Catnapping Dilemma: What to Do When Your Baby’s Naps Are Short
G'day Thrivers, and welcome back to Thriving Parent-ing! Today, we're diving into the world of catnapping. Heaps of parents wonder: Should I be worried about it? Do I need to do anything? Can I just wait for things to change, or should I chuck them back to sleep? How can I whack up the length of their naps? This guide aims to cover the whole shebang. Whether you've got a champion catnapper or you're crook about future sleep patterns, keep on reading for insights that could temporarily change your home life and give you a more peaceful parenting journey.
What is Catnapping?
Catnapping is when bubs take short naps, usually just one full sleep cycle of 45 to 50 minutes. Sometimes, they might wake up after 20 or 30 minutes. There's a bunch of reasons why this might happen, and understanding these can help you better support your little one's sleep.
When to Expect Catnapping
Catnapping can kick in as early as six to twelve weeks old. It's a natural part of your baby's sleep getting settled in after they're born. Around the four-month mark, you might experience the infamous "four-month sleep regression" — a stage where sleep matures, and cycles become more noticeable. This can lead to more frequent wake-ups.
Understanding Sleep Cycles
At around four months, a baby's sleep starts to develop, going through four stages: drowsiness, deep sleep, light sleep, and then back to wakefulness. Every bub is different, but understanding this cycle can help you work out normal sleep patterns from any potential issues.
Why Do Catnaps Happen?
Sleep Cycles - Babies' sleep cycles change as they grow, which might mean they wake up after just one full cycle.
Tuckered Out? - If your baby's just snacking instead of having proper feeds, they might wake up hungry.
Stimulation Overload - Babies can get too wound up or not stimulated enough, affecting their ability to stay asleep.
The Big Stuff - Things like light, noise, and temperature can really impact how long they sleep for.
How to Combat Catnapping
Create a Rip-Snorter Sleep Environment
Darkness is Golden - Make sure the room is at least 80% dark, as light wakes them up.
White Noise to the Rescue - Use a white noise machine to gently drown out any disruptive noises.
Just the Right Temp - Keep the room temperature around 22 degrees Celsius for optimal sleep.
Swaddling Magic - If your bub is under 12 weeks, swaddling can help stop the Moro reflex, letting them have longer naps.
Feeding and Nutrition
Hungry Bellies? - Make sure your baby gets enough to eat. If they're waking up hungry, think about a small feed before a nap.
Solids On the Way - Around six months, introduce solids to keep them fuller for longer.
Understanding Awake Times
Awake Time Management - Learn the average awake times for your baby's age. Adjusting these times can help improve how long they sleep for.
Tired Signs - Learn to recognise early and late tired signs to get nap times spot on.
Resettling Techniques
Hold Your Horses - When your baby wakes, wait a couple of minutes to see if they can settle back to sleep themselves.
Helping Hand with Naps - Help connect their sleep cycles by supporting the end of a nap in a pram, car, or carrier.
Consistent is the Key - Keep the sleep environment the same to make resettling easier.
Conclusion
Catnapping is a common and normal part of your baby's development. Some babies will naturally grow out of it as they get older, while others might need a bit more help. Whether you're looking to lessen catnapping or find a way to work with it, there's no right or wrong way. Every bub is different, and so is every parenting journey.
“There are no perfect parents. And there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way”
Remember, there's no such thing as perfect parents or perfect children, but there are heaps of perfect moments along the way. Don't forget to soak up the little joys amongst the challenges. If managing catnaps gets too stressful, take a break and enjoy the present moment with your little champion catnappers. And if you need a hand, always feel free to reach out for extra support