Is your precious baby not napping well or refusing naps? If so, their mood and health may be compromised. Lack of sleep will also affect their early memory development. As a parent, you'll get stressed out, overwhelmed, and frustrated. Fortunately, you can rely on sleep training for naps.
While naps are different from nighttime sleep, you can incorporate them into your existing sleep training. By applying proper techniques, you can help ensure that your baby is getting the right amount of sleep that they need.
Difference Between Naps and Nighttime Sleep
Is your baby sleeping well at night but struggling during naptime? That's because naps and nighttime sleep are different! Aside from the fact that various parts of the brain are at work, several factors are also at play.
For instance, you may already have an established routine for bedtime. That may include giving baths, cuddles, or lullabies at the same time and in the same order. Meanwhile, the naptime routine could be different and more challenging to maintain. You may not make it home at the same time every day, especially if you're a busy parent. Naptimes may also be just on your lap or inside the stroller or car.
Naptime and nighttime sleep include two different environments too. While it's relatively more peaceful at night — and darker — many things happen during the day. These include ringing phones, barking dogs, TV noise, and more. Some babies can't handle these different types of noise, so they have a harder time taking naps.
Maintaining Consistency With Your Chosen Sleep Training Method
Your baby needs to sleep well every day — not just some days. Even if you perfect your sleep training for naps, your baby still won't sleep well if you fail to sleep train consistently. To maintain consistency, keep the following in mind:
Stay Confident and Committed
Just because you experience some delays or hiccups doesn't automatically mean that your chosen method is already ineffective. You should believe in the method you've chosen and your ability to carry it out. Your baby might still be adjusting, or there might be external factors involved. Do not immediately doubt and dump your chosen method. Be patient and trust in the process.
Don't Be Discouraged by Your Baby's Cries
Just like how adults negatively react to a change in their daily itineraries, so do babies. The shift in their sleeping routine might cause them to shed a tear or two but know that this is to be expected and is part of the process.
Do not stop the training. Crying is simply the baby's natural response to the positive change you're employing. Sooner than later, the baby can acclimate and receive the health benefits of sleep training. Hearing their child's cry is indeed a parent's nightmare but hang in there!
Stick to a Sustainable Method
Everyone has different responsibilities to juggle, so you have to choose a sleep training method that you can realistically sustain given your circumstances. If the majority of your time can be allotted to parenting, you can choose a method that requires more attention and supervision on your part.
Meanwhile, if you're a single parent working several jobs, perhaps a training method that requires longer intervals of engagement is more your speed. You should also tailor your choice based on the specific conditions and nuances of your baby. Remember, your ability to be consistent begins from the moment you choose a sleep training method.
Helpful Tips for Sleep Training for Naps
To help you succeed in sleep training for naps, consider the following tips and techniques. This way, both you and your baby will stay happy and healthy.
Ensure Maximum Comfort
No one should go through naptime unprepared. Before you set your baby off to dream, make sure that their tummy is filled, their clothes are clean and cozy, and their diapers are unsoiled. Likewise, ensure that their bed is tidy, their blanket is ready, and their teddy (if they have one) is by their side.
Lastly, put away anything that might cause a sudden, loud noise. Without ensuring this necessary comfort, your baby might not be able to sleep soundly, if at all.
Establish the Right Mood
Ambience plays a crucial role in a baby's naptime. Thus, the room where the baby sleeps needs to be dark or dim. It has to be well-ventilated. You can even play some soft baby tunes in the background or other white noise using your Pixsee baby monitor to add to the sleepy environment. Remember, if the mood is right, the baby will sleep tight.
Follow a Nap Schedule
Ensure that your baby gets their daily dose of sleep by keeping a nap schedule. The little angel needs to have fixed and undisrupted nap times every day. Take note of the time frame from when your baby starts getting sleepy, and use that as a reference in scheduling their daily naps.
Then, make sure that no disturbances or distractions are present during naptime. Adhere to the schedule, making adjustments only for other baby necessities and emergencies.
Manage Signs of Sleep Regression
Does your baby keep yawning or crying more often than usual? Do they tend to look away even from stimulating objects? They may not be getting enough sleep. Make sure you spot signs of sleep regression too, like difficulty falling asleep compared to before, more cranky or fussy behavior, resistance to naps, and more frequent waking.
If you see these signs, introduce solutions like extra feeding, allowing self-soothing, spotting sleeping signs, and developing a sleep routine. If the situation stays the same for four or more months, you might want to seek help from family, friends, and, more importantly, reliable healthcare professionals.
Final Thoughts
Sleep training for naps might not work instantly. However, you should remain consistent and patient while following the steps shared above. After all, this is for you and your baby's health.
While keeping up with the baby may seem a bit overwhelming at times, you don't have to go it alone! Your Pixsee smart baby monitor can help you track their sleep schedules, automatically play soothing music if the baby stirs, help decode his or her cries during the night, keep an eye on the temperature and humidity in the room, and give you crystal-clear night vision so you can peek in on baby without disrupting their sleep.
Visit our Pixsee Shop and Amazon online store to learn how it can help you navigate parenthood with ease.
