The number of sleep schedules I tried in my daughter is first year is frankly embarrassing. I had spreadsheets. I had apps. I had a very organised approach and a baby who had not read any of the same material. Here is what I eventually learned: sleep schedules work best when they follow your baby is natural rhythms rather than imposing rigid timings. Newborns 0 to 3 months have no circadian rhythm yet. They sleep in cycles of 2 to 4 hours around the clock. There is no schedule at this stage. Feed on demand, sleep when they sleep, survive. From around 6 to 8 weeks, you can start to gently encourage a difference between day and night: keep daytime interactions bright and stimulating, keep night feeds calm and dark. From 3 to 6 months, most babies are settling into a loose pattern with 3 to 4 naps per day. Total sleep is around 14 to 16 hours. Most babies this age still need at least one night feed. From 6 to 9 months, 2 to 3 naps and total sleep around 14 hours. Many babies this age can sleep longer stretches at night. From 9 to 12 months, most babies move to 2 naps. Wake windows are around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Total sleep around 13 to 14 hours. From 12 to 18 months, still on 2 naps for most, transitioning to 1 nap by 15 to 18 months. From 18 months onwards, 1 nap of 1 to 2 hours, total sleep around 12 to 14 hours. The most important principle across all ages: watch wake windows not the clock. A baby put to sleep at the right level of tiredness falls asleep more easily and sleeps better than one put down at a fixed time regardless of sleepiness.