Does your baby nap too little, too long, or not at all? Renee Wasserman, an Infant and Child Sleep Consultant, helps parents through every napping stage. She's answered a few of the questions that we hear most often!
1. My five-month-old baby sleeps about six hours a night, but I can't get her to take more than one nap a day, and even that nap is only two hours long! I know that babies at this age are supposed to sleep a lot more. What am I doing wrong?
Your little one definitely needs more sleep. On average, a five-month-old should be sleeping approximately 14-16 hours each day (11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours of naps). Most five-month-old babies are napping three times each day. I would try to put her to sleep earlier in the evening and see if that will help her sleep more during the night. Also, make sure you are placing her in the crib when she is drowsy but awake so that she can learn to put herself to sleep without your help.
2. My newborn likes to nap after I give him his bottle. But he wakes up about 20 minutes later, and I give him his bottle again, and then the cycle repeats a few more times. How do I get him to nap more than 20-30 minutes?
Day sleep doesn't start to organize until closer to four-plus months, so you can expect a newborn's day sleep to be a bit all over the place. Short naps are very normal at this age. Depending how old your little one is, you can experiment with putting him to sleep when he is drowsy but awake so that he has opportunities throughout the day to practice this skill of putting himself to sleep. Keep his wake times relatively short and follow his sleepy cues to get him to sleep at the right times throughout the day, before he becomes overtired.
3. My nine-month-old loves to nap during the day and still takes three naps. He doesn't sleep as well at night, though. How can I make his night sleep longer?
By nine months, a baby should be taking two naps/day. A third nap later in the afternoon is most likely interfering with his night sleep. I would recommend dropping that third nap and moving bedtime a bit earlier to be sure your little one is getting to bed before becoming overtired. These changes should help his night sleep come together.
4. I know some babies are overtired, but I think my baby's the opposite. Every time I put my three-month-old down for a nap, he doesn't cry, but he doesn't sleep, either. Does that mean he's outgrown naps?
Although counter-intuitive, an overtired child will have a much harder time falling asleep at night and for naps. Your little one likely is overtired and just having a harder time settling into sleep. At three months, he definitely has not outgrown the need for naps. In fact, he should be napping a minimum of three naps each day. Don't let him stay awake more than one to two hours between naps.
This will help keep him well rested. Make sure his room is cool and cave-like dark, as this will also set him up for a successful nap.
5. How hard should I try to keep my baby on a napping schedule? Sometimes I like to plan trips to the mall or museum, and I feel like I'm hostage to my baby's naps! Can we skip them sometimes or will I be sorry later in the day?
Napping in a consistent place each day and at the right times of the day in a cool and very dark room will result in the most restorative and highest-quality sleep. Taking a nap on-the-go should be an exception to the rule. A special party on the weekend or grandparents in from out of town are great reasons to miss a nap, but I’d recommend rescheduling that weekly music class if it falls at nap time.
If your baby’s night sleep or naps are not coming together, a certified sleep consultant can work individually with you to determine the best approach for you to teach your little one to become the best sleeper possible.
Renee Wasserman, PT, MPH, founder of SleepyHead Solutions, is a Family Sleep Institute-certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultant. She offers many services including phone, email, Skype/FaceTime, and in-person consultations to solve your child’s sleep challenges. Feel free to email her with any questions. You can find out more information at her website and on her Facebook page.
