Does a baby have to nap?

[lancslass17]

I have a 15 week old and yesterday he napped for about 30 mins total. Not through lack of trying and tears from us both. ( tried sling and pram). So last night we did bath and bed was in bed just before 7 had 2 bottles in night but slept till 9.30am
So what I am asking is how important are naps. I don't want to fight to get him to sleep when night time went so well. Tia

I think this is the four-month sleep regression you're experiencing, sadly. I'd keep trying regular naps (three a day at this age?) otherwise I think you're in for a very overtired baby soon.

Try not to clock watch with naps. I did this with my first and he sensed i was stressed. With my 2nd i went with the flow. Don't put him down if he's not tired. So what if he's napping an hour or 2 later than normal or bedtime starts at 5pm. It all sorts itself out. He could be getting ready to drop a nap soon too. No big deal as i remember mine having 3 one day and 2 the next which varied over a few days. I agree it sounds like sleep regression. .

Mine doesn't sleep anything like as much as the baby books day she should.

My ds had days like this. He’s two now and has a lunchtime nap like clockwork but it took a while for him to settle into a pattern when he was small. I knew he’d be asleep for the night at 9 but other than that it was here and there all the time!

I do know a baby who very rarely naps (not mine!), she does get grouchy but just won’t sleep.
My lo napped but never slept as much as the baby books said she should.

DS was never a big napper, but didn't sleep brilliantly at night either unfortunately. There were a LOT of tears. I would keep trying with naps, but don't get too worked up about them. It may all change again in a few weeks!

Mine has always slept less than she 'should'. I definitely had days in the relatively early weeks where she'd do max 2 x 30 min naps. I spent hours and hours and hours worrying about it and I really wish I hadn't. If your baby is gaining weight, seems relatively happy and also sleeps at night apart from feeds I don't think there's any need to rock the boat.
At 14 months, my dd is down to one nap (earlier than the books say she should) and it usually only lasts one hour.