How much sleep does an 11-month-old need?

Between 11 and 14 hours in 24 hours. Most 11-month-olds sleep 10–12 hours at night and nap 2–3 hours across 2 naps. The first nap is often shortening at this age — total daytime sleep may be reducing toward the lower end of the range.

How many naps should an 11-month-old have?

Two. The 2-to-1 transition typically does not complete until 13–18 months. An 11-month-old dropped to one nap is almost always overtired — signs include meltdowns in the late afternoon, early morning waking, and dramatically earlier bedtimes on nap-miss days. If nap 1 is shortening, adjust the schedule rather than dropping the nap.

My 11-month-old's first nap is suddenly only 30–45 minutes. Is this normal?

Yes — it is the first sign of the approaching 2-to-1 nap transition. The first nap shortens before it disappears entirely, and this process typically takes months. Do not drop to one nap yet. Instead, adjust nap 2 start time to be slightly earlier to compensate for the shorter nap 1, and keep bedtime consistent.

What wake windows should an 11-month-old have?

Between 3.25 and 4 hours. These are the longest wake windows on a 2-nap schedule. A baby waking at 6:30am should have their first nap around 9:45–10:00am. The afternoon wake window (from end of nap 2 to bedtime) is typically 3–3.5 hours. At this age wake windows are at their maximum before the nap transition — getting them right is the most impactful schedule adjustment available.

Is there a sleep regression at 11 months?

The 12-month regression often begins at 11 months for babies who start walking early. It is driven by walking onset and the beginning of the 2-to-1 nap transition. A baby who was sleeping well at 10 months and is suddenly disrupted at 11 months is either entering the walking regression or has an existing settling association that is now more disruptive as they become more wakeful.

What time should an 11-month-old go to bed?

Between 18:30 and 19:30 for most 11-month-olds on two naps. The wake window from end of nap 2 to bedtime should be 3–3.5 hours. If the second nap ends at 16:00, target bedtime at 19:00–19:30. If the second nap ends at 15:30, bedtime at 18:45–19:15 is appropriate.

My 11-month-old wakes early every morning. How do I fix it?

Early rising at 11 months is usually caused by insufficient blackout, a bedtime that is too late (overtiredness), or the first nap starting too early. A properly blacked-out room is the fastest fix. If blackout is good, check whether the first nap is starting before 3.25 hours of wake time — an undertimed morning wake window shifts the whole schedule earlier.

10.5–12 months

11 months

Q: My 11-month-old feeds to sleep. Should I address this now?

Yes — 11 months is a good window. The feeding-to-sleep association that was manageable at 7–8 months becomes more disruptive as the baby grows more wakeful and cognitively aware. Separating the feed from sleep onset — moving it to before the final book rather than after — is usually sufficient. The baby falls asleep drowsy but awake after the book. This single change typically resolves associated night waking within 5–7 nights.

How much sleep, how many naps, what bedtime — and what's normal at this stage.

Total sleep

11–14 hrs

Night sleep

10–12 hrs

Naps

2 naps · 2–3 hrs

Bedtime

18:30–19:30

Sample 11 months schedule

Time	Activity
06:30	Wake
09:45	Nap 1 (45–75 min)
11:00	Wake
14:30	Nap 2 (1–1.5 hrs)
16:00	Wake
19:00	Bedtime routine
19:30	Asleep

All times are approximate. Adjust by 30–60 minutes to suit your child.

What's normal at 11 months

•Two naps, first nap often shortening toward 45–60 minutes
•Wake windows approaching 3.25–4 hours
•Walking imminent or just beginning for some babies
•First words emerging — significant language processing during sleep
•The 12-month regression approaching — increased night waking likely
•Feeding to sleep associations becoming more entrenched if present
•The baby now has a clear understanding of the bedtime routine sequence

What changed since 9.5–10 months

•Wake windows have reached 3.25–4 hours — the longest they will be on a 2-nap schedule
•The first nap is shortening for many babies — a signal that the 2-to-1 transition is on the horizon (typically 2–7 months away)
•Walking is approaching for most babies — produces a period of motor-related sleep disruption when it begins
•First words are emerging — the language development associated with the 12-month period produces significant overnight processing
•The baby now has enough routine awareness to anticipate and resist the goodbye — stalling tactics are beginning

What's coming next

The 12-month regression coincides with walking onset and is the next major disruption. The 2-to-1 nap transition typically begins between 13 and 18 months. Feeding-to-sleep associations that are present at 11 months will become the primary driver of night waking at 12 months if not addressed.

12-month regression (approaching)

Typically 11–13 months

The regression that commonly begins around the first birthday is driven by walking onset — one of the most neurologically significant motor milestones of the first year. The brain dedicates significant resources to consolidating walking during sleep, causing more frequent arousal between cycles. It coincides with the beginning of the 2-to-1 nap transition, which creates schedule instability as the baby sits between two patterns.

Full guide: 12-month sleep regression →Full reset guide →

Common challenges at 11 months

First nap shortening

At 11 months the first nap often begins to shorten consistently — from 1–1.5 hours to 45–60 minutes. This is the earliest signal of the approaching 2-to-1 transition. Do not drop to one nap yet — most 11-month-olds are not ready until 13–18 months. Instead, adjust the schedule: if nap 1 shortens to 45 minutes, start nap 2 slightly earlier to prevent overtiredness building before bedtime.

Feeding to sleep becoming more disruptive

A feeding-to-sleep association that was manageable at 7–8 months often becomes the primary driver of night waking at 11–12 months as the baby becomes more wakeful and cognitively aware. The window between now and the 12-month regression is the best time to address it — separating the feed from sleep onset (moving it to before the final book rather than after) typically produces resolution within 5–7 nights.

Walking disruption

For babies beginning to walk at 11 months, a brief period of motor-related sleep disruption follows — 2–4 weeks of increased night waking as the brain consolidates the skill. This is the same mechanism as crawling disruption at 8–9 months and resolves on the same timeline. Maintain consistent settling habits through the disruption rather than changing them in response.

Increasing bedtime resistance

At 11 months the baby has enough routine awareness to anticipate the goodbye and begin protesting it. Early stalling behaviours emerge — requesting feeds, crawling toward the door, calling out immediately after being put down. A consistent routine sequence ending with the same goodbye phrase, said once, is the most effective structure. The goodbye phrase is the signal, not the start of a negotiation.

Build your 11 months routine

Eleven months is the last stable window before the 12-month regression and the walking disruption. Building a consistent routine now — including separating any feed-to-sleep associations — produces a much smoother path through both.

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Related guides

Questions about 11 months sleep

Methodology grounded in paediatric sleep research and evidence-based clinical practice. Schedule data, wake window recommendations, and regression timelines are derived from published guidelines including those of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the National Sleep Foundation, and paediatric sleep research published in peer-reviewed journals.

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