Why Does My Baby Take Short Naps?
You’ve just set your baby down for a nap half an hour ago, and you’re ready to kick back and relax for some “you” time!
Not so fast, because they’re already awake again!
If your family is struggling with the littlest ones’ short naps, we have just the help you may be looking for. We’ll cover why they’re taking short naps, how to extend them, and other helpful tips.
Short Naps or Long Naps?
How do we classify a nap as “long” or “short”? Does this change, depending on the baby’s age or the time of day? If you’re unsure about what a regular nap looks like, we’re here to clear things up.
Referring back to the table, if your baby sleeps 45 minutes or less after one sleep cycle, we’d classify it as a short nap. A long nap would clock in at 1.5 to 3 hours when your baby goes from one sleep cycle to the next without issue.
Age has a lot to do with the length and frequency of naps. For example, at 6 months, your baby likely takes 2 long naps and a short nap throughout the day. There’s also the notorious 6-month sleep regression that can seem to abruptly interrupt their regular sleep. At this age, it’s normal for them to want to drop off a nap (more on that later).
Knowing our baseline of what’s “normal” can help us identify and correct the situation if babies are taking too-short naps.
When Do Naps Get Longer?
Around the 3-month mark, you’ll likely notice that your baby’s sleep schedule becomes more consistent. That will look like 4 to 5 naps a day, ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours per nap. Once they get to 4 months, naps will adjust to around 45 to 90 minutes.
From 5 to 6 months, your little one should be having at least one nap of the day last 1 hour or longer. For every month after that, naps will get a bit longer until they get to 15 to 18 months where their 1 nap of the day can last 2 hours or more.
Why Do Babies Take Short Naps?
If you happen to notice that your baby is taking shorter naps than the norm, there are many potential reasons why. Keep in mind that it may be a combination of more than one reason. Let’s take a look at the most common, to try and narrow it down.
1. Your Baby is Dependent on You to Fall Asleep
Rocking or feeding your baby to sleep is a wonderful experience and great way to bond with your little one. However, it can also make it more difficult for them to fall asleep on their own during the transition period. This is completely normal and usually happens at the 4-5 month mark.
Once you successfully make that transition, where they’re able to fall asleep on their own, you should see naps begin to extend once again.
2. Feedings Require Changes
Do you ever wake up feeling super hungry? As adults we don’t experience this quite as often, but you probably know that it’s hard to stay asleep when your stomach starts growling! For babies, this is an even more delicate matter. If they’re hungry, no matter the time of day, they may start taking shorter naps.
Of course, feeding them to sleep isn’t recommended, either. However, moving feedings closer to their naps can help them stay asleep longer as their tummies will be nice and satisfied.
3. Their Environment Isn’t Ideal for Falling Asleep
The great thing about newborns is they have that superpower of being able to fall asleep just about anywhere, anytime.
As they get older, though, they tend to be more selective. This can leave parents wondering what they can do to make their little one’s sleep environment more appealing. Make sure that there is no noise or lights affecting them, and that it’s quiet, dark, and cool.
4. Baby’s Routine Requires Change
When it comes to little ones, timing really is everything. It can make the difference between chaos and crying or consistency and calmness. To maximize your baby’s quality and length of sleep, try to avoid overtiredness and undertiredness. Here’s where an app like Baby Connect really shines, which can help you track baby’s wake time and sleep patterns!
5. Your Baby is Ready to Drop a Nap
If your baby is around 6 months, 8 months, or between 15 to 18 months, it’s likely that they’re simply ready to transition to one less nap. That’s fantastic and completely on-schedule!
Here are a couple of guides to help you make the transition:
Tips to Extend Nap Time
Extending nap time can be a great way to make sure your baby (and you!) are getting enough sleep. Here are a few ideas to extend nap time those extra few minutes!
1. Minimize Screen Time
Try to be aware of their screen time in general, but really keep them to a minimum during the hour before naps and bedtime. The blue light given off by TVs, computer screens, phones, tablets, etc. may suppress melatonin levels and keep them from feeling sleepy.
2. Create a Routine
Routine is king, and naptime is no exception. You can create a simple routine to get your baby ready for their nap. That could look like you reading them a book, changing their diaper, singing to them, etc. - anything to help them relax and prepare for sleepy time.
3. Be Aware of Wake Time
Again, for really good naps that allow for maximum restoration, timing is important. Logging awake and sleep time can help highlight your baby’s optimal wake window so they never become overtired or wake up grumpy after naptime.
