How Many Naps by Age: Newborn to 2 Years

Naps are the unsung heroes of baby sleep. Get them right and nighttime sleep usually falls into place. Get them wrong and even the best bedtime routine can fall apart. Here’s the age-by-age guide to how many naps your baby needs and how to handle each transition.

Why Naps Matter

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, daytime sleep supports memory consolidation, mood regulation, and physical growth in infants and toddlers. Skipped naps don’t translate into better night sleep; they often produce overtired wakings and early rising.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends specific total sleep amounts that include daytime naps:

Naps by Age: Detailed Breakdown

Newborn (0-3 Months): 4-5 Naps

Newborn sleep is unstructured. Your baby will sleep in short stretches throughout the day and night, usually 30 minutes to 2 hours at a time. Don’t worry about nap “schedule” yet, focus on:

• Feeding every 2-3 hours
• Watching for sleepy cues
• Wake windows of 45-90 minutes max
• Day-night differentiation (bright/active days, dim/quiet nights)

Our newborn sleep guide covers this stage in detail.

3-4 Months: 4 Naps Transitioning to 3

At this stage, naps start to consolidate. Wake windows extend to 1.5-2 hours. Your baby will likely take:

• Morning nap (1-1.5 hours)
• Midmorning nap (1-1.5 hours)
• Afternoon nap (1-1.5 hours)
• Catnap before bedtime (30-45 minutes)

The 4-month sleep regression often hits during this transition.

5-6 Months: 3 Naps

By 5-6 months, most babies settle into 3 naps. Wake windows are now 2-3 hours.

7-8 Months: 2-3 Naps

Most babies drop the late-afternoon catnap between 7 and 9 months. This is the 3-to-2 nap transition. Signs your baby is ready:

• Refuses the third nap
• Bedtime drifts too late
• Naps shorten

9-12 Months: 2 Naps

Two naps is the standard for this age group. Wake windows expand to 3-4 hours.

13-17 Months: 2 Naps Transitioning to 1

Most babies drop the morning nap between 14 and 18 months. Some try earlier, but most pediatric sleep experts caution against dropping it before 13 months. See our detailed guide on dropping the morning nap.

Signs of readiness for one nap:

• Consistently refuses the morning nap for 2+ weeks
• Bedtime falls apart (very early or very late)
• Both naps shrink dramatically

18 Months-3 Years: 1 Nap

A single midday nap of 1-2.5 hours is standard. Wake windows are now 5-6 hours.

Most children drop this nap between 3 and 5 years.

Nap Length Guide

Common Nap Problems

The 30-Minute Nap

Short “disaster naps” are most common between 3 and 6 months. They happen because babies wake at the end of one sleep cycle and can’t link to the next. Solutions:

• Lengthen wake windows by 10-15 minutes
• Ensure dark, cool, white-noise-equipped sleep space
• Practice independent sleep at bedtime first
• Try a “wake to sleep” approach (gentle stir 5 minutes before usual wake)

Nap Refusal

Sudden nap refusal often means an upcoming transition. Maintain the schedule for 2 weeks before assuming it’s time to drop a nap.

Late Naps

A nap that runs past 4:30 p.m. usually pushes bedtime later. Wake your baby from the afternoon nap if needed to protect bedtime.

Sleep Crutches

Naps that only happen in motion (stroller, car, baby carrier) can be limiting. Practice independent crib naps at the first nap of the day, when sleep pressure is highest.

For sleep training help, see our baby sleep training methods.

When to Call the Doctor

Most nap variation is normal. Contact your pediatrician if:

• Your baby is consistently sleeping 4+ hours in a single daytime stretch under 6 months
• Total daily sleep is significantly below recommendations
• Your baby seems lethargic or hard to rouse
• Naps are accompanied by unusual breathing or symptoms of illness

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know my baby is ready to drop a nap?

Look for two weeks of consistent signals: refusing the nap, taking too long to fall asleep, or bedtime falling apart. One bad day isn’t enough; transitions need a track record.

Should I wake my baby from a long nap?

Sometimes. If a nap pushes bedtime past your target, wake your baby. As a rule of thumb, naps shouldn’t end after 4:30 p.m. for babies on a 7:00 p.m. bedtime.

Are short naps a problem?

Short naps are common between 3 and 6 months and usually resolve as sleep matures. Persistent short napping past 6 months may indicate too-short wake windows, sleep associations, or environmental issues.

Can my baby nap in a stroller or car seat?

Occasional motion naps are fine, but for safety, infants under 12 months shouldn’t sleep in a car seat outside the car for extended periods, per AAP guidance. Crib or bassinet is the safest sleep surface.

How long should a nap take to start?

Most well-rested babies fall asleep within 5-15 minutes of being placed down. If it takes 30+ minutes regularly, the wake window is likely off.

References

• American Academy of Sleep Medicine. “Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations.” https://aasm.org/recommended-amount-of-sleep-for-pediatric-populations/
• National Sleep Foundation. “Babies and Sleep.” https://www.sleepfoundation.org/baby-sleep
• American Academy of Pediatrics. “Sleep and Your Baby.” https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/default.aspx
• Paruthi S, et al. “Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27250809/

Written by

Vega Lin

Founder & Editor — Mother of 2 (Taiwan)

Vega writes Baby Care Guide from the intersection of evidence-based research (AAP, CDC, WHO) and real parenting experience. Completing her Master's in Digital Innovation at Tunghai University. Read more →

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