How Long Your Baby Should Nap, Based On Their Age

Aside from their overwhelming adorableness and intoxicating signature scent, babies are best known for their sleeping skills. Those little dumplings can catch a train to dreamland in the most chaotic of places — believe me, I've witnessed numerous small fries zonked out in their strollers in the middle of Las Vegas casinos, at music festivals, and the state fair. It's safe to say that snoozing is a baby's superpower. However, getting the amount of daytime sleep just right is important for your little. If you've wondered, "How long should my baby's naps be?" you're on the right path. Because as they grow, a baby's need for sleep changes.

The amount of overall shut eye a babies needs tapers off as she becomes older, which means the length of her naps will change every few months during the first year of her life. Although there are recommendations in place, don't get too hung up on falling strictly within these timeframes. As Kim West, a clinical social worker and the author of Good Night, Sleep Tight told Parenting magazine, "If your child sleeps through the night and seems rested in the day from two to three 45-minute naps, then leave her pattern alone." Following your baby's lead, you can consider these guidelines to see how your baby's sleep is stacking up.