Baby naps: Daytime sleep tips

Baby naps can be a restful time for parents and children. But getting babies to sleep during the day can be hard. Try these tips for helping babies get the daytime rest they need.

It takes a while for newborns to get on a sleep schedule. Some babies get on a schedule earlier than others. When babies sleep and how long they sleep depends on their inner clocks.

During the first month, babies spend about 16 hours a day sleeping. Naps last about 3 to 4 hours and are spaced evenly between feedings. After newborns have been awake for 1 to 2 hours, they most often need to sleep again.

As babies get older, nap times get more regular.

• Ages 4 months to 1 year. After the newborn period, babies nap at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the early afternoon. Some babies also need a late-afternoon nap. Try making 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. nap time. Let babies nap for as long as they want, unless they have trouble falling asleep at night.

  Babies 10 to 12 months old often drop the morning nap. If your baby takes a third nap in the late afternoon, try to cut out this nap when the baby is about 9 months old. This will help your baby go to bed earlier at night.

• Age 1 year and older. Your baby most likely has dropped the morning nap by now. Try moving up your baby's afternoon nap and bedtime by a half hour.

  Until about age 3, most children still sleep for 1 to 2 hours in the afternoon. Then naps get shorter. By age 5, most children have stopped napping.

But every baby is different, and baby nap times can vary.

To ease your baby into nap time:

• Set the mood. A dark, quiet room can help babies sleep.
• Put babies to bed drowsy but awake. Babies sleep best when they're drowsy. Before babies get too tired or cranky, try singing soft lullabies or swaddling or massaging them. In time, babies learn that these activities mean it's time to rest.
• Be safe. Put babies to sleep on their backs. Clear the crib or bassinet of blankets, stuffed toys and other soft items.
• Stick to a schedule. Babies get the most out of daytime naps if they take them at the same time each day and for about the same length of time. That doesn't always happen, of course. But babies with good sleep routines are likely to adjust to schedule changes as they happen.

It's common for some babies to cry when put down to sleep. Don't let babies cry alone during their first month. Singing quietly, playing soft music or rocking babies gently might soothe them. Pick up your baby if needed. Then put your baby back in the crib 5 to 10 minutes later.

At age 4 months, check on babies who cry after being placed in the crib. Offer soothing words. Then leave the room and give them time to settle again. This is when babies learn to soothe themselves instead of relying on someone else to soothe them.

You also might put your baby down for a nap a little earlier. Then your baby may fall asleep before getting fussy.

Also, keep in mind that babies often are active during sleep. They have a startle reflex that may cause them to jerk awake. They might swing their hands and feet or cry. Swaddling babies can keep them calm and help them sleep better.

Babies also spend more time in active sleep, called rapid eye movement or REM sleep. During REM sleep, babies may suck, grunt, kick, wave their arms and smile. This is not a sign that they need to be picked up and soothed. They'll settle when the REM stage ends.

Helping your baby get the right amount of daytime sleep isn't always easy. Don't feel bad if some days are harder than others. Remember to look and listen for signs that your baby is tired and needs to sleep. And try to keep your baby on a nap schedule geared to the baby's inner clock.

If you have questions or worries about your baby's napping, talk to your baby's healthcare professional.