“Hi, I have a question. I notice from your sleep chart that my baby should be sleeping 15 hours a day. My baby doesn’t get that much sleep and I think she doesn’t need as much sleep as you say she does.”
- Amy, Ventura County

It’s funny . . . some babies don’t read the sleep charts! Although most babies will sleep a predictable number of hours in the day, some need more than the average and some need less. All babies, however, will follow their natural inner rhythms in an age-appropriate way. (These rhythms and how they change over the first year of life are described in the book.)

Before concluding that your baby needs less sleep than others do, make sure you are adhering to the N.A.P.S. plan, and that you are watching for and responding with alacrity to her signs of sleepiness. Don’t expect the baby to conform to an adult’s schedule, especially when it comes to daytime activities and bedtime. Do not cut off naps by taking the baby with you on too many errands and appointments, and try putting her to bed early to increase the number of hours she sleeps at night. You may be surprised at how much your baby can sleep when she is given the opportunity to follow her own body rhythms.