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No More Naps? No Problem!

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Within the mom community, naptime is sacred. How many of us have DO NOT DISTURB signs taped over the doorbells and nearly lose our minds when the dog barks during that blissful and long-awaited time? As a parent of four children myself, I can identify with this much-needed time—not only for me but for my children, as well. And although we can joke about this precious time, the truth is, naps are crucial for development and a necessary part of any baby and toddler’s day.

When you bring your new baby home, you’ll spend the first several weeks and months getting to know your baby and adjusting. However, around 8- to 12-week mark, you may notice a rhythm to your baby’s sleep schedule settling in. Babies this age need approximately 14-17 hours of sleep, including three to four naps. If you are nowhere close to this, don’t panic! Make sure you are at least working toward establishing a positive nap routine for your baby by paying attention to cues, setting up the environment and maintaining consistency.

Kathleen, mom of three, says, “The key to nap time is learning your baby’s sleep cues. My husband and I took the ‘Taking Cara Babies’ newborn class and learned so much! Through the class we’ve learned to read our daughter’s sleep cues, so we can put her down for a nap before she gets overtired. This has been a game changer!”

By 6 months, your baby’s total daily sleep will be approximately 15 hours, including naps, which may have dropped down to three per day. Remember to continue working on a healthy nap routine for your baby. This could look like reading, singing and rocking, then laying baby down awake. Find what works for you and your baby! “I’m not a person that always has a consistent schedule, but with my son’s naps, I try to do it the exact same way. Plus, I make sure to keep it happy and light so he associates good things with sleep,” says Christine, mom of one. 

Around 9 months, your baby should be fairly solid in his nap schedule and is likely down to two naps, a morning and an afternoon one. “Nap time is necessary for a baby or child’s health and development, and it also provides a break time for me to recharge and rest,” Lindsey, a mom of two says. “I protect that time for all of us in our house to help keep the routine, sleep and sanity.”

By 18 months (give or take), your baby will be down to taking just one nap, which is usually in the afternoon. Naps begin tapering off over the next few years, and the majority of children are done napping by age 5. Signs that your youngster is finished with naps could be trouble falling asleep at night or fighting the nap time altogether. Beware though—some children will fight it but still need it! Anna, a mom of two, laughs at her situation: “It’s not so much our son is transitioning out of naps, but fights them and then transitions to a nap in the hallway, on the kitchen bench or in the carpool line!” 

During any of these sleep transitions, be flexible and willing to change. Continue to watch your child instead of the clock. You may need to adjust nap or bedtimes based on cues from your youngster. And keep in mind every child is different. I have two kids who stopped napping around 2 or 2-and-a-half, one who is 8 and could still nap if I let her and a 3-year-old who (knock on wood) is still solidly rocking his afternoon nap.

As the old saying goes, “Sleep begets sleep.” Sometimes parents make the mistake of keeping babies up for longer, hoping for a nice, solid nap or night of sleep. The reality is, the more Baby sleeps, the better Baby will sleep. So, keep working toward establishing a routine and good sleep habits for your baby, and everyone will benefit!

*Approximate sleep times came from WhatToExpect.com.

What is your favorite thing to do while your child naps?

Julie Collett writes from Overland Park where she is hanging on for dear life to her fourth child’s afternoon nap!

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