The Art of Naps

Is anyone in need of some naps real talk? I've got you.🫶

I remember when my first born was an infant and I spent the entire day chasing naps.

My entire day consisted of:

😬 stressing out trying to get her to nap,

🥰 then feeling the relief of getting her (finally) to nap...

... only to find that after what felt like spending hours just to get her to nap, she would only nap for 30 minutes. 😭

So brutal. 

I felt frustrated, confused and most importantly, isolated.

Research has shown that there is a higher rate of depression, anxiety or baby blues for parents doing 100% of naps at home. Note: If you're feeling this way, we need to talk. Call me.

If you find yourself frustrated with naps, here are few tips that may help:

• Remember that daytime sleep is a different type of sleep than night time sleep and it can often be a more challenging type of sleep to learn for babies. So if you are struggling, I can guarantee you that you are not alone.
• Try to find at least one period during the day where you and your baby get out in this wonderful weather and go for a walk. The best time to do this is in the afternoon for the last nap of the day. It is at this time that babies struggle most with settling themselves and often movement and fresh air can help with this.
• Remember: A 30 minute nap (laying flat and unassisted) is still progress. If your little one still seems tired after 30 minutes, attempt to resettle them. If after 10 minutes of trying, nothing is working, let it go and give them some help.
• If you are feeling tired or overwhelmed at this point in the day, this is a simple 5 minute visualization teaching simple breathing that will help you to reset. 
• Aim for giving your little one between 2.5 to 4 hours of naps combined each day. Some babies feel sufficiently filled up with 2.5 hours while others wish for more, so be sure to watch your little one for signs of restfulness when they wake up.
• Create a pre-nap time routine that includes some time dedicated to winding down.
• Create a good sleep environment that limits stimulus. Consider putting up darkening shades and quieting the room with a white noise machine.
• Watch both the clock and your baby’s signs of sleepiness, or sleep cues, and get your baby into bed within 15 minutes of showing you sleepy signs.

There are a variety of ways to help your little one learn to nap better ranging from a low cry method to a cry it out method, and it is important to be aware of how much your baby needs for their age.

If you like structure, the following are a few guidelines:

• Babies who are 0-2 months old need about 45-90 minutes of awake time and often take 4-6 naps a day.
• Babies who are 2-4 months of age can stay awake for up to 2 hours.
• Between 6-9 months of age, babies drop from 3 naps to 2 naps per day.
• Between the ages of 12-18 months of age, babies drop to one nap per day.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Sarah. As a mother of two, I quickly learned that sleep is influenced by a variety of factors and there is not one RIGHT way to help baby sleep. Both of my daughters had unique temperaments and struggles, and I was humbled to learn that newborns are complicated and parenting in a world of information overload is stressful.

Now, I partner with parents to create a tailored plan using an evidence-based and multidimensional approach to sleep. I take great care in co-creating a plan that takes into account all of the factors that makes each family unique, including parenting philosophies, infant temperament and readiness, age, weight gain, health and development and much more. To date, I have helped over 2,000 families.

If you're ready to teach baby to sleep independently and feel like someone’s got your hand through all of this, contact me.

Tell me more about what you’re facing and I can answer your questions about my approach to working with families and offer a personalized plan that gives you the support you and your family deserve.