Babies are, in many ways, curious creatures. They sleep for as much as 18 hours a day, yet many times when you know they’re tired and need to get some shut-eye, actually achieving naptime baby sleep can be a challenge. There are a number of reasons why your little one might have some trouble with naptime baby sleep, and there are some things you can do about it, as well.
One of the reasons that your child might be having some trouble with nighttime baby sleep is that she’s learning so much so fast. When babies develop a new skill, they practice it. Whether it’s naptime or not, your baby wants to sit up, grab objects or talk as much as he can. This is normal and natural, and sometimes your baby just wants to practice.
Sometimes, though, the problem is with the environment. You see, you need to set the right mood for naptime baby sleep. If you put baby down in the middle of a well-lit living room with the TV blaring, you shouldn’t be surprised when she won’t sleep. Accordingly, here are some of the things that you can do to set the mood for naptime baby sleep:
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Some experts suggest just slightly cool is the best temperature for baby sleep.
- Turn off the lights. Block light coming in from windows. You should, however, let it be at least a little bit brighter than nighttime.
- Use the right mattress. The mattress should be firm and comfortable for your baby.
- Younger babies should have an empty crib so as to avoid the risk of SIDS.
- Older babies (past six months of age) can have a transitional object, such as a favorite blankie.
- Keep it quiet. Don’t try to eliminate all noise, because you do want your baby to learn to sleep through some noise.
- Once naptime is over, let the light back in to signal to your baby that it’s time to wake up.