How To Fill Wake Windows In The First Year
How to fill wake windows in the first year
When it comes to babies, everything is always changing. During the first year, wake windows are different every few months and it can be difficult to know how to fill the time. Here are wake windows by age, over the first 12 months, along with ideas to fill these wake windows.
What is a wake window?
It is the time that your baby is awake between periods of sleep. This includes feeding and any activities during awake time. As a baby gets older, wake windows get gradually longer as they transition to fewer naps throughout the day.
How long are wake windows by age?
0-8 weeks: 45-60 minutes
During this time, your baby will probably wake up to eat, and then fall asleep shortly after. With each week, they will stay awake a little longer after each feeding during a diaper change and have some time to play before taking another nap.
Here are a few things to fill their wake window when they are finished with a feeding:
Tummy time or time on their back on a play mat (or a blanket on the floor)
Taking a walk in the stroller or a carrier
Use high contrast (black and white) toys or art cards. These are the most stimulating and visually engaging for infants this age.
Bath time - it doesn’t matter what time of day it is (it doesn’t have to be right before bed)
8-12 weeks: 60-90 minutes
During this time, your baby will have a longer period of awake time following a feeding. This is also a time when your baby will interact with you a lot more.
Here are a few things to fill their wake window when they are finished with a feeding:
Playtime on a playmat or blanket - tummy time, time on their back, or sidelying play
Taking a walk in the stroller or a carrier
Face to face with your baby with them on your chest or laying on their back reclined on your lap
Use high contrast (black and white) toys or art cards. These are the most stimulating and visually engaging for infants this age.
Bath time - it doesn’t matter what time of day it is (it doesn’t have to be right before bed)
3-4 months: 90-120 minutes
Here are a few things to fill their wake window when they are finished with a feeding:
Time on a playmat, reaching for hanging toys, or on their tummy with toys in front
Talking (about anything)!
Playing music or playing with musical toys
Taking a walk in the stroller or a carrier. Around 4 months, some babies may be ready to sit in the stroller seat or face out in the carrier (depending on head control).
4-6 months: 2-2.5 hours
This is typically when babies drop a nap and transition to slightly longer wake windows.
Here are a few things to fill their wake windows:
Floor time: work on tummy time, rolling, supported sitting
Sitting play in the highchair
Facing out in a baby carrier
Reading books (sitting or on your tummy by them)
6-9 months: 2.5-3 hours
This is usually when another transition happens, dropping from 3 naps to 2. That evening stretch before bedtime can be a little dicey.
Here are a few things to fill their wake windows:
Floor time: Sitting, tummy time/crawling, pulling to stand
Sitting play in the highchair
Facing out in a baby carrier
Swinging at the park
9-12 months: 3-4 hours
Here are a few things to fill their wake windows:
Floor time: crawling, pulling to stand, cruising
Climbing up/over cushions or pillows or through a tunnel
Standing play at a play kitchen or toy shelves
Swinging at the park
Flipping through books
Taking things out/putting things in a basket