Help Baby Nap Better

If your little one yawns, you may know it’s nap time. But there are other clues: Rubbing eyes, crying, and fussiness can be signs of sleepiness in babies. Babies who are overtired have more trouble settling down for sleep, so watch for these cues. Older babies may also act clumsy, clingy, and hyperactive.

What if your baby falls asleep in their car seat? A short nap is OK, but don’t let them sleep there overnight. For the safest way to sleep, place them on their back on the firm mattress of a crib. This can reduce the risk of SIDS. 

It may not seem like it at first! But your newborn may sleep about 16 hours a day, waking for feedings and changing. As babies get older they need less sleep during the day and more at night. By 6 months some babies should be able to sleep through the night plus take two to three naps. But don't worry if they don't: each baby is different.

It may be tempting to squeeze napping into carpooling and errand time, and it's OK once in a while. But constantly napping on the go may not get your child the rest they need. If they always seem tired and irritable and your schedule is packed, consider cutting back or rearrange your schedule. Or you can use a sitter or ask a friend to help out so baby has regular, thorough naps.

It's natural for babies to fall asleep after a feeding. And nursing or bottle-feeding newborns to sleep is a great way to feel close to your baby. Over time, though, it can become the only way they can fall asleep. Babies should learn to fall asleep on their own. Try to separate nursing from naps even by just a few minutes. Read a story or change baby’s diaper in between.

Is your baby older than 6 months and still taking lots of 20-minute naps throughout the day? Encourage them to take longer naps. Try keeping your baby up. And stretch the time between baby’s naps, making it longer bit by bit. You may be rewarded with longer naps -- ideally, one to two hours each -- and sounder nighttime sleep.

Set a good nap routine and stick to it, when possible. Help your little one sleep better by:

• Having the same nap times each day.
• Avoiding late afternoon naps. If your baby has trouble falling asleep at night, make nap time earlier or wake them from their nap well before bedtime.
• Using the crib at night and nap time, so they think "sleep" when they are in there.

Sneezing, hiccups, whimpers, sighs, and even squeaks are common baby sleep noises. You probably don’t need to rush in. Even fussing and crying may just mean that baby is settling down. Wait a bit before checking on them -- unless, of course, you think they are unsafe, uncomfortable, or hungry.

After a few weeks, your baby doesn’t have to be sound asleep when you lay their down. Sleepy is good enough. You'll be teaching your little one how to fall asleep on their own and not need to be held, rocked, or fed. This also can help their learn to fall back to sleep on their own if they wake during the night.

If your baby falls asleep on the couch, your bed, a waterbed, or the floor, move them. Those places aren’t safe for them to sleep. Always put your baby down to sleep on their back to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Remove blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumpers, and other soft things from baby’s crib or bassinet. Don't put babies down to nap with other children or pets.