Becoming a parent, especially for the first time, can be an ordeal. The newborn becomes the crux of your life, and you find that you have questions about each and everything that affects the child. While much of that may be due to confusion and a sense of emotional overwhelming, some aspects do need much thought- like napping.
As a parent, you will surely have heard that naps are good for your child. You will soon see that babies love napping, but how much time should a baby actually sleep? In this article, let us take a deeper look at the sleeping patterns of a child in his first year.
Naps are extremely essential for the child, even at such early ages. They can help improve the mood of your child, and reduce tantrums, crying and other kinds of whining. During naptimes, the brain grows more than it would when the child is awake. Naps help your child grow faster, and understand his environment better. Another common misconception is that skipping naps can improve the quality of sleep your child has at night time- this is not proven, so choosing daytime naps are better for the general health of your child.
The best place for your baby to have his daytime naps in his crib; this makes him feel secure and safe, sleeping in a known environment. If you lead an active lifestyle, you need to practice putting your child to sleep in a stroller or carriers so that he gets used to it- if that is not possible, at least carry one or two items that will remind him of his bed, so that he feels secure. If your room is a bright one, you can use blackout curtains so that your baby settles in well.
The amount of time a baby needs to nap depends upon how old he is, and also on his behavioural pattern. A table that indicates the required amount of time according to his age has been given below.
Age | Daily Naps | Total Daytime Sleep | Duration of Each Nap | Awake Period Between Naps | Things to Remember |
0 to 11 Weeks | 6 to 8 | 4 to5 hours | 10 or 15 minutes to 4 hours | 30 mins to1 hour | Since your child is a newborn, he will not have a definite sleep schedule. So do not worry much about how erratic his naps are. |
3 to 4 Months | 4 to5 | 3 to4 hours | 30 minutes to2 hours | about 1 to2 hours | At the age of four months, your child may exhibit sleep regression and the naps may reduce. |
5 to 6 Months | 3 to4 | 2.5 to3.5 hours | 30/45 minutes to2 hours | about 2 hours | At the end of this stage, your child should be settling into a more predictable, stable nap routine. |
7 to 8 Months | 2 to3 | 2 to3 hours | 1 to2 hours | 2 to3 hours | The number of naps reduces from three to two at the end of this stage, owing to another regression. |
9 to 12 Months | 2 | 2 to3 hours | 1 to2 hours | about 3to4 hours | At the end of the year, your child would have settled into a predictable nap schedule. |
As a new parent, the answer to how to get your baby to nap will not be clear- the process can be quite trying. He might end up throwing tantrums at the slightest provocations, or just refuse to go to sleep altogether. However, there are a few things which can help you help your child get into his baby nap times.
If your child has slept for the appropriate amount during the daytime, it is okay to wake him up so that he does not sleep too much. This ensures that he does not sleep too much during the daytime, and his night sleep is not affected. If he is in danger of missing a feed, it is not wrong to wake your child up- also, ensure that he is taking part in some engaging activities when he is awake so that he becomes tired after some time.
The answer to how much sleep a baby needs would have been a confusing one, as it depends upon the personality, energy levels and what he does when he is awake. Although general guidelines for the amount of sleep he requires are given above, do not fret if he does not follow it accurately. Also, do consult the doctor if you feel that something is wrong with the sleep pattern of your child.