7 Questions Parents Should Ask If Baby Is Waking Too Early
It’s no secret...babies need sleep and a lot of it! Their rapidly developing brains and bodies require sleep to function and grow.
For young children, this means “nap time” is an important part of everyday life. Naps provide the opportunity for much needed rest and downtime. They give a child’s body time to recuperate and can sometimes act like a “reset” button when our little ones are struggling emotionally.
And let’s be honest, as parents, we often appreciate “nap time” even more than our kiddos do! Nap time allows us the space and time to tackle “to-do” lists or to simply take a minute to breathe.
Parenting small children is exhausting, physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes we all need the short break that nap time can provide.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the amount of daytime sleep a child requires changes based on age.
Birth To 4 Months: Newborns require a lot of sleep and have not yet developed the circadian rhythm needed for a consistent nap schedule.
4-6 Months: 2-3 naps totaling 4-5 hours of daytime sleep
6 Months To 12 months : 2 naps per day totaling 3-4 hours of daytime sleep
Toddlers (1-3 years): 1-3 hours of total daytime sleep. Young toddlers may still take two naps a day, but will gradually transition to a single longer afternoon nap.
A “good nap” is considered to be at least 50-60 minutes.
This is the time required for your child to finish a complete sleep cycle. If your child is waking earlier than 50 minutes, they aren’t getting the quality deep sleep they need for development.
In an ideal world, our kiddos would always take long, quality naps! They certainly would never fight nap time and would always stay sleeping for a blissful two-hour nap!
Ha!
We all know that isn’t reality. Short naps exist. Some children seem to be consistent short nappers...and sometimes really good sleepers start waking after 30-40 minutes, seemingly out of the blue!
SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT SHORT NAPS?!
Well first of all… let’s avoid labeling your child as simply “a short napper”. As mentioned before, daytime sleep is important! If they aren’t sleeping for a full sleep cycle, they aren’t sleeping enough and it’s a situation that needs to be addressed.
Second, your child probably isn’t just “bad at napping”. Short naps typically indicate that there is something else going with your child’s routine, habits, health, etc. that is affecting his or her sleep.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one size fits all solution to short naps (trust me, I wish there was!) A variety of factors could be causing your child to wake prematurely. If your little one is consistently waking early from their naps, here are 6 important questions to ask yourself to get to the bottom of what is causing the short naps.
Is my child’s napping environment conducive for sleep?
The environment plays a huge role in your child’s sleep. Environmental factors such as too much light or noise can make it difficult for your child to stay asleep. In evaluating your child’s nap environment, make sure the room is dark and she is sleeping in her own safe space (bassinet, crib, bed, etc. depending on age). White noise or sound machines may also be helpful in extending your child’s nap times.Is my child falling asleep independently?
Extending naps will always be a battle if your child is not falling asleep on their own. If your child is falling asleep nursing, being rocked, or laying with a parent, he will be unable to put himself back to sleep if he stirs at all during the nap. Many children wake slightly at the end of each sleep cycle. Children who are used to falling asleep independently will fall back asleep easily, probably not remembering that they woke up at all. Children who do not fall asleep independently will likely wake up at the end of one sleep cycle, demanding the attention of a parent.Do I have a nap time routine?
Just like routines are important at bedtime, they are also important for naps. A sleep routine tells your child “it’s time to rest.” It helps their brains transition from being awake to preparing for sleep. If you have a set routine for bedtime, you can use a variation of that same routine for naps. For example, if your bedtime routine includes feeding, diaper change, jammies, stories and bed, your nap routine might be feeding, diaper change, stories, and bed.Is my child sick or teething?
Let’s face it...it’s hard to sleep if you aren’t feeling well. Even adults have a difficult time sleeping when we are sick. If your child’s naps have suddenly gotten shorter (when they are otherwise long) check for fevers and irritated or puffy gums. It may also be worth talking to your child’s pediatrician. Ear infections and teething pain can often interrupt sleep. For more information about handling sleep when your child is sick, check out this blog post.Is my child getting enough “awake” time?
The amount of “awake time” a child needs before a nap gradually increases with age. As your child grows and develops, their daily sleep schedule will adjust. Sometimes, when a child is struggling to take long and consistent naps, it’s a sign that they aren’t spending enough time awake before their nap. In other words, they just aren’t tired enough to stay napping. If you determine that your child needs more awake time, gradually begin extending their wake-times by 15 minutes each day.Has my child been awake too long?
It probably seems counter-intuitive, but the reality is...overtired babies sleep less. That’s right, if your child has been awake too long, she may become overtired. When this happens, her body begins acting in fight or flight mode, sending adrenaline surging throughout her system. It doesn’t matter how tired she actually is, the adrenaline in her body will make it difficult to sleep soundly. You may need to make some adjustments to ensure that your child is going to bed within their best window of opportunity and not becoming overtired.Is my child ready to transition to fewer naps?
Be mindful of your child’s age and the common nap transitions. If one or more of your naps was once ok but is suddenly shorter, consider that it may be a transition period. Is your child nearly 6-7 months and ready to transition from the 3 naps to 2 naps? Or close to 1 year old where it may be time to go from 2 to 1? Or maybe your child is almost 3 and she may be ready to eliminate the nap altogether.
Short naps can be incredibly frustrating for parents and exhausting for babies. Identifying the root cause of your child’s early wake-ups and making adjustments to extend their naps can be a process of trial and error.
Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone! If you’d like some support in troubleshooting your child’s nap time woes, click here for a FREE consultation call.
RESOURCES: https"//kidshealth.org/en/parents/naps.html
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/naps.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/when-do-toddlers-stop-napping
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/AAP-Supports-Childhood-Sleep-Guidelines.aspx
