How many naps do babies need? Read our age-by-age guide to how much naptime baby should be getting every day, and why it’s so important in establishing healthy sleep habits.
manage to sneak in a catnap, it seems like a luxury, but naps are essential for babies. “Particularly for children under 3 years of age, naps are the glue that holds young ones together throughout the day,” says Kira Ryan, cofounder of, a New York City–based infant and toddler sleep consultancy. “Children who nap well tend to be better eaters, more engaged in their environment, less likely to catch that virus floating around the playground and be better nighttime sleepers.
Setting—and sticking to—a consistent baby nap schedule, with naps spaced at regular intervals throughout the day, is crucial to making sure your little one is getting enough sleep. Many parents assume that if baby skips a nap during the day, they’ll be extra-tired and sleep better at night.
Of course, it’s not always possible to have a nap in their usual spot. If you need to have baby nap on the go, it’s okay for them to occasionally sleep in a stroller or car seat, but it shouldn’t be the norm. “A baby napping in a dark bedroom with space to get comfortable will have much more predictable and nourishing sleep than a baby being pushed in a stroller who’s at risk for being awoken by a passing ambulance,” she explains.
is what really counts. “I like to tell parents that these are just averages," West says."Is your baby’s total range within an hour of the average, give or take? If your child gets a little less or more than the average and is growing and thriving and not having meltdowns more than the average toddler, then you’re okay.”Because newborns can’t tell the difference between day and night, they can’t stick to a daytime baby nap schedule. Rather, sleep is an around-the-clock affair.
: When it’s time for a nap or nighttime sleep, put your child down in a quiet environment with dim lighting, West suggests, and expose baby to plenty of light and activity during the day.
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