5 Ways To Improve Nap Time: Guest Post
Hands up, who has the perfect sleeper? We certainly don’t! So I am so delighted to have local Hampshire Sleep Consultant share with us some of her tips to improving nap time with your young ones and hopefully give you a bit of a reprieve…
Written by Cara Treadwell
When you have a little one (5 months and up) with sleep challenges, it can be hard to know where to start. Clients who come to me with challenges at bedtime and nap time usually ask the same question. “What do we work on first!?”
I personally like to work on the nights first, naps second. Of course, you can work on both together but it can be alot for your baby to deal with all in one go. You’re reading this because you want a gentle approach that will work so taking it step by step will be easier all round.
What can we do to help our baby’s nap?
Nap routine - Take your bedtime routine and shorten it. It is important that your baby has a nap routine just like they have a bedtime routine. Keep it consistent and they will soon start to look out for cues that it is time for a nap.
Use a lovey or favourite object - A special item such as a blanket or teddy can help your baby self-settle when they wake between sleep cycles. It allows them to stay in charge of their sleep and I recommend keeping it in your baby's cot so the sleep association remains strong.
Slow down - Babies and toddlers spend a lot of time picking up on our moods and emotions. Be mindful of this at nap time. Lower your voice and move carefully in your little ones room whilst you go about the routine. It is amazing how small calm gestures signal to your baby that it is time to calm down, ready for sleep.
Room environment - Ensure your baby goes for a nap in a quiet, dark space. It is ideal after 5 months old that naps to take place in a cot or a stationary place. The quality of sleep had when stationary is far superior to sleep that is done whilst moving.
Rest v Naps - Sometimes your baby may rest (happily) at nap time. This is OK. If your baby does have a short nap, consider this a success too.
The most important thing to remember is that some days it will feel easy and other days it will feel hard. Please don’t beat yourself up, we can’t always get things right, we may miss their sleep cues, get home too late, the kids may fall asleep in the car….life happens. It is OK. The most important thing you can do when life happens is to draw a line under it and start again the next day!
You’ve got this mumma! Xx
Cara is a Certified Sleepy Lambs Sleep Consultant based in Hampshire. For more information on her and the 1:1 support she offers click here.
Written by Cara Treadwell