It's the golden hour of silence. Time to start the laundry, read a book, perhaps make a cup of coffee you don't have to worry about spilling on anyone. It's your child's naptime! And although it may have been a struggle getting your tearful darling to sleep, the "coffee break" is worth it – for you and your child.

A good naptime routine assures a child gets enough rest. "On top of their boundless energy, children work hard at growing. They really do need the rest," says Dr. Charles Shubin, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland and director of pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.

Regular naps also provide a predictable schedule (read: break) for caregivers. Brad Plummer, a stay-at-home dad in Littleton, Colo., began scheduled naps for his two daughters when each were about 6 months old. Now at 4 and 2, his daughters take only afternoon naps, but for much of their first year, they took a nap at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Naptime, says Plummer, was just as important for him as it was for his daughters. "Kids need naps and parents need a break," he says. "A set naptime makes it easier for both of you."

As soon as a child has established a biological rhythm of waking and sleeping – usually by 3 months of age – parents and caregivers can start encouraging a naptime pattern. Usually, timing play and mealtimes ensures that an infant will be ready to nap when you want them to. Keeping a scheduled nap schedule may become more difficult as a child enters the second year of life.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.