Nap Disasters!

When it comes to your little ones nap times, we can feel some anxiety. When should I place my little one down to sleep? Do I need to wait for my baby to start yawning before attempting a nap? Do I have to put my baby down in their crib for daytime sleeps?

So many questions regarding those day naps, so many parents ask these questions, so if you are wondering about all of the above, then continue to read on as I answer some of those most asked questions when it comes to naps!

Do I wait for my baby to show tired signs before attempting a nap?

So you can do two things.

1. Wait for your baby to show those tired signs which will be the classic;

○ Yawning

○ Rubbing eyes

○ Becoming irritable

○ Becoming disinterested in playtime

Now we can wait for these signs and attempt to pop your baby down for a nap. Some babies will crash out and sleep OK for that snooze. Some babies will crash out and may wake soon after going down to sleep (due to overtiredness) and then you may find it hard to resettle, if at all.

Some babies may fight their snooze and become really unsettled and become increasingly difficult to get to sleep.

If you are finding those day time sleeps hard work, if you are spending over 30 minutes or more trying to settle your baby to sleep, then it may be worth trying an alternative way.

2. Working with your baby's awake windows:

What is an awake window?

So firstly let's explain an awake window. Your baby will feed at a certain time, then they will perhaps be awake after their feed before going down for a day nap. This period from their feed until their next snooze is known as an awake window or awake period.

So this period is managed by your baby's age and capabilities, trying to avoid pushing them and waiting for all of those signs and then risking that overtiredness, which can then make those day sleeps a battle for both of you.

"HOW DO I KNOW MY BABY'S AWAKE WINDOW CAPABILITIES?

Using the guide below, you can check out your baby's awake window by going by your baby's age. I would always suggest starting off with the smallest awake window firstly and attempt your naps using the minimum time.

If you are still finding those day time sleeps a battle, then I suggest increasing your awake period by another 10 or 15 minutes. Give your baby a good week to adjust before assuming it is not working.

For babies who are 6 months and over, allow for a bigger awake window before bedtime. So for example, if your baby's awake period is 2 hours, then you can probably do a 2.5 window pre-bedtime 🌙

Be mindful and monitor those tired signs anyway because if your baby didn't sleep well at that previous snooze, then you will need to adjust that window accordingly.

Check out your awake window using my guide below:

Do I need to plan my baby's naps to be at home?

In short, no you don't.

If you are working to improve your baby's sleep situation and you are trying to get your baby to sleep better in their own sleep space, then I would say, spend a few days, potentially a week attempting to make those improvements at home and in your baby's nursery environment. When you are using certain sleep methods, and depending on your baby's age, making those sleep shifts can be easier to manage at home & can be less stressful for you if you are in the comfort of your own home.

If you work with me, you will know that I suggest working on your baby's sleep this way, but once established and you can see even the smallest improvements, then make sure you go out for walks, get the fresh air you need, clear your mind & de-stress as it is essential for your mental health and well being which includes your baby’s too!

"Louise taught us how to manage our son's sleeps & encourage longer stretches. By making those improvements during his day's, our night times have also improved too!"

Your baby's sleeps do not have to be difficult, they do not have to become an on-going battle and fight to get them settled and into bed! Create a sequence of events in the run up to bedtime which your baby will become familiar with & soon come to learn that these mean sleep is fast approaching!

Bathtime, story, pre-sleep wind down, into room, milk in their room, keeping those evening feeds dimly lit so not to cause any distractions & allow for calm!

TOP TIP

You can then use a mini wind down before your baby's day-time sleeps too, by this I mean, those day sleeps which happen at home!

A mini version, a quick ten minute wind down is enough to help settle your little one to sleep & in their own sleep space for naptimes!

Hope this helps!

Happy Sleeping Guys!

Louise x