You know what frustrated me most when my oldest son was a baby and a young toddler? The fact that just when I’d worked out a nice, predictable daytime sleep schedule, he’d get a little bit older, and that would blow my perfectly-crafted routine to pieces. I’m positive a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about (even those of you who've never been able to establish a nap schedule.) The first few years of a child’s life are full of changes, and those changes add up to mean
Baby Naps
Why Baby Nap Sleep Is Different Than Night Sleep
Raise your hand if this describes the scene in your home: bedtime is peaceful and easy (and followed by hours of uninterrupted sleep), while naptime is a raging battle of wills (followed by little to no sleep at all.) Guess what? My hand would be up right now, if I didn’t need both hands to type this post. ;) That scenario is a familiar one here at The Baby Sleep Site. We hear from a lot of frazzled parents who can’t figure out why their babies and toddlers sleep so perfectly (or at
5 Ways to Help Your Baby or Toddler Nap While Traveling
So many of us LOVE vacation! Whether you’re off to a tropical resort, to a cabin in the woods, or just to your parents’ house, vacation offers you the chance to escape your real-life and spend a few days or weeks relaxing. Unless that is, you’re vacationing with a baby or toddler. If that’s the case, scratch the “relaxing” part; your vacation might feel like a whole lot of work! As Glennon Doyle of Momastery.com post once wrote, “DUDE. Vacation is hard. Everyone came WITH me. And they
6 Must-Have Products for Better Baby and Toddler Napping
Baby naps are, by far, one of the most talked about and searched topics here at The Baby Sleep Site®. We all want our babies and toddlers to take longer, more restorative naps, don’t we? After all, “sleep begets sleep” and a baby who naps well is more likely to sleep well at night, too. So what can we do to encourage our babies and toddlers to get the naptime sleep they need? There are a few tools you need to encourage better napping in your baby or toddler. First and foremost, you
How Many Naps Does Your Baby or Toddler Actually Need?
Napping is a hot topic around The Baby Sleep Site®, and it’s no wonder: most of us count nap time as our favorite time of the day! Of course, naps are essential for the health and development of your baby, but don’t count yourself out -- you need a little downtime during the day, too! And naps offer the perfect opportunity for you to get a little breather. One of the most popular questions we get around here (aside from “How can I get my baby to nap longer?”) is “How many naps does
Can the “Wake to Sleep” Method Help Lengthen Your Baby’s Short Naps?
An older, wiser friend once told me, “Baby naps are God’s way of saying to parents, ‘I love you. Now go take a shower.’” Pretty accurate, right? Most parents look forward to naptimes. Ahhhh... Those brief interludes when you can actually pause for breath, do the never-ending chores, or have a little "me" time. Of course, when it comes to naps, not all babies are created equal, are they? Some of you may have babies who are marathon nappers. They may even provide you with hours of
5 Reasons a Baby Won’t Nap
Baby naps (or lack thereof) are, by far, the source of frustration for many new parents and one of the main reasons people find The Baby Sleep Site®. The reasons your baby won't nap are numerous, but this article will discuss the 5 main reasons a baby won't nap and what to do about it. 1. Your baby may be over-tired Have you ever gone to bed so late at night that you can't fall asleep very easily? This happens to me especially on nights I work late or even when I hang out with friends too
12 Month Sleep Regression and Why Not All 12 Month Olds Transition to One Nap
This post will help you learn more about the 12 month sleep regression and the transition to one nap. As your baby approaches their first birthday, most parents are beginning to wonder when it's time to transition to one nap. Why is my 12-month-old skipping naps? How will you know when it's time to transition to one nap? Don't all 12-month-olds take just one nap? Actually, they don't. It surprised me when I was a new mom, too, but the average age for a toddler to transition
Should Your Baby Nap in a Light or Dark Room?
Some say your baby's nursery should be light during the day to avoid day / night confusion while others say a darkened room will help your baby nap better. Who's right? This article will discuss whether your baby's room should be light or dark at nap time and why. It is true that your baby can get confused as to whether it is daytime or nighttime, if they are in a dark place too long and for too much of the day. This is because light or sunlight stimulating our eyes is what "sets" our