Baby nap can be a relaxing time for you and your little one, but the process of putting your baby to bed during the day can be just the opposite. Use these tips to help your child get the daytime rest he or she needs. How many naps does a child need?
Newborns take time to develop a sleep pattern because they need to develop their circadian rhythms. During the first month, babies sleep about 16 hours a day. This usually occurs in the form of three or four hours of sleep with equal intervals between feedings. After the newborn has been awake for one to two hours, he or she will need to sleep again.
As children get older, bedtime usually becomes more predictable. Age from 4 months to 1 year. After the newborn period, your baby will likely sleep at least twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Some children also need an afternoon nap. You can put your child to bed at 9:00 and 13:00. Let your child sleep as much as he or she wants, unless your child has trouble falling asleep at night. If your baby sleeps for the third time in the late afternoon, try to stop this sleep around the age of 9 months. This will help your child get ready for bed earlier.
Ages 1 year and older. When your child is 10 months to 1 year old, he or she will most likely forego morning naps. During this transition, consider extending your child’s bedtime and sleep time by half an hour to help him or her adjust. Most children continue to have one to two hours of daytime naps until about 3 years of age. After this age, the duration of daytime sleep tends to decrease. Remember, however, that every child is different, and a child’s sleep schedule may vary.