Your Guide to Blissful Baby Naps

Learn everything you need to know about establishing a healthy nap routine for your baby. Plus, get tips on making the napping process easier.

By Tara Richards

Juice Images/Veer

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Make It Fit

Select nap times that fit your child's schedule. "Think about your baby's day, and try to time his naps logically," says Dr. Deb Lonzer, MD, chair of the department of regional pediatrics for the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. "Watch your baby for about a week and see if each day starts to have a similar pattern. If so, just follow your baby's lead -- but if not, you should select the nap times." However, Dr. Lonzer notes that it is best to aim for both a midmorning and a midafternoon nap for your child to avoid sleeping difficulties at night.

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Comments (4)

nrnerita8 wrote:

my daughter almost 8 months old, wakes up at 6h00/06h30 on her own no matter how quiet i get out of bed, she takes a nap in the morning and in the afternoon and goes to bed from 20h00 depends on how sleepy she is otherwise if i make her sleep 20h00 when she is not ready then she wakes up around 22h00/23h00 and wants to play or 3h00 in the morning, thats my Angel :)

3/26/2012 09:58:52 AM Report Abuse

lauralynne84 wrote:

To isis2thennile....it can be because of teething...have you tried orajel or some mortin for the pain bc of the teeth?!?! my daughter was the same way and is still sometimes the same wy...she was sleeping thru the night at 8 weeks and now has stopped...its driving me crazy! i hope it all gets better for you....my daughter doesnt really nap during the day but can stay up till 10 or 11!

4/13/2011 09:20:45 PM Report Abuse

isis2thenile wrote:

my 6mo. old grand-daughter has had her first tooth starting to come out. She has had trouble sleeping for a couple of months now. She doesn't sleep much during the day, then around 8:30 or 9:00pm she will go to sleep and wake up around midnite or 1am. She sometimes doesn't go to sleep till 3 or 4 even 5am. This is killing my daughter and me. Is this because of her teething. The first month she had starting to sleep straight thru the night.

6/10/2010 12:04:03 PM Report Abuse