First Year Baby Naps: What To Expect

Sleep for babies can vary so drastically from baby to baby. Depending on what age and stage your baby is at, they may have similar sleep patterns as other babies their age. After you get through the newborn stage where sleep is irregular and erratic, you can have a better idea of when your baby will need to nap based on their age. Around the three to four month mark your baby will start to be more predictable in their nap schedules as well as their night time sleep schedule. Naps from 3-5 months will be still more based on wake windows and sleep cues than by the clock. By the clock naps won’t start occurring until around the 6 month mark.

The length of nap is not always important as long as your little one is getting the recommended amount of sleep based on their age. So don’t stress if your baby likes to take one thirty minute nap then has a two hour nap next. There may not be complete consistency at first, but soon you will find a rhythm of your child’s naps.

Recommended sleep per age:
3 months old 15 hours of sleep
4 months old 14.5 hours of sleep
5 months old 14.5 hours of sleep
6-8 months 14 hours of sleep
9 months 14 hours of sleep
10-12 months 13.5 hours of sleep

At three months of age a child will have between 4-5 naps per day. Naps can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours of length. The goal is to have 4-5 hours of daytime sleep.

Around the 4-5 month mark your baby may transition from a 4 nap schedule down to a 3 nap schedule. This is a normal change, but when it happens will depend on the baby.

At four months your child will have between 3-4 naps a day ranging from 1-2 hours each. Daytime sleep goal at this age is between 3.5 and 4.5 hours.

At five months you will have between 2-3 naps per day. Naps will range between 1-2 hours each. Daytime sleep goal is 2.5-3.5 hours a day.

From three to six months a baby will have 8-9 hour night time stretches of sleep, usually with one feed a night. How long your baby will sleep in one stretch will depend on the baby, it can vary. Some babies can make it 6 hours in one stretch, feed, go right back to sleep for another 2-3 hours before waking up for the day.

From 6-8 months of age your baby’s naps will look very similar. They will range from having 2-3 naps a day that last 1-2 hours each. Daytime sleep goal is 2.5-3.5 hours of sleep.

From 9-12 months your baby will start napping more predictably by the clock. This is usually when a baby transitions to 2 naps a day. One nap in the morning and one in the mid afternoon. Naps will range between 1-2 hours each. At this point in your child’s life late time naps may start to interfere with bedtime. You may think that skipping naps will help with bedtime, this usually is not the case. An overtired baby will not sleep as well as a rested baby.

Two main transitions in nap times are at the six month mark and the one year mark. This is usually the age range where children drop a nap. Dropping naps can look different for all children. Rearranging your child’s schedule can help with the nap drops to make sure everyone is getting enough daytime sleep and night time sleep. As naps are dropped, night time sleep should increase.

If you are unsure if your child is ready for a nap during the day make sure you are paying attention to their wake windows that are appropriate for their age range. As well as learning your child’s sleep cues. Sleep cues are staring, rubbing their eyes, sucking hands, or on a pacifier, or your child becomes less active. Knowing your child’s sleep cues can help you transition them into nap time before they get overly tired.

Establish a naptime routine with your child like you do a bedtime routine. This can help your child know when it is time for them to settle down and transition into sleep. Don’t over schedule. While there are times when sleeping in the stroller or the car is necessary, having all naps have to happen this way is not a great way to establish a good sleep schedule for your little one. Allowing them to be comfortable in their crib or bassinet will help them have optimal naps. Aiming for optimal naps it is important to learn your child’s sleep cues. This way you are able to put them in their crib when they are drowsy but not already asleep. This can help train them to self soothe and be better sleepers than always relying on you to hold or rock them to sleep. It is also important that between naps you are active. Engage with your baby. Do age appropriate play, sing, talk, hold, go for walks, or age appropriate outings with your little one. Let them wiggle, roll, sit, or work on big motor movements for their age. This will help them get tired enough to have good naps. Don’t skip naps during the day in hopes to have better night time sleep. This does not usually result in better night sleep. An overtired baby is not one that goes to bed easily.

Takeaway

Naps are essential in your child’s daily schedule. They need naps to help them get enough sleep for all the growing and developing they are doing in their first year of life. Naps can vary from child to child, but there are similar sleep patterns that can help you manage and recognize when your child should be napping, and for how long. Sleep patterns change frequently in your child’s first year of life, so be flexible and learn to adapt your schedule to fit their sleep needs. Don’t sweat the naps too much as long as your child is getting the recommended hours of sleep per day it is ok if the naps fluctuate slightly.