Make an enquiry
  • Sleep advice
    • About us
    • Sleep Advice Videos
    • How to Spot a Sleep Problem
    • Case studies
    • FAQs
    • Safer Sleep
  • Parents
    • Sleep Packages
  • Professionals
    • Workshops
  • Shop
    • Sleep book
    • Teachers resource pack
  • Blog
Enquire Now

Call direct: 020 8444 0040

October 3, 2019

Millpond Guide to Naps from 6 months – Part 2

How much sleep does my baby or toddler need in the day?

Naps are vital to babies and young children and good daytime naps are the foundation of a good night’s sleep. A baby who eats and sleeps well in the day will tend to sleep regularly and more predictably at night.

It is important to consider all babies mature at different rates and your baby may happily be on a different napping schedule to your friend’s baby or toddler of the same age.

Check out our general napping guidelines below. Bear in mind a typical daytime sleep cycle length is about 45 minutes long. Sometimes your child will just sleep for one cycle and wake then for other naps she will join two or more cycles together, sleeping for 90 or 120 minutes.

Number and length of naps

Sleep tips for 6 and 9 months:

Between 6 and 9 months your baby can happily stay awake for 2 to 2 ½ hours and have 3 naps a day.

Often made up of two naps of about 45 minutes each in the morning and late afternoon and one of about 90 minutes around lunchtime.

Most babies will be having an average of 3 hours sleep a day at this age.

Between 9 and 12 months:

As babies between 9 and 12 months are happily able to stay awake for about 3 to 3 ½ hours now, your baby is likely to have an average  of 2 naps a day

By 9 months, her morning and middle of the day naps will naturally shift  later, meaning she will drop her late afternoon nap and her total daily napping average will be 2- 3 hours.

Naps are often made up of two naps of about 45 minutes in the morning and about 90 minutes  mid afternoon. To “protect” your baby’s bedtime it is best for her to be awake by 3.30 pm.

Most babies in this age group have an average of about 2 ½ hours sleep a day.

 12 months plus:

Somewhere between 12 and 15 months toddlers  consolidate all their daytime sleep into one single nap.

How to help your toddler transition to one day a day:

The transition from two to one nap a day is one that some toddlers find difficult.  Your child may be having a nice long morning nap, at her usual nap time, but then refuse to have a 2nd nap later in the afternoon. By bedtime she is over tired, over wrought and struggles to go to sleep. Or she may not be tired enough for her usual morning nap, but becomes over tired and fussy if she has to wait until after her lunch to have her snooze.

To ease  your toddler through  this transition try gradually cutting down her morning nap by 10 minutes each day and slowly moving her afternoon nap to just after lunch. Then when the morning nap has stopped completely you may need to temporarily offer your toddler an early lunch until  she adjusts to happily staying awake all morning.

 

 

Filed Under: All, How to transition to one nap a day, Naps part 2 Tagged With: a guide to daytime naps, daytime naps, how much sleep should my baby have in the day?, how to transition from 1 to 2 naps, napping schedule from 6 months, why are naps important?, why should my baby nap?

October 3, 2019

Millpond Guide to Naps from 6 Months – Part 1

How to settle your baby or child for a nap

 Why does my baby need to have naps?

There is now more evidence than ever to support the role naps play in babies and children’s learning and memory. And a good daytime sleeper is usually a better night sleeper. Naps also help to regulate your child’s mood, appetite and give you some well needed time to rest.

But they are not always easy or straight forward to achieve and many parents struggle to get their little ones off for a few hours of precious sleep time in the day.

So to help you get your child into good sleep habits we have put together our Millpond Guide to Naps.

 

How do I know when my baby is tired?

How do I know when my baby is tired?
How do I know when my baby is tired?

Having an understanding of when your baby is ready for a nap will mean he won’t be over tired when you put him down and will settle more easily. It is usually a combination sleep cues and timings that get the best napping results.

Some babies and children can be very subtle with their cues.

Here are some cues you might see in your baby to indicate he is ready for sleep. Your baby  or child may show just one of these or it could be a combination:

  • Whining or fussing.
  • Staring blankly into space
  • Frowning
  • Arching of back
  • Clenched fists
  • Yawning
  • Rubs eyes
  • Pulling at ears
  • Sucking on fingers or fist
  • Ignoring interaction and losing interest in toys

How do I settle my baby for a nap?

Your baby or child will be more relaxed and settle faster if you factor in 15 minutes of quiet time before you start; then settle him as you would at bedtime.

  • Tidy away the toys and sit looking at a book together or just having a cuddle.
  • Give your little one a feed in the living room.
  • Then to settle your child for his nap go into the room where he usually sleeps, close the curtains and use blackout blinds. From about 5 months babies can become distracted by their surroundings; darkening the room will help to prevent this.
  • Put on a clean nappy, pop your baby into his sleeping bag, have a little story or lullaby and a cuddle.
  • Then settle him to sleep as at bedtime.
  • If after 20 minutes your baby or child has shown no signs of settling go out for a walk instead and try again later when he shows tired signs again.
  • We suggest having one nap a day in the cot, but some naps can be out and about.

 

 

Filed Under: All, Naps part 1 Tagged With: a guide for daytime naps, are naps important for my baby, how do I know if my baby is tired, how much sleep should my baby have in the day?, nap guide, naps, why are naps important?, why should my baby nap?

  • Sleep Advice Videos
  • How to Spot a Sleep Problem
  • Case studies
  • FAQs
  • Sleep Packages
  • Workshops
  • Our Sleep Shop
  • Blog
Contact
e: sleep@millpondsleepclinic.com
t: 020 8444 0040
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
All rights reserved. Copyright © Millpond Sleep Clinic Ltd 2022