How Napping For Babies Can Have a Positive Effect on Development
By: Naomi Harrison
Tags: Baby Sleep Training, Baby, Baby Sleep Routine, Baby Sleeping, Baby Sleep

How Napping For Babies Can Have a Positive Effect on Development Naomi Harrison Apr 6·4 min read

The nap is more than just a sweet respite for parents — it’s also very important for development.

Sleeping more comfortably isn’t just a dream for new mothers and fathers. There are ways to make getting more sleep a reality, starting with a consistent sleep schedule, both for nighttime sleep and daytime naps.

While it may not seem as complicated as it appears, the process requires precise and planned steps. Getting a baby to sleep gently requires a precise and purposeful approach.

Researchers argued that setting their babies’ internal clocks to regular nap cycles is not only a smart way for parents to get time to work or recharge themselves but it is incredibly important for the development of their brains.

And naps play a valuable role in the development of a child’s body and brain.

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Clinical studies have shown that children who take regular, adequate naps during the days sleep better at night, go to sleep more easily at night, are less prone to accidents during the day, and do better on cognition tests.

There are also detrimental consequences of inadequate napping. Children who primarily don’t get enough sleep, which is more likely if naps aren’t taken regularly, have an increased risk of obesity during preschool and early school years.

during early school years, as well as a greater tendency to exhibit hyperactivity, have difficulty with emotionally, socially, and physically functioning.

A baby’s sleep isn’t just determined by mother nature. Parents are equally important, and almost always at least one of their first worries is, “How much sleep should my kid get each day?”

Six-month-olds require 13 to 14 hours of sleep, while 12-month-olds only require 12 hours of sleep. Experts have reached an agreement on the matter, and all suggest 13 to 14 hours of sleep a day.

Generally, this amount remains constant as children get older; they stop napping around age four. At that point, they sleep about 11 hours a night.

Of course, this is important to know right out of the gate but is not super useful for establishing consistently scheduled naps. Because infants’ sleep needs fluctuate a lot day-to-day (or even weekly), parents can feel like they’re shooting at a moving target.

Keeping a relentless focus on “How many hours has it been since I last slept?” does not produce solid, regular sleep patterns. Instead, strong sleep patterns require parental involvement and involvement.

Let’s take an example — let’s assume your baby sleeps 10 hours at night from 8 PM to 6 AM, then your goal is to get them up at 6 in the morning once every day before the time you want bedtime, which is 8 every night.

Having that internal clock is what helps set your internal time.

It’s no different with naps.

Yes, you can wake your baby up from a nap to get them into a regular sleep schedule even though it seems counterintuitive.

If you don’t wake them up, but if you leave them lying in bed too long, you start a snowball effect — a situation in which the child will nap for a few hours but not be tired enough to sleep. It’s hard, but keeping a balance helps.

It is because of this that some babies get good daily totals, but still struggle to sleep through the night as they are not tired enough.

To ensure they get enough sleep, make sure they get a few solid hours of good sleep consolidated throughout the day rather than leaving them to sleep as long as possible.

Basically, quality over quantity when it comes to naps — just an hour or two goes a long way. A regular routine is also imperative.

Does Your Baby Need Daytime Sleep?

Infants: Until they are three months old, infants nap constantly. They sleep for upwards of 18 hours a day and only spend a few hours awake per day.

Babies: During the newborn stage, but before they reach the age when they are one year of age, babies need two to four naps each day, which would be anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.

Young toddlers: One to two naps a day are recommended, usually in the early afternoon, as children near their second birthdays begin to drop from two to one nap.

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If that is the case, then napping will most likely continue for more than an hour.

Children under 2: Some youngsters under the age of 3 and over the age of 4 still need a nap. In general, a 2-year-old needs 11 to 13 hours of sleep daily while preschoolers should be getting a solid night’s rest.

You may want to consider shortening your child’s afternoon snooze on the days when he naps, but make sure you adjust his bedtime earlier to compensate.

kids and older children: After age 5, most kids no longer nap. But a 30-minute sleep can work wonders for a child or teen feeling tired. Be sure to wake them by late afternoon, so their naps don’t mess up their bedtime.