Babies love to sleep. Unfortunately for new mums and dads however, this doesn’t always mean through the night!
Thankfully our little ones make up their quota of sleep through much-needed naps – and plenty of them. These regular snippets of sleep are a necessary part of every baby’s routine.
Not only do they provide some essential downtime from all that feeding and wriggling around, they allow a little respite for mums and dads too.
So instead of feeling guilty for sneaking in a few afternoon z’s on the sofa, make sure you listen to your body and prioritise napping alongside your child when needs be!
The benefits of baby’s nap time
- Helps physical development
- Improves mental development
- Promotes growth
- Prevents children becoming overtired
How much nap time does your child need?
General guidelines state that babies up to 6 weeks old need between 4-8 naps a day lasting anywhere between 15 minutes and 4 hours.
This gradually decreases to an average 3-4 naps a day at 6 months old.
By the time your child is 12 months old, they should be napping for an average of 1-2 hours, twice a day.
If you feel as though your child is waking too soon without reaping the full benefits of their nap, try and let them nod off again their own, without the aid of any soothing techniques.
Otherwise, if short naps are dominating your days and your child is not fully rested, you could end up doing little else but rocking, feeding or driving around the block to get them back to sleep. Encouraging a baby to self soothe will help prolong their nap time as well as aid sleep through toddlerhood too.
Making sure your child isn’t overtired will also improve their nap quality. They may fall asleep quickly, but they will most likely wake up quickly too. Beat that overtiredness to it. Get your child ‘nap-ready’ before it’s too late!
Most importantly, make sure you stick to a routine. Your child will soon learn the signs when nap time is approaching. Keep the lighting, the noise level and any bedding or toys consistent.
Not only will this help your child feel secure and content, it will mean you get some much-needed downtime to boot!
What about mum and dad?
Babies aren’t the only ones who can benefit from naps. Mums and dads often need 40 winks too, not least if it’s been one of those tough, restless nights.
Sleep gurus recommend a 20-30 minute nap to increase short term alertness and performance without feeling groggy when you wake or unable to sleep the following night.
If time is of the essence however, as it usually is with a little one in tow, a 10-20 minute power nap should provide a quick boost and get you firing on all cylinders again before baby wakes up.
If your brain simply isn’t functioning, an hour of sleep could be more effective. Experts say that if you find yourself dreaming during such naps it could be a sign of sleep deprivation - not that any signs are required for exhausted new mums!
Mums and dads aren’t the only ones partaking in power naps. Footballers, athletes and astronauts set time aside for them too.
Nasa studied the effects of sleep on pilots during long haul flights and concluded that naps “maintain or improve subsequent performance, physiological and subjective alertness and mood”. They add that “a 26 minute nap improves performance in pilots by 34% and alertness by 54%”.
So forget about all those jobs you were planning on doing during baby’s nap time and snuggle up for a snooze yourself!
Want to know about our children’s bedroom furniture?
At Little Lucy Willow we put comfort and safety above all else. Stunning design is just a bonus! Our children's furniture is luxurious, affordable and built to last.
We want to make sure you enjoy your shopping experience with Little Lucy Willow from start to finish. That’s why we are always ready to take your call and help you create a girl’s or boy’s bedroom that is perfectly suited to their ‘nap-time’ needs - and dreams!