How Do I Get My Baby To Nap In The Crib During The Day?

Routines That Don't Change

By the time they are three months old, most newborns are able to sleep through the night for a total of six hours. There needs to be a sleep routine established if your infant isn't napping consistently. Experts and parents believe that the best way to get baby to take naps is to keep things consistent: the baby always naps at the same time, in the same area, and with the same routine.

The key to getting her to sleep when and where you want, rather than when and where she wants, is to maintain a consistent routine. Don't imitate my children; they have napped on the living room rug after collapsing there from all the fun they were having.

Mindell suggests basing your baby's sleep schedule around the time he or she wakes up in the morning. Keep in mind that your child will likely need to nap around two hours later.

Time-based nap selection is an alternative. One twin mother we know is adamant that the "ten and two rule" is the only way to raise her children. When her children were six months old, she put them down for their morning and afternoon naps at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Each alternative has its cons.

Morning naps can be taken anywhere from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. if your kid doesn't get up at the same time every day, leaving you with little leeway to plan your mornings. Naps at the same time every day need your kid to establish a regular sleep and wake schedule, which may be difficult for infants and toddlers to do.

No matter what time of day you decide to put the baby down for a nap, you should try to get her to sleep in her crib before she is really fatigued. Mindell thinks that delaying the morning nap is the biggest mistake parents can make. If you wait for your child to show indications of exhaustion, such as wiping his or her eyes, you may miss the window of opportunity for a nap and end up with a grumpy, overtired youngster who is on the verge of a tantrum.

The location is also crucial, so don't forget about the timing. Mindell recommends putting your baby to sleep in the same place she does at night, in her crib or bassinet, with the lights out. Even more crucial for her capacity to fall asleep and stay asleep is how she drifts off to sleep. For example, if your 3-month-old regularly naps in the swing, you'll be left rocking a much heavier infant in your arms until she outgrows the swing.

Similar to how "a kid who needs a bottle or breastfeeding to nap will not know how to calm herself back to sleep when she wakes up," as pointed out by Zero to Three's Sharon Greenup, a spokesperson for the early childhood research and advocacy nonprofit in Washington, DC. Finding comforting cues that let your child go asleep without your continual presence is the key.

This can be achieved with a day routine that is identical to your nightly one but shorter. Babies, according to Green, "learn via repetition." Babies thrive in stable, routine environments. When you read your baby a bedtime tale or sing her a lullaby every day, she will learn to associate that time of day with her nap.

Six Sleep-Depriving Factors

As any new parent will tell you, though, life has a way of intervening and throwing even the most organised family off their game. Common situations that can derail your well-laid nap plans and what to do about them are outlined below.

No nap.

You're too busy doing errands, the babysitter forgot the routine, or everyone overslept. Baby didn't have his nap for some reason, and now you're paying for it. Denise Newman from Berkeley, California says, "If my son, Cody, doesn't nap in the early afternoon, he sleeps through dinner and wakes up uncomfortable and starving, or he has a meltdown." Just what was her answer? Even if he's not at home or if there are a lot of distractions, you should force him to nap. "I'll sleep in a bedroom with him if we're at his place, but otherwise I'll sit on the couch. There was the day he dozed off during his sister's birthday party "According to Newman.

Carnapping.

Comparable to catnapping, but far more damaging in nature. Shortly after falling asleep in the car, your youngster becomes angry and restless. Mindell explains that sometimes ten minutes is enough to keep a child awake, but not enough to keep him going. Where do we find this magic bullet? Don't let him get any shut-eye. Keep him awake until you arrive home by opening a window or singing to him. Find out when you're usually busy and schedule the baby's naptime then to prevent future carnaps. If you need to change the time by a large amount, say 30 minutes, do it by setting the clock forwards or backwards by 15-minute intervals; for example, instead of 12:30, set it to 12:15 and then 12.

Sickness.

Many childhood diseases, including the common cold, create disruptions in the baby's nightly sleep, which in turn disrupts the baby's napping routine. Bring your child back to his crib if he slept through the night and is dozing off at breakfast so he will continue to associate his crib with nap time. When you feel better, it will be easier to get back into your regular sleep routine.

Vacation.

Even if you're in beautiful Nassau, a change to your baby's routine, such as a move to a new home with a different crib, can make him irritable. What's the good news? If you follow a regimen at home, you can easily modify it to fit your time away. And if your child has a special blanket or stuffed animal that he always sleeps with, packing it on the trip will increase the likelihood that he will sleep soundly despite the unfamiliar surroundings. Nine-month-old Tony Kavalam dozed through their whole six-week journey to India because to his dad's consistent routine (and his favourite brown stuffed doggy). Tony's dad, Jude, explains that he lays his son down on his left side, puts the dog on his right cheek, places his right arm over the dog, and then leaves the room.

Growth points.

Once your 8-month-old masters the art of pulling herself up, she will likely choose to do so over a restful nap. Do your best to get her to snooze, but don't stress if she occasionally refuses. "Even if she plays, put her in the crib for one hour. When the allotted time is up, remove her "A word of caution from Mindell. After she nods off watching a movie, put her back in the crib. The next day, go back to your regular nap time. Mindell explains that after the developmental milestone is mastered, the baby can resume her normal nap schedule.

Those with older siblings.

Because of their size, they are capable of many amazing feats. With these toys, what infant wouldn't want to stay up late and play? You can't just put in place a routine for a baby's nap time and let the other kids to fend for themselves, especially if the other kids are toddlers. There is a simple answer: more time for families to relax together. When it's time for naptime, everyone in the house relaxes: Mom puts Baby down in her crib, Dad reads to the older kids, and maybe even Mom and Dad take a nap. Putting it into practise at home, it functioned perfectly. In other words, everyone had a good time and rested up for the next day.

Tips for lulling your infant to sleep in her crib

Napping in the crib can seem like an insurmountable feat for many new mothers.

Even if you don't mind rocking your baby to sleep, you probably shouldn't make it a habit. Maybe you need to see a doctor because you're going wild and can't sleep or get anything done.

Or perhaps you'd like her to get accustomed to napping in her crib before you return to work from maternity leave.

How can you coax her into taking a snooze in her cot all by herself? And if she merely falls asleep in your arms, what should you do?

You should know that you have many friends that care about you and who feel the same way. The unpredictability of a new baby can be very trying. If something is effective for one nap, it may be entirely ineffective for another. Consistent work and regularity are usually required to achieve "success," and even then, you might as well have begun from scratch because everything is possible.

In addition, most infants don't have the skills necessary to reliably put themselves to sleep until they are a few months old. Generally speaking, it's fine if she still prefers to sleep in your arms; this is just a passing phase.

Don't make her cry by not putting the baby down.

It's a typical mistake for first-time mothers to wait until their infant starts crying before putting her down for a nap.

It's hard enough to put your baby to sleep in a crib as it is without her fussing, and a tired infant is even more difficult to settle. You should try to nap with her while she is still sleepily ready to nap rather than when she is irritable and resisting sleep.

Do you have trouble getting her to nap without crying? If so, use this free resource! It's possible that the length of time she stays awake has an effect on how well she sleeps. Sign up for my newsletter to receive One Mistake You're Making with Your Baby's Awake Time and learn one common error many parents make when deciding how much time to keep their infant awake.

Don't Rush It, Give It Some Time.

We felt like failures every time we put my baby down and heard him cry a few minutes later. On other occasions, if his eyes open after his head hits the mattress, we immediately grab him. His awakening was interpreted as proof of my incompetence.

Later, I realised that sometimes all it takes to put a baby to sleep in a crib is a few minutes of quiet time. For instance, learn to distinguish between your baby's cries. Just because she's making a little noise doesn't mean you have to pick her up. Instead, you should let her calm down for a while.

Even if she opens her eyes when you put her down, you shouldn't rock her back to sleep if she isn't crying. Let her take as much time as she needs to relax and fall asleep on the couch. (Because, you know, sometimes we don't pass out the second our heads hit the pillow.)

By not picking her up at the first sign of distress, you are giving her the opportunity to gradually learn to soothe herself.

Incorporate The Mobile Device Into Your Daily Routine

Crib soothers and mobiles are a tried-and-true method of helping babies relax and drift off to sleep, according to many parents. A mobile above the crib is a great option for babies who respond well to soothing music.

The key is to place her in the crib while she is still awake but in a sleepy state. Give in to her tired eyes and let her watch some mobile TV before bed.

You should use your phone mostly for calming purposes and not for distraction. That way, she'll associate the phone with bedtime rather than playtime.

Naptime should resemble your nighttime rituals as much as possible.

Does your infant have no trouble dozing off at night in the crib? Your relaxing pre-sleep ritual may play a role in this.

A daytime routine that mimics your nighttime pattern will help her feel more at ease sleeping in her cot. We followed the same routines (with the exception of a bath and pyjamas) during naps that I did at bedtime, such as:

• Substituting a new diaper
• A hobby that involves reading
• Singing a tune
• Swaddling
• Putting up blackout drapes
• Incorporating white noise

Your infant may associate the crib with sleep after witnessing you do these things in it.

Use a pacifier to lull your child to sleep.

Some infants find that if they use a pacifier before bedtime, they may drift off to sleep much more easily. Try sleeping in a crib with a pacifier to see if the relaxing sensations may help you relax.

If she is sleepy but alert, you can put her in the crib. Then put a pacifier in her mouth so she may comfort herself when you can't be there.

Put Baby In A Swaddler

Even though I'm a big proponent of putting a baby down while they're still awake but drowsy, it doesn't usually pan out that way. Also, when you're in the thick of things with a brand new baby, you do what you have to do, and that may include attempting something completely different.

Swaddle your infant first so she feels secure and is less likely to rouse herself up by flailing her arms. After she's sound sleeping, place her in the crib. It won't feel as strange to her because she'll be swaddled, even if she's sleeping in the cot.

Lessen the Discrepancy in Feeling

Because the environment in your arms is so much more familiar than the crib, your baby may wake up when you place him or her there.

The disparity in sensation should be lessened instead. This is only one example, but you can also:

• As you set her down, keep your hand behind her neck for a full minute.
• After laying her down, keep your hand on her stomach for a full minute.
• For one minute, while bending over the crib, keep your chest contacting hers.
• Take it easy on the way to the crib.

Put On A Onesie

Some infants struggle with swaddling because they are unable to reach their mouths for comfort or because they strive to free themselves.

Use of a sleepsuit is one possible answer. The infant was safe and secure, and she was able to suckle with both hands and arms free. It's also a fantastic way to help her adjust to life without the swaddle, should she outgrow it quickly.

Conclusion

Babies typically sleep for 16 hours a day throughout their first month. After the first few weeks, it's normal for babies to take a morning and early afternoon nap. Some infants can benefit from a snooze in the late afternoon; aim for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for your baby's naps. There needs to be a sleep routine established if your infant isn't napping consistently.

Best way to get baby to take naps is to keep things consistent. Naps at the same time every day need your kid to establish a regular sleep and wake schedule, which may be difficult for infants and toddlers.

Helping your baby get the right amount of daytime sleep isn't always easy. Don't feel bad if some days are more challenging than others. Remember to look and listen for the signs that your baby is tired and keep their nap routine consistent.

If you have questions or concerns about your baby's napping schedule, talk to their doctor.

Content Summary

1. Because they need time to establish their circadian rhythms, babies take some time to settle into a regular sleep routine.
2. Babies typically sleep for 16 hours a day throughout their first month.
3. Typically, this takes the shape of three- or four-hour snoozes in between meals.
4. Babies can only stay awake for one to two hours before they need to rest again.
5. Babies' nap times become more regular as they age.
6. For instance:In the 4-12 month range.
7. After the first few weeks, it's normal for babies to take a morning and early afternoon nap.
8. Some infants can benefit from a snooze in the late afternoon.
9. Aim for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for your baby's naps.
10. Unless your infant has trouble going asleep at night, you should let him or her nap for as long as he or she wants.
11. By nine months of age, you can safely forego the third afternoon sleep if your baby still needs it.
12. Your infant will be more prepared for an earlier bedtime after doing this.
13. The age of one and up.
14. Between the ages of 10 months and 1 year, most babies stop taking morning naps.
15. In order to ease your baby into the new schedule, you may want to consider bringing up their nap and bedtime by 30 minutes.
16. Until about age 3, the majority of kids take a one- to two-hour afternoon nap.
17. This is the age at which most people begin to shorten the length of their naps.
18. However, it's important to keep in mind that every infant is unique and that their sleep times may look different from day to day.
19. In the haze of those first few days as a parent, your kid will sleep wherever you do.
20. But eventually you'll be ready to put your little angel down for a nap in her cot.
21. Here are some tried-and-true methods for making the adjustment easier on baby and you.
22. Routines That Don't Change By the time they are three months old, most newborns are able to sleep through the night for a total of six hours.
23. There needs to be a sleep routine established if your infant isn't napping consistently.
24. Experts and parents believe that the best way to get baby to take naps is to keep things consistent: the baby always naps at the same time, in the same area, and with the same routine.
25. The key to getting her to sleep when and where you want, rather than when and where she wants, is to maintain a consistent routine.
26. Don't imitate my children; they have napped on the living room rug after collapsing there from all the fun they were having.
27. Mindell suggests basing your baby's sleep schedule around the time he or she wakes up in the morning.
28. Keep in mind that your child will likely need to nap around two hours later.
29. Time-based nap selection is an alternative.
30. One twin mother we know is adamant that the "ten and two rule" is the only way to raise her children.
31. When her children were six months old, she put them down for their morning and afternoon naps at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
32. Each alternative has its cons.
33. Morning naps can be taken anywhere from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. if your kid doesn't get up at the same time every day, leaving you with little leeway to plan your mornings.
34. Naps at the same time every day need your kid to establish a regular sleep and wake schedule, which may be difficult for infants and toddlers to do.
35. No matter what time of day you decide to put the baby down for a nap, you should try to get her to sleep in her crib before she is really fatigued.
36. Mindell thinks that delaying the morning nap is the biggest mistake parents can make.
37. If you wait for your child to show indications of exhaustion, such as wiping his or her eyes, you may miss the window of opportunity for a nap and end up with a grumpy, overtired youngster who is on the verge of a tantrum.
38. The location is also crucial, so don't forget about the timing.