Sleep is one of the most important factors in a child's growth and development, but in the early stages of childhood, that won't all happen at night. Naps are an important part of how babies, toddlers, and young children meet their sleep requirements, but your child's napping schedule will change as they grow older. At 5 Little Monkeys, our mission is to be a comprehensive resource for every aspect of your child's sleep hygiene, from their kids mattress to their daily routine – so to help out, here's a simple guide to napping for every age group.
Nap Recommendations by Age Group
Naps are an important part of any baby or young child's schedule, but your child's need for napping will change as they get older. While every kid is different, these basic guidelines can help you make sure your child is getting the proper amount of napping – and sleep – on a daily basis:
- pUp to 3 Months Old: Newborns may not have a schedule where they sleep for a longer period at night and take naps during the day. Instead, newborns often simply sleep intermittently around the clock. So long as your baby is getting about 16 to 18 hours of sleep a day, any pattern may be normal for them.
- 3 to 6 Months Old: By about 3 or 4 months, babies usually settle into a pattern of one long sleep at night with two naps during the day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Even so, some children don't establish a regular sleep pattern until after 6 months old, and this is still perfectly normal.
- 6 to 12 Months Old: Once your baby reaches this age, they should start to develop a semi-regular sleep and napping schedule, with two naps per day totaling about 2-3 hours. You can help normalize this schedule by instituting a pre-nap routine that helps prepare your child for the nap.
- 1 to 2 Years Old: Usually, most children will drop down to one daily nap around 18 months of age. Every child is different, but this nap usually shouldn't exceed 3 hours in length, otherwise your child may have trouble getting to sleep at night. But again, there's always variability here. What's important is to find a sleep and nap schedule that works for your child.
- 3 to 4 Years Old: Finally, your toddler will likely transition to having no daily naps by about 4 years old. When this transition happens can vary greatly from child to child, with some kids dropping naps entirely at 2 years old and others needing a nap even past their fourth birthday.
Try the Children's Mattress That Parents Love
Naps are an important part of a child's sleep routine, and while the guidelines above should give you a general picture of what a happy nap schedule looks like, no two kids are the same. Try different things and listen to your child's body when it comes to finding the ideal nap schedule. And as always, make sure your child's mattress is giving their body the proper support for healthy sleep both at night and during naps. The right mattress can be the difference between a well-rested child and a cranky, tired one – and if you'd like to see the difference a great mattress can make, we're here to help. Try our purpose-built children's mattress today, and if you don't love it within the first 100 nights, we'll give you your money back, guaranteed. So what are you waiting for? See the difference that healthy sleep can make and try the best kids mattress today!