Skip to Main Content

 

 

Expert health content provided
by Harvard Health Publishing.

Your guide to your baby's naptime

During the first year of life, naps are important for babies, who can't stay awake for very long. They're also important for you, because you need breaks from the hard work of caring for an infant.

Here are some tips for making naps work for you and your child.

Making naps work for your baby

Most babies will take at least two naps during the day. During early toddler years, most children take both a morning nap and an afternoon nap. Naps are important for physical rest and better moods, and also for learning. Sleep allows babies to process new information. As children get older, they usually drop the morning nap.

Every child is different when it comes to napping. Some need long naps, some take catnaps, some give up naps earlier than others. A big part of making naps work is listening to and learning about your child’s needs. Otherwise, you can end up fighting losing battles.

Your needs are also important, because everyone needs a break. Sometimes those breaks are very useful at specific times of the day, like meal-prep time.

Schedule the naps

Instead of waiting for a child to and fall asleep, have a regular naptime. Try to put the child down awake, or somewhat awake. Learning to fall asleep without a bottle or a breast, or without being held, is a good skill for children to learn.

If you need your child to fall asleep earlier or later than normal, change the previous sleep time. For example, if you need an earlier morning nap, wake the child up earlier in the morning. It may not work, but it’s worth a try.

Naps later in the afternoon often mean that a child won’t be sleepy until later in the evening. For parents who get tired early or need to get up early, that can be a problem. Move the nap earlier or wake your baby earlier. If that nap happens at daycare, talk to the daycare provider about moving or shortening it.

Create a place that's good for sleep.

Some children can sleep anywhere and through anything. But most do best with a space that is quiet and dark. A white noise machine or even a fan can help.