When should my baby take naps?

When he's sleepy: Newborn: 2-4 hours at a stretch 24 hours a day. One to 2 months: longer stretches about 4 times a day. 3-6 months: 2-3 naps a day. 7-9 months: 2 naps a day, until about 18 months, when it'll be one nap a day. Using these ages and times as ballpark figures, you can schedule meals and activities so that you can plan baby naps and mommy free time.

It varies: It varies by age. Newborns may nap every 2-4 hours. At 3-4 months, they will sleep for longer periods of time and nap less. At 6 months, your baby should take 1 nap in the morning, 1 in the early afternoon and 1 in the late afternoon. At 9-12 months, your baby should take 1 nap in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. At 12-18 months, most babies nap in only once in the afternoon.

When tired: Most babies take two 2 hour naps a day. One in the morning and one on the afternoon. Some babies never nap but sleep 12 hours at night. Some take one nap in the middle of the day. So it is not a matter of should but what is your baby doing? If your baby is happy and growing and rested then your nap schedule is fine. If not, it may need some fine tuning.