Our Guide to a Peaceful Naptime

Finding the Best Schedule

Ideally, a 1-year-old should have two naps a day: one in the midmorning and another in the afternoon. But each child is different, and finding the best schedule can be tricky. Many parents fall into the trap of waiting too long to put their toddler into the crib. "By the time some kids yawn or get fussy, they've already become overtired and won't be able to drift off as easily," says Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Nap Solution.

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Signs of Sleepiness

Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Nap Solution. suggests paying attention to your toddler's tired signs. Watch him closely the hour after he wakes up for a morning or two. Then, compare his well-rested behavior with the way he acts between dinner and bedtime (when he'll be fatigued). If he loses interest in people or toys before bed at night, for example, you can look for these cues during the day to find the best naptime.

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Stick to a Routine

Toddlers are creatures of habit and don't deal well with unexpected change. Keeping a predictable nap routine will reassure your little one, and she'll be more likely to cooperate when it comes time to go down. "Incorporate some of the things that work for her at bedtime by creating a mini naptime ritual that is similar," says Jodi Mindell, PhD, Parents adviser and author of Sleeping Through the Night. "If you read or sing to her every night, you should do the same for naps."

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Keep It Low-Key

If you're feeling stressed as you put your child into his crib, he'll pick up on your anxiety and have a harder time dozing off. Take a couple minutes to relax first, and allow your kid to also calm down: Give him a gentle massage or play soothing music on busy days. Close to naptime, avoid things that will get him riled up, like TV or a big meal. If you have to run errands, do it after his morning nap. That way, he'll have time to unwind from all the excitement.

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Let Her Self-Soothe

If your kid wakes up during naps, fight the urge to rush in as soon as she cries. Toddlers can fall back to sleep on their own, but they'll only learn how to do this if you don't step in every time, says Judith Owens, MD, Parents adviser and associate professor of pediatrics at Brown University's Alpert Medical School, in Providence, Rhode Island. Instead, give Baby a minute to quiet down by herself. If she doesn't, check in on her but don't pick her up or rock her back to sleep -- or she'll expect this every time she wakes up. The next day, wait for several more minutes before going in (and so on for a week). Eventually, she'll get tired of waiting for you and will fall asleep on her own.

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Nix a Nap

As your child closes in on 2, you'll most likely discover that one snooze a day is enough. If your kid is resisting a nap because he's active, not cranky, it's probably a good time to rethink his schedule. Consider changing from two shorter naps to a longer midday one. You can make the transition easier by putting him to bed earlier at night. Doing this will help him feel well rested throughout the morning and he won't need to nap until early afternoon.

Originally published in Parents magazine.

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