baby's nap

 baby's nap

If your baby doesn't nap well in the first few months of life, you may want to try reducing the time he's awake in 15-minute increments. If he is overstimulated, he will struggle with sleep and find it difficult to nap. The way to avoid this is to watch her "sleepiness" cues to make sure you put her down when she starts to doze off.

Some parents believe that letting their child cry will hurt them. Fifteen or twenty minutes of crying will not physically or mentally harm your child. Babies will learn to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own, but only if you let them. It is very important that babies learn to fall asleep on their own so that they can calm down if they wake up in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you could have a child who won't sleep through the night for years.

Regular sleeping habits are linked to regular eating habits, so let's look at the stages of a baby's life:

* Newborn: Your newborn will sleep between 16 and 20 hours a day, including the naps he takes between feedings. When your baby has been fed, let him stay awake for a short time, then lay him down before he becomes too stimulated.

* Two Months: At two months and older, your child should be allowed to try to soothe themselves during their naps and bedtimes. It's normal to cry when you put your baby down, but that's okay. If he cries for more than 10-15 minutes, come inside and check on him. Don't pick him up, just pat his buttocks or lightly rub his back until he calms down.

* 3-6 months: Around 3-6 months, your baby will stop taking one of his naps. Usually it's the third or late afternoon nap that they don't need as much. He may be a little fussy and may want to take a short nap, but you should try to keep him awake if you want him to go to bed at a decent hour and sleep soundly through the night.

* 16+ months: When your child is between 16 and 20 months old, they usually stop taking morning naps in favor of a longer afternoon nap. Babies this age typically sleep 10-12 hours a night and take a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.

Basic Napping Rules

1. You decide when the nap starts and ends, not the baby.

2. When your baby is over 4 months old, he wakes up crying if he hasn't had enough sleep. She may have a dirty diaper, be in an uncomfortable position, or be cold/hot. Fix the problem and encourage him to go back to sleep. Babies who get enough rest wake up happy, talking and in a good mood.