How to Get Your Baby to Take a Nap For Babies 4 Months and Older

Plenty of sleep is vital for babies, who need different amounts of shuteye depending on their age. According to Heidi Murkoff, author of the bestselling pregnancy bible "What to Expect When You're Expecting," most infants of 4 to 6 months sleep 10 to 12 hours during the night and take one to three naps during the day, amounting to approximately five hours of daytime sleep in total. If your baby isn't sleeping for long stretches during the night, and is resisting nap time during the day, you'll be feeling the effects of lack of sleep yourself.

Instructions

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      Remember that all babies have different sleeping habits. Some naturally fall into a regular nap routine after the age of 4 months, perhaps sleeping for two hours every morning and the same in the afternoon, while others take more frequent, but shorter, naps throughout the day. Then there are those who rarely nap, or do so for only very short times.

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      Pick a good place for nap time. For a long nap, your baby must be comfortable, says Murkoff. It may be tempting -- and comforting -- to let your baby snooze in your arms, but it's better for both of you if you settle him in his crib, which he will associate with sleep. Award-winning pregnancy and parenting website BabyCenter recommends putting your baby down to nap on his back, on a firm mattress.

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      Feed and change your baby before putting her down for a nap. She's far more likely to enjoy a long nap if she has a full belly and a clean diaper. Check that she's not too hot or too cold for a comfortable snooze.

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      Help your baby wind down from his activities and get ready for sleep. Put away all his toys, pick him up and hold him close. Talk to him in a gentle, soothing tone of voice or sing him a lullaby. Try to lay him down in his crib before he's fully asleep, or he may get into the habit of only falling asleep in your arms.

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      Attend to your baby if she wakes up 15 to 20 minutes into her nap. Encourage her to fall asleep again with gentle strokes and comforting whispers, but don't lift her up.

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      Keep your baby awake for longer stretches between naps to encourage him to sleep for longer when he does nod off. Provide regular changes of scenery to keep him interested in his surroundings. Change his position, such as switching between tummy time and on his back. Keep his environment bright and noisy. Talk and sing to him regularly to keep him focused.

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