From babies to big kids, make sure your little one is getting enough sleep with our handy guide to naps. And don't forget, sometimes you need a nap too! Show
Teresa Pitman September 16, 2020 Photo: iStockphoto When you were pregnant, you probably imagined all the creative things you’d do when baby napped—work on the baby book, do a yoga video, catch up with friends on the phone…. A few months later, all you care about is finding creative ways to get him to nap so you can take a shower or catch a few winks yourself. Naps can be a treasured break in a parent’s day, but they can also be frustrating, especially when they aren’t happening the way you think they should. “It’s amazing what a hot topic sleep can be,” says Kellie Walden, baby wellness coordinator at the Early Years Centre in Peterborough, Ont. “Parents often have a preconceived idea of how a baby should sleep. But babies are very individual in how much they sleep, when they sleep, how they fall asleep.” During the first six weeks, there really isn’t such a thing as a nap. Your baby will eat and sleep and wake around the clock, and you may not see anything that looks like a routine or predictable sleep times. That’s normal for this age and there isn’t much you can do about it. Keeping in mind that every infant is different, here are some typical patterns that emerge beyond those initial hazy weeks. 6 weeks to 3 monthsPopular patternsAt this age, the most popular pattern may still be no pattern at all. Paediatric neurologist Shelly Weiss of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children’s Sleep Disorder Clinic says many babies this age don’t have a longer sleep at night and short naps during the day; they just sleep when they need to around the clock. “It’s important to go with the baby’s natural tendency to sleep and wake,” she says. Gradually over these weeks, babies will start to sleep more at night. Common conundrums“My baby has day and night mixed up!” “My baby will only sleep in my arms. If I put him down, he wakes up and cries.” 3 to 6 monthsPopular patternsSomewhere around four months, many babies begin to settle into a pattern of two naps a day — one in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as their longer nightly sleep (which may be interrupted for feedings). Plenty still do not have regular sleep times at six months, says Weiss, and while this can be frustrating, it’s not unusual. Common conundrums“My baby always nurses to sleep.” “I want him to nap so I can get things done.” “My baby just takes little catnaps throughout the day.” 6 to 12 monthsPopular patternsAt this age, you may be able to get a nap schedule going. Most babies have moved to napping twice a day, for a total of two or three hours. For some families, it helps to start a going-to-sleep routine for naps during the second half of the first year, says Walden. This could include a story, a familiar song, perhaps some time in the rocking chair. You might want to begin teaching your baby to fall asleep without nursing, feeding or rocking, by putting him down while he’s sleepy but not yet asleep. But be aware that this doesn’t work well for all babies — or all families. If you’re happy nursing your baby to sleep at nap times, that’s fine too. This is also an age when you could give your baby a small stuffed toy or blanket to comfort himself as he goes to sleep. Common conundrums“My baby fights his naps.” “My baby’s teething and it’s completely disrupted his nap schedule.” 1 and 2 yearsPopular patternsThere’s plenty of variability here, but around 18 months, many toddlers will drop down to one nap a day. Ideally, the total nap time should be less than three hours, or it may disrupt the baby’s nighttime sleep. Toddlers in daycare will usually have a scheduled afternoon nap. Common conundrums“Two naps is too many, but one is not enough.” “He’s become a marathon napper.” 3 and 4 yearsPopular patternsThis is another transition stage, as your preschooler moves from one nap to zero. “Expect lots of variation at this stage,” Walden reminds parents. “Some two-year-olds have already dropped all naps, and some four-year-olds still need a good nap every day. You need to be aware of your own child’s needs.” As he goes through this transition, naps may become intermittent — your child may nap one day, then skip his nap the next day but be tired and cranky in the evening. “It’s like they need half a nap,” says Walden. Weiss points out that the environment matters a lot too — a preschooler in daycare will probably join in the regularly scheduled nap, while one at home with siblings and lots of activity may not be willing to sleep. Common conundrums“There’s no nap in my child’s afternoon kindergarten class, but he still really needs one.” “My daughter won’t nap at daycare when she’s supposed to.” Older kidsChildren older than five rarely nap. If a child in this age group has given up naps and then starts sleeping during the day again, some investigation is in order. “This could be a sign of depression, illness or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea,” says Weiss. Some teens will get into a pattern of staying up late, getting up early for school, then having a nap after school so they aren’t too tired to stay up late again that night. It’s not ideal, but it works for some. Naps for parentsEvery new parent has heard the advice “sleep when the baby sleeps.” It’s good advice, says Walden, but not always easy to do. What can be frustrating is that often by the time you get to sleep, the baby wakes up again. A nap can be a real sanity saver after a night of being awake with a teething baby or a three-year-old with the flu. A few tips for successful naps: • Make sure your child is safe, in case your two-year-old wakes up before you do. Stay in touchSubscribe to Today's Parent's daily newsletter for our best parenting news, tips, essays and recipes.
FILED UNDER: age by age app-baby app-preschool app-toddler Baby 0-3 months Baby 3-6 months Baby 6-9 months Baby 9-12 months Napping nursing service seo Swaddle How long is too long for a morning nap?The key to napping is to keep naps short — 10 to 20 minutes — so you don't go too far into the sleep cycle, which can actually leave you feeling groggy and more tired than before.
Should I shorten morning nap?Shorten their naps – if your baby is starting to wake up early from their afternoon naps, shorten their morning naps so that they get sufficient rest throughout the whole day. Push back their nap until you can eliminate it – you can use this method at any age to eliminate naps.
Is a 2 hour nap normal?Is a Two-Hour Nap Too Long? A 2-hour nap may make you feel groggy after you wake up and you might have trouble falling asleep at night. Aim for napping up to 90 minutes, 120-minutes if necessary. Napping every day for 2 hours could be a sign of sleep deprivation and should be discussed with a doctor.
How long should 6 month old morning nap be?How long should a 6 month old nap? Ideally, the first 2 naps will each be 60 - 90 minutes long. The third, and final, nap is typically shorter, around 30 - 45 minutes.
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