How to Get Babies to Take Longer Naps

Naps are important to give your baby the amount of rest she needs to cope with the serious business of growing up. Moreover, babies with good daytime naps sleep well at night and rest longer. You can cultivate the habit of healthy and longer napping in your baby with a few simple strategies. Your baby's daytime nap is beneficial not only to her but to you, as you can get things done while she sleeps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Observe your baby's nap times. Nap patterns differ among babies. Some babies nap for two hours twice a day while others nap in intervals, for example, taking four one-hour naps in a day. Understanding your baby's nap pattern helps you put her to sleep at the right time for a long time. Putting her to sleep before she is ready may result in only a very brief nap, and putting her to sleep after her she is ready may cause her to become too tired to sleep.

    • 2

      Set the right atmosphere to encourage a longer nap. Put her in a cool room and pull the blinds down to shut off outside light. Use a sleep area such as a crib where she can be comfortable and nap longer. According to Baby Center, use the same room and setting you use when your baby sleeps at night to increase her nap time.

    • 3

      Take precautions to avoid interrupting a baby's nap. Put her to sleep after she has had her feeding, otherwise she may wake from her nap crying out of hunger and become more irritated. Put a dry diaper on her before she goes to sleep. Try to turn off or quiet anything making loud noises that can be heard in her room, be it people, ringing phones or a barking dog.

    • 4

      Control the urge to pick your baby up if she breaks her nap midway and starts crying. Stand close to her and use a soothing voice to calm her down. Pat her gently and say something similar to, "It's nap time. Go to sleep, baby." Saying this conveys to the baby that it is not time for play but for sleep, which will help ease her back to sleep.

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