Naps are a hot topic for parents of young children. Everyone seems to be worrying about how to get their little one to nap, how long they nap, where they nap. But what do you do if your little one just won’t nap at all?
Every child is different and the age that they stop napping will be unique to each child. However, as a general rule of thumb naps will be part of the daily routine until around 2 and a half. Some children will nap until much later, and may only give them up once school starts age age 4. These are just averages, and you know your child best. If your little one is 2 and 3 months, for example, has stopped napping but is happy throughout the day and sleeping well at night then they may have outgrown the need for a nap. Much younger than this however, and it is more likely that they do still need a nap but are struggling to achieve it for whatever reason.
1. Check your expectations
Things change fast with your little ones sleep, particularly in the first few months. If you are still expecting the same number of naps as you did a few months ago, then it may be worth consolidating one of these naps. Pushing the normal nap time back by half an hour or so may mean you have greatest success getting your little one to sleep.
2. Evaluate how much sleep your child needs
While you may be expecting too much sleep, you may also have underestimated the amount of sleep your little one needs, or how often. If it’s a huge battle to make a nap happen, and trying later doesn’t seem to help, it might be worth bringing the nap forward by half an hour or so and trying then. As your little one becomes overtired, cortisol and adrenaline are released which can make it more difficult for them to fall asleep.
3. Change of scenery
Be open minded about where and how naps happen. If cot naps are a struggle, it might be worth aiming for a nap on a walk in the pram, or a nap in the car. It’s worth keeping a book or something to do in the car, and making note of your nearest drive-through coffee shop so if this happens you can have some downtime too! Our children are hardwired to sleep most soundly when they are close to us, so a contact nap in a sling or in your arms may be the best way to help your child to get more rest. A sling will allow you to get some jobs done if you want to. Make sure to make some time to put your feet up and relax while they snooze too. A contact nap may be a great excuse to sit down with your feet up and a good TV program.
4. Overstimulation
The world is an exciting place! Starting from around 4 months old, your baby is more interested in their surroundings and wants to take everything in! This may mean that naps out and about become more difficult. If this is the case it may be worth trying to ensure you are home for at least one nap in the day so they can get some good rest. If there is lots of hustle and bustle this may be overwhelming for your little one. If they become upset and dysregulated it may be wise to find somewhere quiet and calm to reconnect before nap time.
5. Go back to basics
If your little one just won’t sleep it’s worth going back to basics and checking that they are comfortable. Have they got a clean nappy? Too hot or cold? Hungry? Do they need a cuddle or their comforter? Could they be teething or otherwise uncomfortable? Sometimes if we are chasing a nap for a while we become so stressed we don’t even think about these simple factors, so it’s always worth checking!
I hope this has given you a starting point to consider your little one’s sleep. Don’t get too caught up in what everyone else’s babies are doing, if you and your child are content and happy there is no need to make changes. If you are struggling and feel you need more than a few tips, check out my sleep services page and contact me today to discuss napping techniques that can help you work towards better rest all round.
