How to cultivate a good habit of taking a nap for your baby

Newborns spend most of their time sleeping, but as time goes by, they will be awake more and more during the day, so you need to start establishing a nap routine for your baby to avoid nighttime sleeplessness. So how do you cultivate a good habit of napping for your baby?

What should parents do when their baby takes a nap

Watch for signs of sleep: If your baby yawns, you probably know it's time to go to bed. But there are other signs, too: rubbing eyes, crying, fussiness, clinginess, unusual hyperactivity. An overtired baby may have trouble settling down for sleep, so watch for clues.

Understand your baby's sleep: Newborns can sleep up to 16 hours a day, waking only for feeding and diaper changes. As time goes by, daytime sleep will decrease and nighttime sleep will increase. But every baby is different, try to understand your baby's sleep pattern.

Take a short break after feeding: Many babies fall asleep directly after feeding, but this will become the only way for the baby to fall asleep. The baby should learn to fall asleep on his own. Try to take a short break after feeding, tell a story or change a diaper, and then let the baby fall asleep.

Extend the nap time: If your baby is over 6 months old and still often takes many 20-minute naps, you should encourage him to have a longer nap. Try to lengthen the nap interval so that your baby can nap longer, about 1 to 2 hours.

Set up a sleep routine: Help your baby establish a fixed nap routine, such as taking a nap at a fixed time, avoiding naps too late, using a crib to sleep, etc. This way, your baby will know when it's time to go to bed.

Putting down awake babies: After a few weeks, your baby should no longer fall asleep in your arms, you should let him fall asleep on his own. When your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, he does not need to be rocked or fed, let him learn to fall asleep on his own.

Ensure safe sleeping: The sofa, floor, and your bed are not safe places for your baby to sleep. It is best to let him sleep in a crib. And keep him sleeping on his back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

Baby nap precautions

Waking a sleeping baby: If your baby falls asleep in the car seat, let him sleep there, not necessarily in the bed for a nap, as long as you make sure your baby is safe. It's okay to do this occasionally, but don't let your baby stay in the chair overnight.

Don't rely on travel: While it's tempting to schedule a nap in the middle of your trip, doing so too often can prevent your baby from getting enough rest. If your baby often seems tired, you may need to change your travel plans or ask a family member or friend to watch your baby so that he or she can take a regular nap.

Don't worry too much: Your baby may sneeze, hiccup, whimper, or even scream before falling asleep, so don't panic and rush to check on your baby, unless you think he's unsafe, uncomfortable, or hungry.

Why do babies need to take naps?

Physical and intellectual development: Sleep is very important for the physical and intellectual development of infants. The baby's brain is undergoing major reorganization during this period, and naps can provide time for the brain to reorganize.

Temperament and personality: Naps are necessary to prevent infants from becoming overtired. Tired infants can be cranky and have trouble falling asleep at night. According to research, the amount and quality of sleep infants get in their first two years can affect their ability to self-regulate.

Infant sleep needs: After 4 months, the baby's 16-20 hours of sleep will become 2-3 daytime naps and 10-12 hours of sleep at night. After 6 months, there will be 3-4 hours of daytime naps and 11 hours of sleep at night.

Cultivate a nap habit: When your baby is sleepy, let him lie on the bed, train him to fall asleep through self-soothing, and establish a fixed nap and night sleep pattern so that the child can get used to the sleep time.