Babies need sleep for the proper growth of their brain and body. In addition to the sleep at night, they also need to nap during daytime. As every baby is different from the other, its napping patterns are also different. Some babies have a regular pattern with longer periods of nap times while others nap only for a short while.

Number of Naps in a day:

Newborns do not have any separate daytime naps. All through the 24 hours they wake up after every 2 to 4 hours of sleep.6 to 8 weeks after the birth, babies generally take 2-4 or more naps during day and sleep for longer periods than a newborn baby.

When babies reach 3 months of age, they usually settle into a routine and the parents should try to establish a day time nap pattern.

Babies generally take 2 to 3 naps when they are of 6 months age. There is still further reduction in number of naps as the baby crosses 9 months.

Between 9 and 12 months, babies nap once in morning and once in afternoon.

After 18 months, babies take nap only in the afternoon.

Forming a nap pattern:

keeping in mind the baby’s inbuilt sleep pattern, a nap routine can be initiated by 3 or 4 months. As the baby grows and his physical activities increase, his nap pattern would also need to be changed according to his requirements. Many of the following things can help in setting a schedule.

Natural timings: When sleepy, the baby starts pulling his ear or rubbing eyes, sometimes turns cranky. These hints can signal the parents to put the baby to sleep. If the same signs are observed around same time everyday, then making him sleep just little before the signs start, would help make him sleep better.

• Maintaining regularity: If every day same timetable is maintained, the baby would easily settle into a pattern. This helps greatly in a restful nap.
• Little flexibility: Although a set schedule is desirable, it is not always possible. So in a family, sometimes a delay or change in timetable is inevitable. But basically if a baby has a set routine, he can again fall back into pattern without much trouble.

Naptime routine:

Just like a bedtime routine, some simple rituals like a lullaby or a kiss would help sooth the baby into sleep. The rituals need not be as many as at bedtime, but just enough for baby to realize that it is naptime.

Points to help naptimes:

• Vigorous or noisy games should be avoided before naptimes, because then it would be difficult to sooth child into sleep.
• Putting child in same place as nighttime sleep, would help in a quiet nap.
• A comfortable dress helps, but no need of night clothes.
• Like bedtime, nap times also should not be delayed, because a tired child finds it hard to settle in a nap.