Reply To: Help with daytime naps

[Emma H]

Hi Aditi,

I’m so glad to hear that the suggestions sound doable!
In regards to your questions, I have answered them below. Please let me know if they don’t make sense or you would like me to explain something better.

Early Morning Wake-Ups

How you respond to early wake-ups depends on how much earlier she wakes:
– If she wakes around 6:00 AM: I’d recommend just starting the day when she wakes. It’s very common for babies to begin their day between 6:00-7:00 AM, as this aligns with their natural rhythm.

– If she wakes before 5:30 AM: Try treating it as a night wake-up rather than morning. Keep the lights low or off, offer a feed if needed, and follow the wake-feed-sleep routine outlined in the course. This will encourage her to return to sleep rather than starting the day too early.

Next Steps for Independent Sleep

Once she’s used to falling asleep without movement in your arms, the next step is to:
– Complete her usual nap or bedtime routine as you’ve been doing.
– After singing the lullaby, instead of holding her until she falls asleep, lay her in the bassinet while she’s still awake.
– Use the Settling Pyramid to help her fall asleep in the bassinet on her own.

This gradual transition will help her build the skills to settle independently while still feeling supported.

Finding the Right Bedtime

From what you’ve described, it sounds like the earlier bedtime (6/7:00 PM) works better for her, as she tolerates it well and still gets a long initial stretch of sleep.

Even though this earlier bedtime results in two night wakings instead of one, that’s completely normal at this stage. Many babies still need two feeds overnight at this age, and over time, she will naturally consolidate sleep and drop to one wake-up when she’s ready.

For now, I’d recommend sticking with the earlier bedtime, as it seems to work better for her mood and overall sleep quality.

Let me know how things go!

Emma