Does it matter if your child naps during the day?

Generally the answer is yes. For several reasons:

• a child that has regular sleeps during the day is more likely to sleep well at night
• babies and small children are learning so much so fast they need the processing time, or time out of activity that sleep provides
• you need time to yourself, sane parents/happy baby!
  

Here's a rough guide as to how much sleep your child needs during the day:

Newborns (age 0 - 3 months): 4 or 5 naps a day, each lasting
between one and three hours

Infants (age 3 - 6 months): usually 3 naps per day, lasting
between one and three hours

Infants (age 6 - 14 months): generally two solid naps per day,
again lasting anywhere from one to three hours

Toddlers (age 15 months to about 3 years): one good nap per day,
lasting 2 or 3 hours