This usually means in their nursery with blackout curtains (think of a dark cave or Vegas hotel room), white noise (that plays continuously throughout the sleep period), cool temperature (between 68-72 degrees), and safe sleep surface (crib or bassinet with nothing in it - unlike the pic connected to this post!). If you’re trying to put your baby down for a nap in their swing or rock and play in the living room, but that nap only lasts 30 minutes, then it is time to transition them into your desired sleep space. This is when they become very aware of their environment, and many parents report their baby now has FOMO. While most babies can fall asleep anywhere when they are newborns, this shifts as babies come up to 4 months of age. Having that consistent routine is key in setting up expectations, teaching your child about their day, and setting them up for success when they have to sleep in a new environment.
If your baby isn’t falling asleep by themselves yet, then maybe they are placed in your arms, in the swing, being rocked, etc. Our nap time routine has always been closing the blinds, dimming the lights, reading one book, swaddle (3 months and under), then placed in bed. What is in the routine does not matter as much as the sequence of events happening exactly the same each day. Introduce a wind down routine - which can be a mini version of your bedtime routine. First and foremost I always like to set babies up for success before embarking on any major behavioral changes (aka sleep training). So now that you know what a short nap really is and where it comes from, let’s talk about what you can do to fix it. You can refer to my average awake window chart below, but keep in mind all babies are unique and you really have to go by your baby’s personality and temperament. It’s a vicious cycle and honestly quite hard to break, but not impossible. The same is true if the baby is kept awake for way too long during the day - they are missing out on their daytime sleep which results in more wake ups at night, and those extra wake ups at night lead to shorter naps during the day. Sleep science tells us that if a baby is not getting enough sleep throughout the night and during the day, the baby will be overtired. Which leads me to the next culprit of short naps. When nap transitions are happening you will likely have to move bedtime earlier so as not to extend the awake window and have an overtired baby. Infant development happens on a spectrum (or bell curve if you like that analogy better), so some babies will hit milestones later or earlier than others. Keep in mind that most babies will consolidate to 4 naps around 4 months, 3 naps around 6 months, 2 naps around 9 months, and one nap between 15-18 months. If your baby is older and the short naps are a new thing, then they could be gearing up for a nap transition. If your baby is only taking a short nap for that first nap of the day and/or the last nap of the day, that can also be developmentally appropriate.
#6 month old wake up time how to#
Babies are not born knowing how to fall asleep independently, this is a learned skill that takes time to master. So in essence they are completing that one cycle but don’t know how to connect cycles (which is also developmentally appropriate by the way). Remember that sleep takes time to mature and that sleep cycles for babies last anywhere from 40-50 minutes. If you have a newborn that is still in the 4th trimester, then a 40-50 minute nap that repeats itself all day long is not a problem and is developmentally appropriate.
One thing to consider is the age of your baby. If your baby falls into the second category, this is when it can be time to find some strategies to lengthen those naps.
You can tell they are still tired and need more sleep. Other babies wake from a 30 minute nap and are cranky, fussy, or just not pleasant to be around. I know, I know, I say it all the time - but it really is so true! Some babies can take a 30 minute nap and wake up feeling refreshed and can tackle their next awake period. But what is a short nap? Some parents think it’s anything less than an hour, while others have a baby who will only sleep for 30 minutes at a time (or less!). Who else has a baby who is suffering from the 45 minute intruder? Short naps can be really frustrating, especially if your baby takes what feels like forever to fall asleep in the first place.
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