You might be surprised by how much of your life with a baby revolves around their nap schedule. These rest periods provide your baby with essential downtime—sleep is crucial for a child's growth and development. Naps also help prevent your baby from becoming overtired, which can make falling asleep at night more challenging. Additionally, naptime offers you a moment to rest or to tackle a few tasks around the house.
Ensuring your baby gets quality daytime sleep is often the key to having peaceful days and restful nights for everyone.
However, napping doesn't come easily for every baby. It can take time for some babies to establish a routine, and you might need to put in some effort to help them along. In this blog, Baby Go came up to share some tips that help your baby nap schedules. So, let’s read on!
Baby Nap Schedule: How many Naps are Needed?
A baby’s napping habits can vary based on their age, natural sleep patterns, and other factors. Generally, newborns nap frequently between feedings. By the time they reach 4 months, they'll likely settle into a more regular rhythm, taking two to three naps a day.
Most newborns sleep in intervals of 30 minutes to three hours throughout the day and night. During this stage, you shouldn't expect any set nap pattern—just let your baby sleep as much as they need.
Around 6 to 8 weeks old, your baby may start consolidating their sleep, meaning they’ll sleep less frequently but for longer stretches. At this point, they’ll likely need two to four naps a day, sometimes even more.By the time your baby is 3 to 4 months old, they often start to follow a more predictable daytime sleep pattern. This is a good time to begin establishing a nap schedule (refer to our tips below).
While every baby is different from others. Mostly they develop predictable napping patterns as they grow older. Below is a general guide to baby naps by age, including how many hours of daytime sleep they typically need at each stage of development and the duration of those naps.
|
Age |
Total Daytime Sleep Hours |
Total Nighttime Sleep Hours |
Number of Daily Naps |
Length of Each Nap |
|
Newborn to 3 months |
5 to 8 |
8 to 10 |
Multiple throughout the day and night between feedings |
30 minutes to 3 hours |
|
3 to 6 months |
4 to 5 |
9 to 10 |
2 to 3 (one in the morning, one in the early afternoon, and one later in the afternoon) |
30 minutes to 2 hours |
|
6 to 12 months |
3 to 4 |
10 to 11 |
2 to 3 (one in the morning, one in the early afternoon, and one later in the afternoon) |
20 minutes to 2 hours |
|
9 to 12 months |
3 |
11 |
1 to 2 (one in the morning, one in the afternoon) |
20 minutes to 2 hours |
|
1 to 3 years |
2 to 2 |
11 |
1 (in the afternoon) |
1 to 2 hours |
These are typical sleep patterns nt every baby follows them. All babies have their own distinct sleep habits.
Help Your Baby Nap Well: Here are the Tips
Consistency is the way to make a proper nap schedule for your baby. Here are some tips that every parent can follow for their new born baby.
Make a Schedule
Try to schedule your baby's naps at around the same time each day. If you put your baby down for an afternoon nap at 3 p.m. one day and right after lunch the next, it can be harder for them to develop a consistent sleep routine.
Try to avoid planning activities that interfere with your baby's nap schedule. For instance, if your baby yoga class falls during naptime, see if you can find a class at a time when your baby is usually more awake. While it may not always be possible to align everything perfectly with your baby’s nap schedule, try to do your best.
If your baby follows a regular nap schedule at daycare during the week, try to maintain a similar routine on weekends when they’re at home with you.
Pay Attention Your baby Sleep Signals
Pay close attention to your baby's sleep cues. Do they start rubbing their eyes and getting fussy midmorning or right after lunch? Do they frequently doze off in the car in the early afternoon? Notice how their alertness and mood change when they sleep for longer or shorter periods.
For instance, if your baby tends to get cranky and ready for a nap by 10am every day, you can start easing them into it before they become overtired. Begin 15 to 20 minutes before you expect their sleep signals to appear—feed them, change them, rock them quietly, dim the lights, and speak softly. This way, they'll already be on their way to sleep when that tired feeling sets in
Final Words
Making a consistent nap schedule for your baby is key to their growth and well-being. By observing their sleep signals and creating a routine, you help them develop healthy sleep habits. Consistency not only benefits your baby but also ensures peaceful days and restful nights for the whole family.
Hopefully, you love this guide. To get more tips for your parenthood and baby nurturing, stay in touch with Baby Go, newborn clothes online India. Your one stop online store for newborn baby clothes.