Let's chat naps.
How long should my baby nap?
How do help my baby nap consistently?
Why is my baby waking after once sleep cycle?
These are questions I'm asked on a weekly basis. Becoming a parent is all consuming so nap time is a welcome break to recharge, me time or to simply get a few chores done.
Nap time is arguably the sweetest moment of the day for many parents! But if your baby is giving you a hard time with napping you might not see it that way.
Inconsistent naps are a common challenge for new parents, just when you think you've got it sussed things start to change again.
By understanding why your baby might be struggling and implementing some simple strategies, you'll be able to help your little one nap more solidly. The cause of inadequate napping can also roll onto night waking and/or early morning waking.
Here are a few of my top tips to support successful napping.
Don't rigidly follow a nap schedule that is age related. A baby/toddler is an individual with individual needs for sleep.
Take into consideration how well your baby/toddler sleeps overnight. Babies on the 7pm to 7am Sleeping Baby Routine and sleeping soundly from a few weeks of age will generally need less day sleep and often drop naps quicker than a baby that still wakes in the night at 6 months onwards.
The first thing to investigate with any kind of sleep issue is milk and food intake.
A baby/toddler needs to be able to self settle in order to sleep well consistently.
As a parent, it's only natural to want your baby to nap longer. However, it's important to remember that an excessive amount of sleep is not always best for your little one and may disrupt settling and the most important stretch of sleep .. overnight.
As a baby sleep consultant I am available for a 1 to 1 chat, which will help you with your little little one's nap schedule, settling and sleep - here are my baby sleep support packages.
