Reply To: Day time naps

[Emma H]

Hi Rebekah,

Thanks so much for getting back to me and answering all my questions!

How did yesterday go with naps?

The heat can definitely make things trickier for settling and staying asleep—it’s such a common struggle, so don’t be too hard on yourself if things feel off right now!

Before I provide suggestions I just wanted to say two things:.

First, it’s completely normal for babies at this age to have 5-6 naps a day, so you’re not alone in navigating this stage.

Second, the reason he likely sleeps well in his bassinet at night is that his circadian rhythm and sleep pressure work together to help him fall and stay asleep. During the day, only sleep pressure is at play, which makes daytime naps naturally more challenging.

Here are a few ideas that might make nap time smoother for both of you:

Morning Wake-Up Time
You mentioned that he usually wakes between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM. To help his circadian rhythm mature, which supports better overnight sleep and more predictable bedtimes, it’s really helpful to keep his morning wake-up time consistent within a 30-minute window. A consistent wake-up time also sets the stage for more predictable nap schedules throughout the day, as the timing of the first nap naturally anchors the second, third, and so on. Would you feel comfortable waking him between 7:00 and 7:30 AM each morning?

Stretching Wake Windows
He might be fighting naps because he’s not quite tired enough when it’s time to sleep. You mentioned that he’s currently awake for about an hour at a time. Gradually increasing his wake windows to around 1.5 hours might help build enough sleep pressure, making it easier for him to settle when nap time comes. This adjustment can take a little trial and error, so feel free to experiment and see how he responds!

Watch Out for Quick Naps
You mentioned that you are trying to follow the wake, feed, play, and sleep routine, but that he sometimes feeds frequently in the mornings due to reflux and gas. One thing to keep in mind is that babies can briefly fall asleep while feeding, which can be hard to notice since they may continue sucking even though they’ve stopped actively swallowing. If this happens, these micro-naps can reset his sleep pressure. For example, if you think he’s been awake for an hour, he might have only been truly awake for 30 minutes or less because he dozed off during feeding. This could explain why he sometimes seems unsettled or harder to put down for a nap.

Nap Routine

You mentioned that you’re currently putting him in his sleep sack and possibly rocking him to sleep. A small tweak to this routine could help him gradually adjust to falling asleep with less movement, making it easier to transition to laying him down in the bassinet and using the Settling Pyramid method. Here’s how it might look:

After placing him in his sleep sack, start rocking him as you normally do, but start singing a lullaby or humming (if singing isn’t your style). As he becomes drowsy, gradually stop rocking and hold him still—whether standing or sitting—while continuing to hum or sing softly until he drifts off to sleep.

This approach helps him get accustomed to falling asleep without relying on movement, as well as create a sleep association with the lullaby or the humming tune, that you can then use to help transition to using the sleep pyramid when you are ready.

Handling Wake-Ups
Since he’s falling asleep in your arms and his age, it’s likely he will wake up when he transitions between sleep cycles, which typically happens every 30–45 minutes. If this happens, you can try to resettle him back to sleep. However, it might be a bit challenging because the short nap will have already reduced some of his sleep pressure. (I talk about this in more detail in the video on Catnapping in the course)

Pacifier Considerations

If you notice that the pacifier falls out when you transfer him from your arms to the pram or bassinet, causing him to wake up, or if you find yourself needing to replace it frequently to help him fall and stay asleep, it could be contributing to the difficulties you’re experiencing. If this seems to be the case, here are two options to consider:

• Remove the pacifier just before sleep: Use the pacifier as part of the nap routine to help him relax. After completing the routine, lay him down in the bassinet/pram or hold him still in your arms with the pacifier in his mouth. Just before he falls asleep, gently remove the pacifier by placing your finger between it and the corner of his mouth to break the suction.

  Some babies will continue sleeping soundly after the pacifier is removed. If he stirs, you can use the Settling Pyramid or other settling techniques to help him resettle.

• Skip the pacifier for naps: If removing the pacifier before sleep causes him to fully wake up, you might want to try skipping the pacifier altogether at nap time.

Reflux

If you suspect that reflux is impacting his sleep or causing him to feel uncomfortable and upset throughout the day, it’s worth bringing it up with his doctor. They can offer tailored advice and possibly recommend strategies or treatments to help manage the reflux, making him more comfortable and improving his sleep quality.

Does this sound doable?

Emma