Pre-kids, you knew that sleep was going to be scarce. But you might not have predicted just how much your baby?s naps and daytime sleep intervals would start to dictate your daily schedule. Overnight sleep tends to dominate the conversation?probably because that?s when grown-ups really want to sleep, too?but naps are just as crucial as bedtime. A baby who isn?t napping well (or long enough) probably isn?t sleeping well at night, either.
?Naps are incredibly important,? says Shelby Harris, a sleep psychologist in Westchester, New York. Sleep helps our brains and bodies grow, and allows our muscles to repair themselves. It?s when our minds form memories and consolidate learning and emotions, she explains. ?Sleep should be considered just as important as food to a child. The brain and the body need it.? Without fail, the moment it seems like things are finally falling into place, it happens: your baby gets a bit older, goes on a nap strike or hits a regression, and what had been working gradually stops working. That?s how you know it?s time to reassess your nap schedule.
Whether it’s a newborn starting a regular nap routine, a baby switching from multiple naps down to two or one, or a toddler dropping naps altogether, your baby will go through many nap transitions in the first year or two. Here?s what to expect.
Starting a nap schedule
The first significant change, when a young infant begins taking organized naps rather than sleeping in shorter intervals, happens around...