increases as time goes on. Eventually they’re able to be up for 2 hours at a time, 3 hours, etc. etc. as they drop naps and get older.

Under an hour? What do you mean? How will I go anywhere or do anything?

Yeah, when your baby is little, it will be difficult to maintain a schedule and leave the house. Especially if you have other children on their own schedules! The most important thing to do is to do your best to maintain it, give yourself some grace if you mess up a little, and try to stick to the appropriate window for your baby as much as possible. This will save them (and you) from becoming out of control by the end of the day!

For help with learning about what wake windows are appropriate for your baby, contact us at Nighttime Heroes Sleep Schedule Coaching for more information.

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