Naptime Strategies for Babies
Daytime Napping Develops Better Nighttime Sleep in Infants
Oct 27, 2009
With so much focus on bedtime routines and getting a baby to sleep through the night, parents often forget how important it is to establish a daytime napping routine. In fact, strategies to help develop a regular naptime pattern for babies will be essential to helping an infant sleep better at night. This article lists various naptime strategies for babies.
How Much, How Often, and When Should Babies Nap?
Most babies and toddlers take naps at some point during the day. The following list from Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution [NY: Contemporary Books, 2002, p. 110] shows the average number of naps, the duration of naps, and typical naptimes for infants up to four years of age:
- Up to 4 months: 3 naps, 4-6 hours each, early morning, early afternoon, early evening
- 4-6 months: 2 naps, 3-4 hours each, midmorning, early afternoon
- 6-9 months: 2 naps, 2.5-4 hours each, midmorning, early afternoon
- 9-12 months: 1-2 naps, 2-3 hours each, midmorning, mid afternoon
- 2 years: 1 nap, 2 hours, early afternoon
- 3 years: 1 nap, 1-1.5 hours, early afternoon
- By 4 years: Naptime is usually eliminated
Naptime Strategies for Babies
Just how do parents make sure that their babies take their naps? First, observe the infant for a few days to see when she seems to become tired during the day. This simple step will help parents develop a good naptime routine. If this seems difficult, try creating a naptime log (see below). Here are a few other tips and strategies to help with infant naptimes.
- Make naptimes regular and based on when the baby is typically tired
- Use transitional objects (favorite blanket or small stuffed animal) to help calm baby before sleeping
- Schedule feedings just before naptimes
- Play actively with baby when she is awake
- Develop naptime routine that is similar, but not the same as the bedtime routine
- Move baby to her bed if she is sleepy or has fallen asleep elsewhere in the house
How to Increase Nap Length in Babies Who Take Short Naps
Short naps that are less than one hour in length usually do not give babies enough rest. Although they wake up naturally, they may become fussy and tired sooner than parents would like. To increase the nap lengths of babies, parents can try the following naptime strategies.
- Use pacifier or feeding to help baby get back to sleep
- Try white noise or other soothing sounds to drown out daytime noise
- Make sure diaper is clean before the nap
- Swaddle baby in soft blanket
Baby Naptime Log
Keeping a naptime log will also help tired parents determine the best times of day to put their babies down for a nap. The naptime diary is similar to a bedtime diary, with a place for noting down times when the child seems tired, indicators that tell parents if the child is tired, how long he typically naps, etc.
The above naptime strategies for babies should help parents develop a regular naptime routine for their infant. Once an infant is taking regular naps, parents will almost certainly see a positive change in their baby’s behavior during the day and his ability to sleep at night. Naps will bring about the development of better nighttime sleep in infants and help tired parents get the rest they desperately need during those challenging first years.
Parents may also be interested in the following articles:
How to Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night
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