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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How long do you let your baby sleep for during the day?

17 replies

berri · 29/05/2009 13:06

My ds (5mo) has started having much longer naps - perhaps 1hr in the morning and 2hrs at lunchtime.

Should I enjoy the extra time to do things, or is there any truth in the thought that he'll sleep less at night if he has long naps during the day?

Do you wake your baby up after a certain time?

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llareggub · 29/05/2009 13:08

My DS always slept better at night if he had a good sleep during the day.

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2009 13:13

Gosh my 6mo old DS2 has similar naps to those (although his lunchtime one can be upto 3 hours sometimes) and he also has at least one more nap around teatime - so it definitely doesn't sound like he is sleeping too much at all.

DS2 goes to bed at 7.15 every night and sleeps till somewhere between 6-7 the next morning without fail - regardless of when he napped during the day/what time he woke up etc. If he doesn't have his teatime nap for whatever reason, bathtime is hellish as he is grumpy as hell and sometimes refuses to drink his bedtime bottle cos he just wants to be in bed.

When they get older, then yes, it is important to not let them sleep too long - but even DS1, who is nearly 3, actually sleeps better at night when he has had a nap during the day than on the days where he hasn't napped.

phdlife · 29/05/2009 13:18

my ds napped like that, berri - think it was even longer at that age, but my memory's stuffed atm (new baby!). I found if he hadn't slept enough during the day he easily became overtired (hysterical, really) in the evening. enjoy the free time, it won't last!

ohdearwhatamess · 29/05/2009 13:29

With babies I've found that sleep promotes sleep - if they have a good daytime nap (or naps) they sleep better at night. Otherwise they can get into a cycle of overtired grumpiness and then be too tired to sleep. My 15mo still has half an hour in the morning, 2 hours at lunchtime, then is asleep by 7pm.

Different when they're older - 3yo ds1 currently napping, despite my best efforts to stop him, so will be awake half the evening.

BigusBumus · 29/05/2009 14:13

My 2.5yr old DS STILL sleeps for 2 hours after lunch! He goes to bed at 7pm and sleeps till about 6am.

Since birth though i have never gone to him immediately on waking, (although he has never cried on waking, just coo'd etc), so now, even though he's not in a cot anymore, he will happily stay in bed and sing / chat till i go and get him at 7am.

Problem is i can't sleep once he's awake, unlike DH

bigchris · 29/05/2009 14:16

agree with the others, I think 2 naps at that age is perfect, I'm sure mine used to have 3!
then btw about 1 year and 2 and a half it went down to one 2 hour nap after lunch
only now my dd is nearly 3 does napping in the pushchair on the school run sometimes affect her sleep

elliepac · 29/05/2009 14:19

DD is 15 months and has one nap a day straight after lunch for 2 hours, 3 on somedays. SHe only dropped her morning hour about 3 months ago. SHe goes to sleep at 7 and sleeps right through until 6 am. I have always taken my cue from her although will not let her sleep after 3 because that does affect her nighttime sleep.

PolkaDotRachel · 29/05/2009 14:20

2 naps is good! You need a bit of time to yourself! Enjoy it while you can!

My DS (12 months) sleeps 1.5-2 hrs in the morning and 2 hrs in the afternoon and still sleeps through 7pm-7-8am.

Some need more sleep than others though, some of his peers hardly nap at all!

Original poster

berri · 29/05/2009 15:41

Sounds good, thanks chaps. Didn't want to risk him sleeping any less at night as I'm still up at 3.30am-4am for a feed most nights!

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MamaHobgoblin · 29/05/2009 17:28

As long as possible! I never noticed a problem with DS sleeping less at night after a long nap/s during the day - if anything, he slept better and longer, and wasn't as prone to being unsettled.

DS is 15 months now and is just showing signs of abandoning his lovely 1.5/2 hour morning, and 1 hour afternoon nap!

nannyL · 29/05/2009 19:38

they sound like 'text book' 'perfect' naps for a child of that age

i also find that children who sleep / nap better suring the day are the ones who sleep better at night.... who are then happier children who also seem to eat better too

pippylongstockings · 29/05/2009 20:02

Sleep makes sleep - my grandmother always used to say!

I seem to remember my ds1 would still be having 3 naps a day at that age. But he loves his sleep and even now at 4.4 he still naps 3 days out the 7 days of the week!

Eve4Walle · 29/05/2009 21:15

As long as he likes, as long as it's not after 4pm. Then he won't go to bed.

Usuakky about an hour, two at the most. He's 15 months old but is very busy.

Original poster

berri · 30/05/2009 06:59

Yesterday he went for 2hrs in the morning, 2hrs at lunchtime then an afternoon nap of about 30mins! I felt better not worrying about whether I should wake him up!

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phdlife · 30/05/2009 13:32

When my ds was going through this phase, I had a girlfriend say it had been her religion not to wake a sleeping baby, and I think that was one of the best bits of "advice" I got!

PinkTulips · 30/05/2009 13:48

sleep begets sleep.

i never wake babies, ever.

product of having a non sleeping first born i think, i appreciate the break too much to ever feck with it.

the only time any of mine ever get woken up is the odd occasion we absolutely have to be somewhere in the morning and even then i'll pop ds2 in his carseat at the last minute in his jammas or leave ds1 at home with dp if possible.

some days ds2 doesn't nap at all, others he sleeps half the day. and the nights are often better if he's well rested, he doesn't shut down properly if he's too tired and will keep waing up every hour or so.

PinkTulips · 30/05/2009 13:51

meant to say, my ds1 is almost 3 too and still sleeps better at night after a daytime sleep! of he's woken for a daytime nap (like when we're in the car and i have to take him out to go into the shops) he's a grump for the rest of the day til he gets back to sleep!

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