5 Month Old Wake Windows & Sleep Schedule
A typical 5 month old handles wake windows of 2 to 2¾ hours and takes 3 naps a day. The first window of the morning is usually the shortest and the stretch before bed the longest, which is why a 5 month old can seem ready for a nap barely two hours after waking.
- Wake window
- 2–2¾ hours
- Naps
- 3 a day
- Day sleep
- 3–4 h
- Night sleep
- 10–12 h
- Total in 24 h
- 12–16 h
Last reviewed 2026-09-25 · Reviewed by Pediatric sleep consultant (TBC)
Nap calculator for your 5 month old
Enter your baby's age and when they woke up. We'll time the next nap and project the rest of the day.
Next sleep
9:00 am
Nap 1 after a 2 h wake window · typical range 2–2¾ hours
- 7:00 am Morning wake-up
- 9:00 am Nap 1 · until 10:10 am
- 12:25 pm Nap 2 · until 1:35 pm
- 4:05 pm Nap 3 · until 4:45 pm
- 7:30 pm Bedtime
Want a reminder before the window closes? The Wake Windows app notifies you when nap time is coming and adjusts as the day changes.
Sample 5 month old sleep schedules
These schedules use 3 naps and wake windows that lengthen from 2 h in the morning to 2 h 45 min before bed. Pick the one closest to your baby's wake-up time and shift it by the difference.
6:00 am wake-up
- 6:00 am Morning wake-up
- 8:00 am Nap 1 · until 9:10 am
- 11:25 am Nap 2 · until 12:35 pm
- 3:05 pm Nap 3 · until 3:45 pm
- 6:30 pm Bedtime
7:00 am wake-up
- 7:00 am Morning wake-up
- 9:00 am Nap 1 · until 10:10 am
- 12:25 pm Nap 2 · until 1:35 pm
- 4:05 pm Nap 3 · until 4:45 pm
- 7:30 pm Bedtime
8:00 am wake-up
- 8:00 am Morning wake-up
- 10:00 am Nap 1 · until 11:10 am
- 1:25 pm Nap 2 · until 2:35 pm
- 5:05 pm Nap 3 · until 5:45 pm
- 8:30 pm Bedtime
How 5 month old wake windows change through the day
The first wake window of the day is the shortest. Each one after a nap gets a little longer, with the longest just before bedtime:
| Window | Length |
|---|---|
| First window (after morning wake-up) | 2 h |
| After nap 1 | 2 h 15 min |
| After nap 2 | 2 h 30 min |
| Last window (before bedtime) | 2 h 45 min |
What's changing for your 5 month old
- Rolling both ways is common, so safe-sleep setups matter again (no swaddle once rolling starts).
- Naps begin to lengthen, and the third nap of the day is often a short catnap.
- Many babies are still recovering from the 4-month sleep regression.
- Distractibility during feeds peaks; a darker room for feeds before naps helps.
What comes next
Between 6 and 8 months most babies drop the third nap and move to 2 naps, with wake windows stretching toward 2½–3½ hours.
The Wake Windows app
Stop watching the clock. Get a reminder before nap time.
Wake windows around 5 months
| Age | Wake window | Naps | Day sleep | Night sleep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 75–120 min | 4–5 | 4–5 h | 10–11 h |
| 4 months | 1½–2½ hours | 3–4 | 3–4.5 h | 10–12 h |
| 5 months | 2–2¾ hours | 3 | 3–4 h | 10–12 h |
| 6 months | 2–3 hours | 2–3 | 3–3.5 h | 11–12 h |
| 7 months | 2½–3½ hours | 2–3 | 2.5–3.5 h | 11–12 h |
Questions about 5 month old wake windows
What is the wake window for a 5 month old?
Usually 2 to 2¾ hours. Start the day at the shorter end and let windows lengthen through the afternoon, with the longest window before bedtime.
How many naps should a 5 month old take?
Most 5 month olds take 3 naps: two longer naps of 1–2 hours and a shorter late-afternoon catnap of 30–45 minutes.
What time should bedtime be for a 5 month old?
Somewhere between 6:30 and 8:00 pm is typical. Work backward from the end of the last nap plus the final wake window.
Why are my 5 month old's naps only 30 minutes?
Short naps are common at this age as sleep cycles mature. A wake window that is too short (undertired) or too long (overtired) are the two usual culprits, so adjust by 10–15 minutes and watch for a few days.