Fortunately, most babies will give you a cue before they’re ready to sleep, including yawning, glazed eyes, and other signs of tiredness. These are great indicators that it’s time to wind down the routine and get your little one to sleep. But some babies won’t give you any clues at all and you might find yourself putting your little one down too late. Learning your baby’s rhythm may take a bit of trial and error, but the results can be well worth the effort.
Should Babies Nap Close To Bedtime?
It depends on a variety of factors. Some families put their babies to bed at six, while others sleep until 10pm. The question of when to put your baby to bed is largely up to you. If your baby’s last nap is between two and three hours prior to bedtime, you can scale back the nap time. However, be prepared to see your baby wake up much earlier than usual.
Changing from two naps to one can be tiring, especially if your baby is still a newborn. Some babies adjust to the new routine more easily than others, so some parents may need to tweak the schedule for a few days. You may need to move the time of the last nap up to 15 minutes every other day. You may have to adjust the time that your baby wakes up every day to make it work for your family.
How to Handle Time Between the Nap and Bedtime
Babies need naps to recharge and restore. But extending their naps is tricky. Babies with difficulty falling back asleep will wake up and demand your attention. In these cases, you must find a way to keep your baby asleep and soothe him/her.
If possible, move up the time of the final nap to around 5pm. Then, move the time of bedtime to around 7pm. If the baby wakes up early or frequently, scale the time back a little to prevent any more disruptions. Remember that this is a normal phase of sleep development. Your baby’s sleeping pattern won’t be firmly established until the first four months.
As your baby becomes mobile, your baby’s nap needs to change. As you can see, if your baby is sleeping at 7am, it’s time to take a nap between 12:15pm and 11:30pm. This time frame is good for a healthy sleep schedule and prevents overtiredness. However, you may have to begin waking your baby up at 3:00pm to stick to an 8:00pm bedtime.
Make Your Baby Feel Comfortable While Sleeping
Babies require a great deal of sleep, which makes a good mattress an essential purchase. However, not every mattress is ideal for babies. Not only do they tend to sleep poorly, but they can also be uncomfortable. Here are some tips to choose the right mattress for your child. Choose a firm mattress – cheap mattresses tend to be soft and flimsy. For your baby’s safety, choose a more expensive mattress or look for ways to make the mattress firmer.
Choose a firm mattress with high-quality materials. An innerspring mattress is a solid, long-lasting option with heat-tempered steel coils. It also features heavy gauge steel border rods to prevent your baby from sinking to the bottom. These mattresses are also ideal for babies and toddlers because they move with your baby’s body. Some models also feature cooling features. Whichever type you choose, you’ll be sure to find one that works for your baby.
Conclusion
Although newborns often sleep for 16 hours or more per day, they can also sleep for a shorter time than that. While the initial pattern may seem irregular, your baby will eventually develop a consistent sleeping schedule and be able to go longer between feeds.
