How many naps a 24-hour interval should my baby take?

Most newborns will sleep for ii to four hours at a fourth dimension, day and night. At this stage, y'all shouldn't wait any sort of napping pattern. But let your baby sleep equally much equally she needs to.

When your infant's 6 to 8 weeks erstwhile, she'south likely to start consolidating her sleep – she'll slumber less often and for longer stretches at a time. She'll probably demand ii to four naps a solar day, and perhaps even more.

At 3 to 4 months of age, many babies begin to follow a more predictable design of daytime sleep. This is a good fourth dimension to start developing a nap schedule (see our tips, below).

Practice your best to requite your babe a chance to nap at the same times each twenty-four hour period. Simply go on in mind that his temperament and natural rhythms will help determine how and when he naps. Some babies nap for long stretches every day and settle easily into a design. Others do just fine taking shorter naps or napping at less regular times.

Past 6 months, your babe volition probably be taking two or three naps a 24-hour interval: one in the morning, one in the early on afternoon, and another later in the afternoon.

At 9 to 12 months, most babies are downwards to 2 naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. And past xviii months, virtually children surrender their morn nap altogether simply proceed to snooze in the afternoon. They'll continue with this pattern until they're 3 or four years old, although some don't taper off napping until they are 5.

These are typical patterns, merely not all babies follow them. Every baby has her ain unique sleep habits. For more information, bank check out our sample baby sleep schedules.

How to starting time scheduling your baby's naps

When your baby's three to 4 months old, you lot can work on developing a nap schedule that'due south compatible with his natural sleep cycles.

Read the signs
Pay attention to your baby's sleep signals. Does he begin to rub his eyes and get fussy midmorning or right later on lunch? Does he often fall asleep in the car in the early afternoon? Exercise y'all notice a difference in his alertness and overall mood when he sleeps for longer or shorter periods?

You might desire to keep a record of your baby'southward sleep signals and naps for a calendar week or two. This volition help you see your infant's patterns so yous can anticipate naps.

For example, if your baby gets cranky and ready to nap past ten every morning, y'all tin ease him into it earlier he gets overtired. Beginning xv to 20 minutes before yous expect his sleep signals to show up – feed, change, and rock him quietly, pass up the lights, and keep your vox low. That style he'south already on the road to slumber when that tired feeling overtakes him.

Stick to a schedule
Consistency is the goal: Try to schedule your baby's naps for roughly the same fourth dimension every twenty-four hours. If you routinely put your babe downwardly for his afternoon nap at 3 one twenty-four hour period and right afterward lunch the side by side, your child will accept more trouble developing a regular sleep pattern.

Try to avert activities that conflict with your baby's nap schedule. If your baby yoga grade happens during naptime, for example, see if in that location's one offered at a time when your little one tends to exist more alert.

If your infant is in daycare during the calendar week and has a regular nap schedule when he's there, follow a similar schedule on the weekends when he'due south at home with you.

Become more than tips on establishing a successful baby schedule.

Don't stress over interruptions
You won't be able to arrange information technology so your entire household revolves around your baby's nap schedule – especially if you take other children. Life events will interrupt your schedule, and if naps are skipped or delayed from time to fourth dimension, it isn't a disaster. If you accept a regular structure that you tin can rely on, information technology'll exist easier to get dorsum on track after the inevitable disruptions.

Figuring out the best nap schedule for your baby will accept some trial and error, and it will change as your child grows and reaches new developmental milestones. Y'all'll need to appraise your baby's sleep needs and habits regularly and alter the schedule accordingly.

Developing a nap ritual

A naptime ritual is a proficient thought, for the aforementioned reason it's recommended at night: It helps your child wind downwards and signals that the sleep catamenia is approaching, and so your baby is prepared to rest.

Your naptime ritual tin can exist shorter and less elaborate than the bedtime ritual: a story, a song, and a caress, for example. Once you've developed a routine that works for yous and that yous both enjoy, stick to it as closely as possible.

baby sleeping

Find out how much sleep your kid needs at different ages, and when nap patterns volition change.

More practical tips for naps

  • Put your baby to slumber safely past gently placing her on her back on a firm mattress and in a infinite without toys, blankets, or pillows.
  • Pajamas aren't necessary, simply brand sure your child is dressed in comfortable article of clothing that's neither likewise lite nor too heavy.
  • Playtime correct before your baby'south nap should exist quiet. Avoid loud noise and stimulating play that could brand it hard for your child to settle downwards and become to sleep.
  • When you tin can, put your child down for her nap in the same identify she sleeps at night, which she'll acquaintance with going to sleep.
  • If you're going on a trip or you know yous'll be away from habitation at naptime, be sure to pack books and anything else your child has come to associate with sleeping. This will help you maintain your baby's sleep routine wherever you are.
  • Don't look until your kid is overly tired before beginning your going-to-sleep routine. If y'all do, your child may be too wound up to sleep well – or even to go to slumber at all. If your child isn't much of a napper, don't blame yourself or your parenting skills – even if your best friend reports that her child is taking three-hr naps every day. All you tin do is offer your child the opportunity to sleep by preparing her and putting her down on a consistent schedule.
  • Your baby may exist a natural catnapper, consistently napping for less than an hour at a fourth dimension. Every bit long as she doesn't seem besides tired, fussy, or difficult during waking hours, she'due south getting the sleep she needs.

Parents' voices

"My four-month-erstwhile has finally begun to nap without a fight. For u.s., the trick was getting her down the second we saw tired signs (rubbing eyes, yawning, restless). Also, sticking to the aforementioned time each mean solar day – within an hour at least because sometimes the verbal aforementioned time isn't doable for Mom and Dad. I take her into her room and rock her for a few minutes while singing a lullaby.This is what nosotros do at bedtime at dark, then it'due south helped her learn that it's time to sleep."
—Stacy

"My 10-week-old baby is finally napping well, and it's because of whatI'1000doing differently! I'k now putting her downwards before she's tired, and information technology's working wonders. I ever waited until she was too tired, and the screaming was unbearable. So we had to walk the floor, rock, bounce, swing, concord her, you name information technology! It has taken me going in a few times to pop the pacifier dorsum in, simply the difference is amazing."
—Anonymous

"An hour or two after my babe wakes upward, he tends to seem tired (lets out footling whimpers, may briefly rub his eyes). As soon every bit I feel information technology coming on, I head to his nursery. I have the swaddle blanket already laid out in a convenient place. I lay him on top and calmly put the pacifier in his mouth (if he's at-home, he'll take it). As soon as he takes it, I gently wrap the blanket around him, pick him up, and rock him. He may protest for a couple of minutes, merely he soon falls asleep. Works like a dream!"
—Bearding

"If your 3-month-quondam wakes after 30 to 45 minutes, it doesn't mean he's done with his nap – he just hasn't figured out how to get dorsum to sleep after the start phase of the slumber cycle. Assistance him do that and you lot'll have a more well-rested baby! The second stage is much longer – most an hour and a half for my son. Sometimes I have to go in and pat my babe's back and lesser for a few minutes to get him back to sleep. Sometimes I have to let him cry for a few minutes. And sometimes, finally now at five months, he wakes upwards, whimpers, and goes back to sleep all on his own."
—Bearding

"My daughter, at present iv months old, has ever needed to nap on me and would sleep for hours if I held her. One time I put her down, she'd wake right up. What I've started doing lately is to put her in her bed and allow her cry. I prepare the timer for ten minutes. If she's still crying later on 10 minutes, which she ever is, I selection her up and apologize and burp her. So I lay her back downwards and set the timer again. Well-nigh halfway through the crying, I requite her the pacifier. She goes to sleep and sleeps by herself anywhere from one-half an hour to three hours."
—Noelia