Do you know the top 8 napping mistakes most moms make?

You already know napping boosts healthy body and brain development. But new parents need flexibility. Hey, you’ve got things to do, places to go. Who wants to be a slave to a nap routine?

You do. It doesn’t take long to find out that consistency is the key to developing a good baby nap routine. But most moms make these mistakes first—and you don’t have to.

Rocking or nursing baby to sleep can be a quick and effective way to put your little one to bed (and get in those sweet snuggles), and for some families, it works. But it can negatively affect baby’s sleep hygiene if it leaves them dependent on you to sleep. It’s important that babies learn how to soothe themselves, says Gina Song, MD, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois.  - The Bump

Mistake #1: Waiting for sleep cues

Babies naturally signal when they’re tired: they fuss, cry, rub their eyes or show disinterest in feeding. But by that point, they are often overtired, making it difficult for them to settle at naptime.

• The answer: Stick to a regular nap schedule

  Don’t wait to see if she’s tired: Get your baby on a nap schedule. Napping at the same times will help establish her internal clock, and ensure she’s getting enough sleep at bedtime and naptime.

  

Mistake #2: Letting baby nap wherever they are

You’ve heard, ‘never wake a sleeping baby’, But cat-napping in a stroller, swing, or car seat, your baby wont get deep sleep she needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Mayo Clinic also recommend napping flat, not sitting up, for optimal oxygen flow.

• The answer: Pick one, consistent napping spot

  Choose one place where all sleep happens—crib is best—to reinforce your nap routine. You can’t always prevent mobile catnaps, but the more consistency you can create, the better. You may also want to try to limit long trips while you are nap-training your baby. 

Mistake #3: Creating sleep crutches

Rocking, nursing, swinging, singing: when baby won’t nap, moms do almost anything to make it happen. But once babies exceed 3 months, they learn to expect all these activities and can’t fall asleep—or soothe themselves through wakeups—without them.

• The answer: Put baby down drowsy

  Don’t let your baby fall asleep to these activities. Dress her in Zen Sleepwear™, lightly weighted to soothe babies to sleep. Put her down drowsy, so she can see you leave the room. This will help her break bad sleep associations and reduce separation anxiety.

Mistake #4: Making the crib super fun

All the decor may look absolutely adorable, but when it comes to naptime, you want as few distractions as possible—especially as you baby grows older and more alert.

• The answer: Keep it bare and boring

  Mobiles, toys, stuffed animals, bumpers, bright patterns—they all provide stimulation that interfere with napping and can be unsafe*. Instead, keep the room dark, quiet, cool and free from distraction. Using gently weighted Zen Sleepwear will also help your baby settle faster.

  *For the first year, cribs should be completely free of toys, blankets or loose items anyway, to prevent safety issues. Learn more about safe sleep here.

Mistake #5: Skipping the bedtime routine

Bedtime and naptime are a delicate balance; as soon as one gets thrown off kilter, the other follows—and babies get overtired and fussy: even familiar wind-down rituals are a struggle.

• The answer: Double down

  Create a consistent bedtime schedule and bedtime routine that includes the right sleepwear—and stick to them. Once your baby develops positive associations with sleeping at night, she’ll be better rested in the morning, and a better napper during the day.

Mistake #6: Keeping her up, so she’ll sleep in

Later bedtime, later wake-up: seems logical right? Unfortunately, a baby’s internal clock wakes her up around the same time every morning—even without a good night’s sleep She’ll be overtired the next day. And that means fussiness at naptime.

• The answer: Don’t mess with bedtime

  Make sure your baby is getting the 11 to 14 hours of sleep she needs at night (see your baby’s ideal sleep schedule, here) by sticking to one bedtime, and using the right sleepwear. Then adjust nap schedules accordingly.

Mistake #7: Eliminating naps too soon

You’ve heard that as babies get older, they start taking fewer—but longer—naps, and bedtime can be moved a few hours earlier as a result. Maybe she napped twice a day this week—but now seems overtired. How  do you know when to start transitioning to fewer naps?

• The answer: Be flexible

  Check out typical bedtimes and naptime schedules by month to be prepared for the next napping phase. But don’t force changes: As babies transition, naptimes are fluid. Pay attention to your baby’s sleep cues, and stay as consistent as possible.

Mistake #8: Expecting quick results

Napping success takes patience: routines take time to form (babies under 3 months don’t even know the difference between night and day yet!), and habits take time to break. But being patient when you’re sleep-deprived an be a challenge.

• The answer: Enjoy the ride

  Before you know it, your baby will be sleeping through the night, and these challenges will be gone. For now, stay as consistent as you can with your baby’s naptimes and sleepwear. She’ll develop more positive associations with naptime. And so will you.

 

Other Resources

Mayo Clinic: Toddler Health