[Emma H]

Hi!

It can be exhausting (and frustrating) when your little one just doesn’t seem to want to sleep, especially when you’re doing everything possible to make things comfortable for him.

To get a better understanding of what might be going on and to offer more tailored advice, I have a few questions for you:

• Have you tried setting a regular wake-up time in the morning? If so, what time is it? If not, when does he usually wake up?

• When you say he doesn’t sleep, does that mean he’s not napping at all during the day? Or does he nap earlier in the day but struggle to sleep in the evenings or at specific times?

• If he’s napping, how many naps is he typically having?

• How are you helping him fall asleep for naps? Could you walk me through your nap routine? Are you feeding or rocking him to sleep, or placing him in his crib?

• When he naps, do you hold him the whole time, or is he sleeping in his crib?

• Have you been able to start the wake, feed, play, sleep routine?

• I know bedtime can vary, but do you notice a general time when he tends to go down for the night?

• Have you been able to establish a bedtime routine? If so, would you mind sharing what it looks like?

• How do you settle him to sleep at night?

• Could you describe what overnight looks like for him? For example, what time does he go to bed, when does he wake for feeds, and does he go back to sleep easily, or do you need to rock him?

• When you feed him overnight, where are you doing it, and what’s the environment like? (e.g., bedroom, lights on or off, any soothing sounds, etc.)

• Are you swaddling him, using a sleep sack, or bed-sharing at all?

• Does he use a pacifier?

• Are you breastfeeding or formula feeding?

• When he’s awake during the day, does he seem generally content? Or do you notice that he’s often uncomfortable, fussy, or squirmy?

Thanks for sharing as much as you can! This information will really help me get a clearer picture and give you advice that’s best suited to his needs.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Kathleen,

I’m so glad you enjoyed the course!

Here are answers to your questions:

When to Start the Settling Pyramid: You can start using the settling pyramid when you notice that your baby has a bit of awake time after a feed. This usually appears as a wake, feed, play, sleep pattern: she wakes from a nap, feeds, stays awake for a little playtime, and then gets ready to sleep again. This pattern often starts to show up sometime after 6 weeks. Early on, this won’t happen in every wake window—sometimes she might just wake, feed, and fall right back to sleep. In those cases, there’s no need to apply the settling pyramid. But whenever she stays awake after a feed, you can begin using it to help her wind down and settle to sleep.

Waking at Night for Feeds: There are a couple of things to keep in mind here:

• Around 6-8 weeks, your baby’s natural sleep rhythm will start influencing her sleep more. One common change is a longer stretch of sleep at the beginning of the night. Instead of waking every 3-4 hours, she might start sleeping for 5 hours or more before her first feed. Encouraging this longer initial stretch of sleep is helpful, as it usually becomes the stretch that lengthens as she grows, allowing her to sleep for longer periods at night.

• In general, most healthy newborns will naturally wake up when they’re hungry and get the milk they need. If your little one is feeding well, gaining weight steadily, and following her growth curve, it’s usually fine to let her sleep and feed her when she wakes up on her own during the night. Of course, it’s always best to check with your doctor to ensure this approach is safe for her specific needs.

If your doctor gives you the green light, one thing to keep in mind if you’re breastfeeding is to monitor your milk supply. Sometimes, fewer night feedings can affect supply, so just be mindful of any changes there.

Hope this helps!
Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Giedre,

I’m so happy to hear that your little one’s sleep improved so much and that you had such a wonderful month! It’s also great to know her naps are still going well.

To better understand what might be affecting her nighttime sleep and provide you with advice, it would be great to get a bit more insight into her current routine. Could you share the following details with me?

• What does her day typically look like? Specifically, what time does she have her naps, and when does she generally wake from them?
• What time is she going to bed at night?
• How are you currently settling her to sleep at bedtime?
• Does she have a bedtime routine? If so, what does that look like?
• Is she sleeping in the same room as you and your husband?
• What is the bedroom like overnight?
• What times does she typically wake overnight? And when she wakes, are you feeding her?
• Are you breastfeeding or formula feeding?
• Does she use a pacifier to sleep?
• Do you have a set wake-up time for the morning?
• For her daytime naps, when you apply the settling pyramid, is she falling asleep in the crib on her own, or do you need to physically pat her to sleep?

I know how hectic life can be with a 4-month-old, so please take your time in answering these questions.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Seb and Cath,

Thanks so much for your detailed reply.

It is great that she is waking around 6am consistently now, that’s a good sign that her body clock is getting into a rhythm.

To help with her daytime naps there are a few things that you can try:

1. Focus on the First Nap

I know you’ve been thinking about letting her nap in the carrier for the first nap and then trying the crib for later naps. However, I’d recommend trying the first nap in the crib instead. Babies tend to find it easier to fall asleep for that first nap. As the day goes on, naps can get trickier as they become more tired and sometimes overstimulated.

So, starting with the first nap in the crib makes you more likely to succeed. For the other naps, you can still offer contact naps or use the carrier if that works for her.

Once she’s comfortable sleeping in the crib for the first nap, you can try the same approach with the second nap, using the settling pyramid. Little by little, you can extend this to the third, fourth, and fifth nap as well, until she’s napping in the crib for all of her naps when you’re home.

2. Set A Consistent Time For Her First Nap

Now that her morning wake-up time is more predictable, it’s an excellent opportunity to set a consistent time for her first nap. Having this first nap at the same time daily will encourage a more structured overall nap schedule, helping the rest of her naps naturally fall into a predictable rhythm.

To ensure she builds up enough sleep pressure to easily fall asleep for that first nap, consider gradually extending her wake window from 1 hour and 15 minutes (6:00am – 7:15am) to 2 hours (6:00am – 8:00am).

If you feel that stretching her wake window all at once would be too much for her, try adjusting it more gradually. Start by moving the first nap from 7:15am to 7:30am for 3-4 days. Once she adjusts and is comfortable with the new timing, you can move it to 7:45am for another 3-4 days and finally to 8:00am.

3. Consider Having Her Nap in the Crib Instead of the Bassinet

Since she’s already comfortably falling asleep independently in the crib at night, it might be worth considering her nap there, too, especially for the first nap of the day. I know you might be worried that moving naps to the crib could disrupt her ability to fall asleep at night, but this is unlikely. Her circadian rhythm and sleep pressure will still work together to help her fall asleep at night, and since she’s already familiar with the crib, this could actually make naps smoother as well.

Also, just a quick note—if she’s started rolling over, it’s recommended to move her from the bassinet to the crib for safety. This way, she’ll have more room to move around and sleep securely.

4. Make Sure She’s Genuinely Tired

I know you mentioned that her tired signs can be tricky to spot, and that’s totally understandable! A little tip that might help is that “I’m tired” signs can sometimes look like “I’m bored” signs. One thing you can try is switching up the activity or changing the scenery when you first notice the “I’m tired” sign. If she’s still fussy or unsettled afterwards, it’s a good sign that she’s actually tired. But if she perks up and seems happy, she is probably just a bit bored.

This can help you get a better sense of when she’s really ready for sleep!

5. Tweak the Nap Time Routine Slightly

One minor tweak that could really help is starting to make the room dark at the beginning of the nap routine. Dimming the lights or closing the blinds right from the start will cue her that it’s time to wind down for sleep. A dark environment can also help her fall asleep quicker because it reduces the number of distractions in the room. Babies can be easily stimulated by things around them, so having fewer things to look at while you read her a story or do calming activities will help her relax more easily. Plus, the darkness triggers the body to produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep, which can make it even easier for her to drift off.

Of course, you’ll still need some light to read, so consider using a soft night light. If possible, position the light behind her head, and a lamp that emits a red hue on a low setting is ideal since red light is less likely to interfere with her ability to fall asleep.

6. Don’t Worry About Using the Pacifier When Settling Her to Sleep in the Crib

You mentioned that she tends to wake up when the pacifier falls out, even though you don’t use it often. Given this, I’d suggest avoiding using the pacifier when putting her down in the crib. This way, she can learn to self-soothe without needing the pacifier, which means fewer wake-ups when it falls out.

7. Settling her to Sleep In the Crib

When it’s time to settle her for the first nap of the day, there are two approaches you can try:

The Settling Pyramid

If you’re feeling up for it, you can use the settling pyramid, which helps her practice falling asleep in the crib with your support. If you need to pick her up (climbing to the top of the pyramid), check in with yourself. If you have the energy, you can calm her in your arms and then place her back in the crib, following the pyramid steps back down as she cues you. But if you’re low on energy or she becomes too distressed, settling her fully in your arms is perfectly fine.

The Gradual Approach

If you’re not quite ready to use the settling pyramid, you can settle her in your arms after finishing the nap routine, but aim to gradually reduce the movement you’re using to help her fall asleep. For example, start by gently rocking her while patting her bottom and softly “shushing.” As she starts to calm down, stop the rocking and just stand still, continuing to pat and shush. Then, when she’s even calmer, stop the patting and just shush. Finally, stop shushing so she falls asleep in your arms without movement.

At this point, you can gently place her in the crib.

By gradually reducing the movement before she falls asleep, you’re helping her become comfortable with falling asleep without needing the rocking or bouncing. This gradual approach makes it easier to eventually transition to the settling pyramid when you both feel ready.

8. Still Do Part of the Nap Routine When You’re Planning for Her to Sleep in the Carrier or Pram

Even when you’re planning for her to nap in the carrier or pram, I’d recommend keeping part of the familiar nap routine in place to help signal to her that it’s time to sleep. For instance, you can still sing her the same lullaby that you use during her regular nap routine. Hearing that song will cue her that sleep is coming, no matter where she’s napping. This consistency will help her associate the lullaby with sleep, making it easier for her to settle down, whether she’s in her crib, carrier, or pram.

Do these suggestions seem doable?

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Seb & Cath,

It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job with your baby’s nighttime routine! It’s great to hear that she’s able to settle herself back to sleep with little intervention. That’s a big win, especially at this stage.

It’s completely normal to feel stuck when it comes to naps—they can be tricky for many babies around this age.

I’d love to help you navigate this, but before diving into specific advice, it would be helpful to get a bit more information about your little one’s daytime routine. Could you answer a few quick questions when you have a moment?

1. Does your daughter wake up at a consistent time each morning? If so, what time does she typically wake up?
2. How long is she usually staying awake between naps?
3. Have you been able to establish a wake-feed-play-sleep routine during the day?
4. Does she use a pacifier for naps?
5. When helping her fall asleep (in your arms or the carrier), is movement involved? For example, are you walking around or bouncing on the ball?
6. Is there a difference between the sleeping environment during the day and at night? You mentioned she sleeps in her crib (in your room) at night and in the bassinet during the day. Just to clarify, is she napping in the same crib for both naps and nighttime sleep?
7. Is the room where the bassinet is located dark enough during naps that you can’t see your hand if you were to hold it up in front of your face or you wouldn’t be able to read a book?
8. When preparing her for naps, it sounds like the room might be bright until you close the blinds just before putting her down. Is that the case?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Pav,

Thank you so much for the update! It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job being attentive to Ro’s needs and making adjustments as you go—that’s truly the best approach during these transitional phases.

You’re definitely on the right track with extending his wake windows and tweaking his feeding schedule to fit his current needs. As you’ve noticed, these adjustments can significantly impact nap quality, so it’s great to see that Ro is responding well to the changes.

Regarding your question about capping the first nap to encourage a longer second nap, this strategy can be effective, but it’s typically more suitable for slightly older babies.

For older babies, capping the first nap can help redistribute their total daytime sleep. And this can be helpful, because if they meet most of their sleep needs during that first nap, they may not feel the need to take a longer midday nap. So, by slightly reducing the length of the morning nap, you can extend the second nap of the day. This is especially useful as the second nap eventually becomes the primary nap they’ll rely on when transitioning to one nap around 15 months.

However, at Ro’s current age, I would recommend continuing to follow his lead. For younger babies, the first nap of the day is usually where they begin to link sleep cycles. This means the morning nap often becomes longer. Once they successfully extend their first nap, they generally become better at linking sleep cycles during their midday nap as well. As a result, the second nap tends to lengthen naturally over time without the need to adjust or cap the first nap.

I hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Pav,

It sounds like you’re really tuning into Rohan’s needs during this transition—it’s not always easy to adjust schedules!

I’m curious to hear how the last few days have gone for you? During this transition period from four naps to three, it’s definitely okay to be flexible. As you’ve noticed, one day he might manage well on three naps, but if the next day his second nap is shorter than usual (say only 30-40 minutes instead of his usual longer nap), you might need to offer a fourth nap that day. This can help ensure he gets enough daytime sleep so he’s not overtired by bedtime.

It’s all about finding that balance as he adjusts to the new schedule, and it’s completely normal to have days where you need to switch things up based on how he’s feeling.

Let me know how things have been going since your last message—I’d love to hear if anything has changed!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Giedre!

Thank you so much for the update—it’s wonderful to hear how much progress your little one has made, especially with her naps and connecting sleep cycles! You’ve clearly been putting in a lot of effort, and it’s really paying off.

In regards to improving her bedtime and night wake-ups I have a few thoughts:

Morning Wake-Up Time

It’s great to hear she’s waking up later in the morning, typically between 6 and 7 am—much better than those early 5 am starts! If you’re open to it, could you narrow down her morning wake-up time to a 30-minute window? If this is something you are willing to do, to find her ideal wake-up time, I suggest tracking her wake-ups for the next few days. For example:

• If she generally wakes between 6 and 6:30 am, then set the latest wake-up time at 6:30 am.
• If it’s more around 6:30 to 7 am, then you could set 7 am as the latest wake-up.

Keeping her wake-up time consistent will help align her internal clock and set a more stable bedtime.

Last Nap of the Day

Since she’s able to fall asleep independently for naps, her resistance at bedtime might be due to either being not quite tired enough or too overtired. Finding that perfect wake window before bedtime is key to helping her settle more easily.

Could you track her bedtime routine for a few days? Specifically, note what time she actually falls asleep in your arms and when her last nap ends. This will give us valuable insights into whether she’s ready for bed at a consistent time, potentially revealing her true bedtime. It will also help us better understand how long her wake window is before bedtime.

At 5.5 months old, most babies can handle a wake window of about 2 to 2.5 hours during the day, with the last wake window of the evening sometimes stretching to 2.5 to 3 hours. Tracking when her last nap ends and what time she’s falling asleep for the night will help us determine if her current wake window is just right or needs adjustment.

Based on her transition to 3 naps, I imagine her schedule might look something like this:

• First nap: Around 8:30/9 am
• Second nap: Around 12:30/1 pm
• Third nap: Around 4/4:30 pm, ending by 5/5:30 pm.

Does that sound close to her current schedule?

Gradually Reducing The Rocking at Bedtime

In the meantime, if she still needs to be settled in your arms at bedtime, here’s something to try: gradually reduce the amount of movement as she falls asleep. This can help her adjust to falling asleep with less intervention.

• Complete her bedtime routine as usual, and if the settling pyramid doesn’t fully work, go ahead and pick her up to soothe her.
• Start with shushing and rocking, but as she begins to calm down, slowly stop the rocking while continuing to shush.
• Once she’s relaxed, gradually stop the shushing, letting her settle more with just your presence.

This approach helps her get used to falling asleep with less movement and noise. Over time, it will make it easier to transition back to using just the settling pyramid once we fine-tune her bedtime.

Let me know how you go with tracking her wake windows and bedtime routine over the next few days.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Pav,

It’s great to hear that he’s extending his first wake window and now falling asleep around 9:10 am. Following his cues is perfectly fine, and starting that first nap a bit after 9 am is still within a good range. If he’s still asleep by 11:10 am, I recommend waking him up to ensure he has a long wake window before his next nap.

As you mentioned, longer naps generally lead to longer wake periods afterward. This is because when they wake after a long nap their sleep pressure is low, so they need more time to build it up before being ready to sleep again.

Letting him sleep as long as he needs for the first and second naps is great, but capping them at 2 hours if he’s still asleep helps maintain a consistent daily rhythm and avoids pushing the rest of his nap schedule too late.

I’m glad to hear he fell asleep for his third nap in the crib as well. This nap is often naturally shorter, which is completely normal and expected at this stage. It provides just enough rest to get him comfortably to bedtime without interfering with his nighttime sleep.

Early Morning Wake-Ups

If he wakes up at 6 am, it’s understandable to wonder whether you should try to encourage him to fall back asleep. While you can try to, it’s often quite challenging since he has likely just had over 9 – 10 hours of sleep. At this point, his sleep pressure is low, and his circadian rhythm is signalling it’s time to wake up. In this case, I would recommend getting him up and starting the day, as trying to soothe him back to sleep may lead to frustration for both of you.

Bedtime Wake Window

The wake window before bedtime is usually the longest of the day. This helps ensure he’s tired enough to fall asleep smoothly and sleep through the night. At this age, most babies tend to fall asleep between 7 and 8 pm, and their wake window before bedtime is typically around 2.5 hours.

However, it’s also important to watch his cues. If he shows signs of being ready for bed a bit earlier, such as rubbing his eyes, yawning, or becoming more irritable, don’t hesitate to start the bedtime routine a little sooner, even as early as 7 pm.

I hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Pav!
It’s so nice to hear from you and hear that your little one is doing so well!

In response to your question about moving from four naps to three, it does sound like your little one is ready to make the transition! Based on what you’ve described—needing to wake him from the first nap to fit in all four and requiring extra help for the fourth nap—he’s showing classic signs that his sleep needs are shifting toward a three-nap schedule.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to help with the transition:

First Nap: Continue putting him down around 9 am, as you’ve been doing. Let him sleep as long as he likes, but wake him by 11 am if he’s still asleep. This will give enough time for three naps and also encourage a longer second nap. Ideally, the first two naps will become the longer, restorative naps, while the third nap remains shorter.

Second Nap: Offer the second nap when he shows signs of tiredness, which at this age is usually around the 2–2.5-hour mark. He currently has a 100 minute wake window before the second nap, so try gently stretching this over a few days, adding about 5-10 minutes at a time until you reach around 120 minutes. This second nap will likely fall around 12:30/1 pm.

Third Nap: Plan for this final nap about 2 hours after he wakes from the second nap, which might be around 4/4:30 pm. The third nap tends to be a shorter one, about 30-45 minutes, providing just enough rest to get him comfortably to bedtime.

As he gets used to this new schedule, you may see him linking sleep cycles in the first and second naps, resulting in longer stretches of sleep. Over time, these two naps will meet most of his daytime sleep needs, making the third nap naturally shorter, and eventually less necessary as he continues to grow.

Adjusting Bedtime: During the transition, consider moving his bedtime slightly earlier—around 7/7:30 pm—for a few nights. This will help prevent overtiredness as he adapts. Once he’s settled into the new schedule, you can gradually shift bedtime back if needed, though many parents find that the earlier bedtime actually works well. Just note that with an earlier bedtime, his morning wake-up might adjust too. For example, if he typically sleeps 11 hours at night, a 7 pm bedtime may result in a 6 am wake-up.

Let me know if this makes sense or if you’d like more details on any part of the process.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Catherine & Sébastien,

It sounds like you’ve made wonderful progress with your little one’s sleep over the past week—well done! I’m so glad to hear the transition to her own room went smoothly.

It’s also fantastic that she’s managed to fall asleep in her crib for that first nap a few times. This shows that she’s capable of it; she just needs a bit more time and practice to make it a regular part of her routine.

I’ve answered your questions below to help guide you further.

What to Do When She Wakes After a Short Nap

It sounds like your little one may be in the catnapping phase, where she wakes up after a single sleep cycle, usually around 30-40 minutes. This is quite normal for her age and happens because she hasn’t yet developed the ability to link sleep cycles during the day. As she learns to fall asleep independently, she’ll start consolidating her naps and taking longer stretches. While this skill develops, here are two approaches you can try to help her get the rest she needs:

1. Helping Her Resettle After She Wakes:

   • Step 1: Start by observing how long she typically naps in her crib, so you can get a sense of her natural sleep cycle during the day. For example, you might notice that she consistently wakes around the 30-32 minute mark. Tracking this for a few days can give you a good idea of her usual wake-up time.
   • Step 2: Once you know her cycle, try going into her room just before she usually wakes, and gently soothe her back to sleep. You can use familiar techniques like patting her back/bottom, gently rubbing her tummy, or quietly shushing. The goal is to help her link sleep cycles and ease back into another nap period.
   • A Note on Resettling: Resettling can be a bit challenging because even a short nap can take the edge off her sleepiness, making it harder for her to fall back asleep. So, if you’ve been trying for about 10-15 minutes and she’s still not resettling, it’s perfectly okay to end the nap and start her next wake window. Trying this approach consistently for a few days can sometimes help lengthen naps, but if it doesn’t seem to work, there’s no need to stress—her naps will eventually lengthen naturally.

2. Embrace the Catnaps (Preferred Approach):

   • The other option is to go with her current rhythm and let catnaps be part of her day. When she wakes after a single sleep cycle, simply pick her up and start the next wake window.
   • Adjusting Her Wake Windows: If she takes a short nap, her next wake window may be a bit shorter, as she hasn’t had as much rest. You might find that she’s ready to go back down for another nap sooner than usual. With this approach, you’ll likely be offering more frequent naps throughout the day to ensure she’s getting enough total sleep.

Both approaches are perfectly fine, and there’s no “right” or “wrong” choice—just what works best for you and her. With time and practice, she’ll naturally start to consolidate her naps and sleep longer as her sleep matures.

Starting a Second Nap in Her Bed:

If you feel ready, introducing her second nap in the crib and using the settling pyramid to help her fall asleep is a great step. The more chances she has to practice falling asleep independently in the crib with your guidance, the faster she’ll likely pick up this skill. Once she’s able to settle herself to sleep, her daytime naps should start to naturally lengthen, as she’ll be able to connect sleep cycles more easily.

Since her crib nap may be short, you might need to adjust her next wake window to offer another nap a bit sooner.

Fixed Schedule vs. Wake Windows:

Since nap lengths can vary a lot at this age, it’s actually a great approach to focus on combining wake windows with your little one’s tired cues and following a wake, feed, play, sleep routine to guide when her next nap should be. This flexible, needs-based approach allows you to adapt to her changing nap lengths without being too rigid, which is key in these early months.

Over time, you’ll likely notice a natural rhythm beginning to develop. Usually, the first nap of the day becomes consistent first (which it has started to already), and then the second, and so on. As each nap starts to fall into place, a more predictable schedule will gradually emerge, often leading to a more stable routine around 6 months. Until then, continuing with wake windows, tired cues, and the wake, feed, play, sleep rhythm will support her in getting the rest she needs.

I hope this helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Giedre,

Thank you for answering these questions!

Here’s my understanding based on what you shared:

For daytime naps, it sounds like she is sleeping in her crib after you go through a nap routine. You’re placing her in the crib, and sometimes she falls asleep on her own, but if she doesn’t, you use the settling pyramid to help her drift off. Just to clarify—she isn’t falling asleep in your arms or during feeding and then being transferred to the crib, correct?

It looks like her first nap of the day happens around two hours after her morning wake-up, typically between 5:30-6:30 am. As a side note, you mentioned she doesn’t go back to sleep if she wakes at 5 am. This is understandable, as her sleep pressure is likely low after 9+ hours of on-and-off sleep, and her circadian rhythm is encouraging her to start the day.

Could you let me know her age and how many naps she’s taking each day?

You cap her last nap at 6 pm, and her bedtime routine starts at 7:30 pm, including a bath, white noise, sleep sack, and breastfeeding. Are you currently breastfeeding her in your bedroom with the lights off? Do you currently feed her until she falls asleep or are you feeding her and then rocking her until she nods off?

Given that the settling pyramid was effective in the past but has stopped working, her sleep needs might have shifted. It’s possible she needs more awake time before bed to fall into a deeper sleep. Currently, waking every 15-20 minutes could be a sign she isn’t quite tired enough to stay asleep.

Have you noticed if she tends to fall asleep and stay asleep around the same time each night? If not, could you try recording her sleep patterns over the next 3-4 nights, noting what time she falls asleep and stays asleep? It would also be helpful to track when her last nap ends each day, as this can help us identify the ideal wake windows.

In response to your question about moving her to her own room, the timing is a personal decision that depends on what feels right for both you and your little one. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first six months, ideally up to one year. This is primarily for safety and to reduce the risk of sleep-related issues.

Some parents decide to move their baby to a separate room around six months, especially if it seems like everyone might sleep better with a bit of distance. For example, babies can sometimes wake more often from hearing noises from parents nearby, like rustling, talking, or moving in bed. These little sounds may disturb their sleep, making it harder for them to stay asleep or settle on their own.

On the other hand, some parents notice they wake up to every little sound their baby makes. Babies naturally stir, grunt, or move around in their sleep, and it’s easy to feel the need to respond to each sound. Moving the baby to their own room can help parents rest better without being woken by each small noise, and it can also encourage the baby to practice settling themselves back to sleep, which can be an important step in developing independent sleep skills.

Whenever you decide to move her, I recommend placing her crib in the new room and having her nap and sleep there consistently. If possible, start with her first night’s sleep in the new room. Babies often find it easier to sleep at night due to high sleep pressure and their circadian rhythm, so she may adjust more smoothly.

Sorry for asking more questions!

Emma

[Emma H]

You’re so welcome, Pav! It’s totally understandable to overthink—it’s all part of being a caring parent. The fact that he’s a happy baby is such a great sign, so you’re definitely on the right track!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Xu Shan,

I’m so glad to hear that the nighttime routine is working well for your baby’s sleep! It sounds like you’ve created a great foundation, and those longer stretches of sleep at night are definitely a positive sign of progress.

When it comes to his daytime naps, the shorter naps could be a sign that he may not be quite tired enough when you’re putting him down. You could try adjusting his wake windows slightly to see if that leads to longer, more restful naps. Sometimes, just an extra 10-15 minutes of awake time can make a big difference.

In terms of using the pacifier for naps, it’s a tool that can help, but tweaking how and when you use it might lead to better sleep. Here’s an approach you could try:

1. Start with the pacifier: When he shows signs of being tired, allow him to use the pacifier as part of the nap-time routine.

2. Lay him down with the pacifier: After completing your routine (diaper change, calming activities, etc.), lay him down in his crib while he still has the pacifier in his mouth.

3. Use the Settling Pyramid: Help him settle by using the Settling Pyramid method to guide him toward falling asleep.

4. Remove the pacifier before sleep: Just before he falls asleep, gently remove the pacifier by placing your finger between the pacifier and the corner of his mouth to break the suction.

Some babies will continue to sleep soundly after the pacifier is removed, while others might stir. If he stirs, you can use the Settling Pyramid again to help him get back to sleep. If he fully wakes up when you remove the pacifier, you might want to try skipping the pacifier altogether at nap time and using the Settling Pyramid from the start to help him fall asleep on his own.

I hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Pav,

When it comes to dream feeds, it’s not something I would typically recommend. This is mainly because babies tend to have a natural long stretch of sleep at the beginning of the night, which is influenced by their circadian rhythm and high sleep pressure at that time. Disrupting this stretch with a dream feed could interfere with their natural sleep cycle, and many babies may not even feed well when woken from this deep sleep phase.

While many babies at this age may still wake for 2-3 feeds overnight, it’s perfectly okay for some to sleep through the night without needing a feed. If your baby is content, growing well, and not waking for night feeds, there’s no need to introduce a dream feed simply because the gap between feedings seems long.

Regarding dropping the fifth nap, yes, when that happens, it’s common to have two feeds in the same wake window. So, after nap four, you’d have a feed, followed by some playtime, and then a second feed just before bed.

I hope that helps!

Emma