What is a Wake Window? + More
We hear a lot about wake windows in the world of infant sleep and how they do or do not affect your child’s day. The term has been around for a while, popularized by Dr. Marc Weissbluth in his pediatric sleep research and practice, and the definition he used is the same today.
What are wake windows?
Simply, a wake window is the time your child spends awake between sleeps. It can include diaper changes, feedings, getting dressed, playtime, and everything in between.
It’s around the edges of a wake window where things get a little vague and wishy-washy. We ask questions like…
When exactly does a wake window begin and end? Do I count from when my child actually wakes vs. when I get them out of the crib? Does it end when I put them back in the crib for their nap or when they actually fall asleep?
At Beloved Baby Sleep, our working definition of wake windows’ beginnings and endings looks like this: We count the wake window as starting around the time you get the child out of the crib and turn the lights on, and we count the end of the wake window as around the time when you lay them down in the crib again for sleep.
That still seems a little vague…
That’s because it’s meant to be. Here, we will never encourage you to measure your child’s awake time to the minute, or watch the monitor around the clock to note the exact moment when your baby’s eyes open. Wake windows are meant to be flexible, and we will always balance the time on the clock with your child’s temperament and cues.
After all, sleep is not a one-size-fits-all skill, so we can’t use a strict system to teach or measure. This only causes anxiety and frustration, right? If your child is “supposed” to be awake until 8:30am but is giving you every indication that they’re ready for a nap at 8:15, in general, we will relax about the time and offer a nap.
When children are learning independent sleep skills, we want to tune into what they are communicating, weigh this against what we know to be true about sleep (and what’s best for their growing bodies and minds), and make an informed, confident decision about what they need next.
Okay, but I’m tired and need something a bit more concrete…
It’s totally understandable and reasonable that some parents will desire a bit more direction as they’re going through their daily routines. Time and experience are wonderful teachers, but when you’re hanging on by a thread, sometimes you just need a tool to guide you. Let us help!
We choose to work within a baseline framework that gives us options throughout the day. Here are some general guidelines that help to set everyone up for sleep success:
We will always attempt to follow average, age-appropriate wake windows.
This means that we’re not going to ask a 4 month old to be awake 3 hours between naps (too long) or expect a 18 month old to nap well after only 2 hours (too short). BUT because children are each unique, we will look at what their individual patterns over time are telling us. Some children thrive on less sleep than average (low sleep needs), and some require more sleep than average (high sleep needs).
Save the below chart for easy reference!
We will begin the wake window when we take the child out of their crib/sleep space.
Sometimes children wake earlier than expected (because they’re not robots!), so we will balance the need for rest with their temperament.
If your child is content to hang out in her crib/bassinet after she wakes, we will give her that space as long as she’s happy. Once she begins to fuss, or if she wakes up fussing, we will wait a predetermined amount of time before we end sleep and begin a new wake window. We will aim for a full wake window from when we got her out of the crib before beginning the next sleep time, but we will also watch her temperament and, if necessary, meet in the middle and lay her down a bit earlier.
When baby wakes early, we typically wait about 30 minutes, but this is very dependent on their temperament, age, time of day, and whether we’re actively teaching new sleep skills. (Note: This is a great question for an Ask Me Anything session!)
We will end the wake window when we lay the child down in the crib/sleep space.
Most children will not immediately fall asleep when they’re laid awake in their crib—we’re aiming for the falling-asleep process to take about 5-15 minutes for naps and up to 20-30 minutes for bedtime (especially for toddlers and preschoolers). So, if we’re getting picky, their time awake is longer than what we’re counting as the wake window. However, time spent in a dark, cool, comfy sleep space is restful, which is what we’re aiming for!
Some parents like to lay their children down about 5-10 minutes before the end of the their wake window so that they’re actually falling asleep by the time the wake window ends, and that is totally fine. Remember, our goal is to avoid measuring to the minute and embracing flexibility. We need it for real life
Is there ever a time when we don’t follow wake windows?
Yes! Typically we recommend moving to a more “set” routine—a set wake-up time, nap time, and bedtime—once your child is taking just one solid nap a day. Usually this transition happens between 14-18 months, and once that transition has been nailed down, it’s okay to let go of wake windows, remembering that there is always room for some flexibility in each day.
In sum, here’s what we know.
Kids are not machines. They don’t run on a rigid schedule, nor should they be asked to do so, and that’s okay!
Wake windows are meant to provide us with a guideline, but they are not the end-all, be-all.
Your days can and should be flexible, just like life.
If you feel lost on more than just wake windows, but day and night sleep just seems like a ball of chaos, consider our services or schedule a free discovery call to find out how we can help. It’s our joy to serve you where you need it most!
Please note that I am not a medical professional, and this blog post is not meant to serve as medical advice, a diagnosis, or any form of treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your child’s pediatrician.
