Why do some toddlers nap like champs while others refuse entirely? In Part 1 of our Napping Spectacular, Craig and Arielle unpack what the science says about total sleep needs, how nap patterns change across infancy and early childhood, and the very real “art” of troubleshooting naps at home. We cover when to drop naps, how brain development (especially the hippocampus) affects nap transitions, what to do about short naps, and how to keep daytime sleep from stealing restorative overnight sleep. We also talk through safe approaches to contact naps and why it’s normal for newborns to have unpredictable naps and periods of crying. Key takeaways Think in 24 hours: aim to balance daytime sleep with restorative overnight sleep. AASM consensus ranges: infants 4–12 mo (12–16 h), toddlers 1–2 y (11–14 h), preschoolers 3–5 y (10–13 h), school-age 6–12 y (9–12 h), teens 13–18 y (8–10 h). Nap transitions are tied to brain maturity; as memory systems develop, many preschoolers naturally nap less. Typical goals for many infants: at least two naps of ~1 hour each and ~10 hours overnight (individual needs vary). Independent sleep skills are the linchpin for extending naps beyond a single 30–45 minute sleep cycle. Watch sleepy cues, but remember boredom can masquerade as tiredness in older infants. Contact napping can be soothing, but it’s risky if the caregiver is truly exhausted—prioritize safe sleep. Newborn naps are erratic; you can practice gentle routines, but you can’t “schedule” a newborn. Consistency across naps and nights helps babies learn faster than a mix-and-match approach. Links CIO episode of the Sleep Edit Dr. Canapari’s article on Le Pause Sleep training Period of purple crying Dr. Canapari's article on napping Dr. Canapari's article on sleep needs in children Arielle's website Chapters 00:00 Intro and disclaimer 01:10 Why naps feel harder than nights; personal stories 03:00 What parents often misunderstand about naps 04:00 How much sleep kids need (AASM consensus) 06:00 Why naps matter for mood and learning 06:40 Brain development and nap transitions (hippocampus) 07:00 Average nap duration by age; variability is normal 09:10 How many naps per day; typical progression through early childhood 12:00 Galland review; why transitions are tricky in real life 14:00 The “art” of troubleshooting naps 15:00 Naps vs. nights: balance the 24-hour total 18:00 Targets for infants; prioritizing overnight sleep 22:00 High vs. low sleep-need babies 23:00 Nap routines vs. bedtime routines; wind-down for toddlers 25:00 How to get longer naps: schedule fit and independent sleep 27:00 Evidence-based infant sleep tips (INSIGHT and SAAF principles) 29:00 Reading sleep cues without getting trapped by rigid schedules 30:30 Overtiredness vs. boredom; case example 34:00 Can you sleep-train for naps but not nights? Why consistency wins 36:00 Typical nap times by age; capping late naps 39:00 Newborn nap reality check 40:00 Contact napping and safety 42:00 Period of PURPLE Crying and parental stress 45:30 Wrap-up and preview of Part 2 References Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, et al. Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2016;12(11):1549-1561. Spencer RMC, Riggins T. Contributions of memory and brain development to the bioregulation of naps and nap transitions in early childhood. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2022;119(11):e2114326119. Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2020;50:101247. Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medic