How to Create the Best Baby Nap Schedule

Naps are crucial for your little one’s growth and development. Learn how to establish a healthy baby nap routine with these 11 expert-approved tips.

Parents know how important naps are for their babies. In fact، the relationship between fussiness and tiredness is hard to miss. The problem is that getting your baby to nap consistently can be trickier than you'd think. However، it's very important to establish an effective nap schedule for your baby.

"Research suggests that physical and mental development take place when kids sleep—both at night and during the day،" says Daniel Lewin، Ph.D.، director of pediatric behavioral sleep medicine at Children's National Medical Center، in Washington، D.C. Babies who nap enough also sleep better at night، leading to less fussiness and irritability.

To make the most of naptime، it's important to establish a schedule and stick to it. "The more regular a child's naptime، waking time، and bedtime are، the more likely it'll be that their internal clock will run smoothly and that they'll

 fall asleep more quickly and easily،" says Parents adviser Jodi Mindell، Ph.D.، author of Sleeping Through the Night.

With consistency and a set routine، your baby will soon be napping regularly—and getting the most out of their daytime sleep. Follow these expert-approved tips on creating a baby nap schedule، whether your little one is 3 months old، 10 months old، or anywhere in between.

Work With Your Baby's Schedule

There is no one perfect time for a nap—it's really about what works best for you and your baby. So، select nap times that fit your child's schedule. "Think about your baby's day، and try to time their naps logically،" says Deb Lonzer، M.D.، 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's best to aim for both a midmorning and a midafternoon nap to avoid sleeping difficulties at night.