Newborn naps: how many, when and how to take them?
Naps for newborns are very important to promote night sleep and make it better.
But how many should he do and for how long?
In this article you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions on the topic of daytime naps.
1. The benefits of naps for newborns
Daytime naps are very important for newborns and it is important to accommodate them.
Although there are rumors to the contrary, I can assure you that a child who is able to rest well during the day will have a more peaceful and better night's sleep .
A correct sleep-wake rhythm not only allows the child to be concentrated and active during the waking hours, but also helps him to have an appetite and regulate the rhythms of feedings .
Furthermore, it contributes to the emotional factor as the little one will not be overloaded with tiredness and will be more predisposed and in a good mood throughout the day.
As we have said, daytime naps improve nighttime sleep and to be more precise, they allow the newborn to reach the REM phase more easily and quickly. This results in a positive effect on brain development and activity.
2. The false myths about daytime naps
Unfortunately, there is still too little information on the topic of Sleep and this information is often false and unreliable. One of the most widespread myths is that naps hinder night sleep .
You may have even heard first-hand that your little one doesn't sleep well at night because you make him take too many naps during the day.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Daytime naps and power naps are essential for newborns because they help them not to be too tired when they fall asleep in the evening.
In fact, a child who is overloaded with tiredness will have more difficulty calming down and resting properly at night.
3. Baby naps and sleep month by month
The World Health Organization has compiled a document with all the estimates of the amount of hours of sleep of the child.
It is important to point out, however, that every child is different; therefore, one should not follow these general guidelines, but adapt to the serenity of one's child.
From 0 to 3 months
In the first months of life, the newborn should sleep approximately 14-17 hours , that is, he usually takes a nap every 2 hours.
The baby sleeps a lot in the first months unless he suffers from reflux or colic that tend to wake him up and disturb him. You can intervene and solve these problems by discovering which parameters to evaluate and improve in my video course.
From 3 to 6 months
In the next phase, after 3 months, the newborn should sleep about 12-16 hours . In fact, the awake period tends to be longer and naps are taken every 3 hours during the day.
From 6 to 9 months
From 6 months onwards, the hours of sleep remain the same as in the previous phase, but naps are usually reduced to 3: one in the morning, one in the afternoon and the power nap in the evening .
From 9 to 16 months
In this phase, the hours of sleep become approximately 11-14 and the newborn's daytime naps become 2: a short one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
It may be that after a year the little one tends to lose the morning one too.
From 16 months onwards
From 16 months onwards, the child always sleeps from 11 to 14 hours, but with only one nap in the afternoon until at least 3 years of age.
4. The newborn does not take naps
It can happen that some children tend to want to skip daytime naps, especially around the age of 2 when their energy is sky high and they never seem to tire of playing.
It is important to help your child take their afternoon nap at least until they are 3 years old because before then they are too young to skip it and last the whole day at their own pace.
There are mainly 3 reasons why the little one skips his nap :
- Day is not night : during the day there are so many activities not to be missed!
- Hormones : at night, melatonin is activated and helps you fall asleep, while during the day, cortisol levels are higher and keep it active;
- The routine is not fixed : in fact, it often happens that we put them to sleep in the car, in the stroller and at different times due to various commitments. A small routine could help you: read a book or make them listen to a song.
If the child is 3 years old or older, it may happen that sometimes he does not need a nap. As long as he is calm there are no problems, while if in the evening he arrives nervous and irritable perhaps it is better to try to make him take it for a little longer perhaps trying to propose it again later when he really does not want to know about it.
Changing daytime napping habits
There's one final reason your baby tends to resist daytime naps: he needs to stagger a nap .
This happens as the little one grows and has less and less need for the numerous naps during the day.
You can notice this by paying attention to some factors:
- Falling asleep at night becomes more difficult;
- The alarm clock goes off much earlier in the morning;
- Daytime naps become very short.
Eliminating a nap is not always a linear process . In fact, there will be days when he naps less and other days when he naps again.
Generally speaking, it will take a couple of weeks to get into the new routine .
5. Short Baby Naps: When Are They a Problem?
It may be that newborns prefer to take only short naps of about 30 minutes.
This is not a problem if the child is calm and quiet. However, you will need to better evaluate what to do if the little one wakes up from a nap still tired and irritated.
In the latter case, try to get him to go back to sleep before he wakes up completely.
Here are some tips :
- Try offering a contact nap;
- If he is too tired, try calming him down with a book or a song and try again;
- If you are having a hard time with naps, try letting your baby sleep when he needs it for a few days to lower his sleep pressure and expectations.
6. What to do if a nap is skipped?
It may happen that your baby skips a nap or takes a very short one.
Don't worry, if it happens once in a while there is no need to worry . In fact, a missed nap will not destroy the Sleep routine you have built, but will only lead to a very busy day.
If the baby is very young, you can suggest a feed or some activity and then try again.
If he is older, maybe try to bring forward the time he goes to bed at night so that he arrives less tired.
7. Is it better to offer daytime naps in the light or in the dark?
Parents are divided between “team naps in the light” and “team naps in the dark.”
Before 3 months it is important to propose naps in daylight because the circadian rhythm is being regulated.
For older children , however, you can experiment . In fact, there are children who do not like the dark and others who sleep for a long time only without light.
There is no one solution that is better than another, but it all depends on your child!
8. Sweet Dreams and Peaceful Nights
Naps are one of the topics featured in the video course held by Marika Novaresio , the sleep consultant.
In “ Sweet Dreams, Peaceful Nights ” you will get scientific answers and practical solutions to improve your baby’s sleep.