Naps: The first year

How many naps a day should my baby take?

Most newborns will sleep for two to four hours at a time, day and night. At this stage, you shouldn't expect any sort of napping pattern. Just let your baby sleep as much as she needs to.

When your baby's 6 to 8 weeks old, she's likely to start consolidating her sleep – she'll sleep less often and for longer stretches at a time. She'll probably need two to four naps a day, and perhaps even more.

At 3 to 4 months of age, many babies begin to follow a more predictable pattern of daytime sleep. This is a good time to start developing a nap schedule (see our tips, below).

Your child's sleep and nap timeline

How much sleep does your child need? Every child is different. Some babies need up to two hours more or less sleep than other babies, and some toddlers and older children need as much as an hour more or less than their peers.

This timeline gives you an idea of how much sleep children typically need at various ages and how sleep and nap patterns change as they grow.

DIY Natural Homemade Baby Wipes

Ever checked the ingredients on your baby wipes? Yeah, I hadn’t either. The Cosmetics Database gives you a complete list and a hazard rating of the different brands of wipes. For instance:

Pampers Clean and Go Wipes Contain

Water, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic Triglyceride, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hydroxymethlyglycinate, Citric Acid, Fragrance

Clean and Go Wipes are given a 5 for hazard (out of 10) and warnings include possible allergies, immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity. No thanks!

Huggies Cucumber and Green Tea Wipes

Ingredients: Water, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, DMDM Hydantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Malic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Fragrance

These wipes have a hazard rating of 7 and ingredients have been linked to cancer, immunotoxicity, allergies, developmental problems, reproductive toxicity, organ dysfunction, endocrine disruption and cellular changes.

Checklist: Baby Essentials

Your personal shopping guide to all the bare essentials baby will need.

Here it is: The bare-bones, absolute essentials, nothing-but-the-basics baby shopping guide.

Clothing:

• 4-8 undershirts or vests (snaps at neck or wide head openings, snaps under crotch)
• 4-8 one-piece pajamas
• 1-3 rompers or other dress-up outfits
• 4-7 socks or booties (shoes are unnecessary until baby walks)
• 1-3 hats (broad-brimmed for summer baby, soft cap that covers ears for winter baby)

Bedding:

• Crib, cradle or bassinet
• Firm, flat mattress fit snugly in crib (less than two fingers should fit between mattress and crib)
• 2-4 fitted crib sheets
• 4-6 soft, light receiving blankets

Diapering:

• Changing table or cushioned changing pad for low dresser or bureau, with safety strap or railing
• Changing table pad
• Diaper bag
• Diaper cream
• Unscented baby wipes (causes less irritation)
• Soft washcloths
• 6-10 dozen cloth diapers and 6-8 diaper covers, or 2-3 large boxes of disposable newborn-size diapers
• Baby soap

Feeding:

• 10-16 bottles and nipples, both 4- and 8- ounce (if fed strictly by the bottle, baby will go through about 10 in the 4-ounce size per day)
• Burp cloths
• Formula (if not nursing)
• Pump (if you plan to breastfeed)
• Milk storage bags (if you plan to breastfeed)

Health:

• Baby nail clippers or blunt scissors
• Baby thermometer
• Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze (for circumcision care)
• First aid kit

Gear:

• Infant or convertible car seat
• Stroller or infant carrier