How to Increase the Length of a Baby's Naps

If your baby is more of a catnapper than a long-term sleeper, it can be hard to get things done. Hey, you might want a few spare minutes to catch up on housework, a good book or sleep for yourself. While you can't control how long your baby naps, you can create an environment that is nearly perfect for a few hours of solid slumber to get a better shot at some time for yourself and a less grumpy baby.

Things You'll Need

  • Thin blanket
  • White noise machine

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch for signs of tiredness and put your baby down when she seems tired -- not overtired, suggests sleep expert Elizabeth Pantley. When your little one is overtired, she might go to bed cranky and not sleep as long. When she starts rubbing her eyes or getting tired of her toys, get her ready for nap time to hit the ideal window of fatigue and score the most sleep.

    • 2

      Put your baby to bed when she's awake, yet drowsy, and avoid rocking her to sleep, warns MayoClinic.com. Helping your little one learn to sleep on her own can help her settle herself if she wakes from her nap too early. It also relieves you of the awkward and nap-ending transition from your arms to the bed, which can sabotage your efforts.

    • 3

      Swaddle your baby with a thin blanket to help her feel more secure during nap time. This often works well with fussy newborns who often jump and twitch in their sleep, since the blanket stops them from waking themselves up by twitching or waving their arms in their sleep. Swaddle your baby by tucking a thin receiving blanket around her body. You may need to experiment with a few different methods -- some babies prefer having their arms tucked, others like having their arms free.

      Keep loose blankets out of the crib, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics. If you choose to swaddle, the AAP also recommends you keep the blanket away from baby's face, check to ensure your baby doesn't overheat and that you always place baby on her back to sleep.

    • 4

      Create a room that is conducive to restful sleeping for your baby. Keep lights dim and the room quiet. A white noise machine can help drown out household noises, while creating a steady sound that is soothing for your sleepy baby. Just make sure to keep stuffed animals, pillows and thick blankets out of the crib, as the American Pediatric Association links them to suffocation and the occurrence of SIDS.

    • 5

      Condense your child's naps if they start getting shorter in length. It may mean your little one is ready for fewer, longer naps throughout the day. If she's currently taking two 45-minute naps, try splitting the difference in time between the two naps and aiming for just one, longer nap instead. Your baby's sleep habits are constantly changing, so you'll need to adapt, experiment and find the schedule that works best for both of you.

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