Tips to combat your baby’s fight against sleep
Because they sleep so often, you would think that putting a baby down for a nap or tucking them into bed would be easy, but this is definitely not the case! Babies stay up past their wake windows and fight sleep with the determination of a seasoned soldier. My little guy has some intense FOMO and never wants to go down for naps. Sometimes he gets so tired, he’ll fall asleep sitting up. Then he jolts himself awake as if it is his mission to keep his open. Because of his determination to stay awake all day long, I have developed a roster of techniques to win the battle of naptime with my baby.
#1 Tried & True
My go to battle tactic is shushing and patting. Once baby is ready for bed (changed, fed, cozy, & ready to drift off to dreamland) hold them close, pat their bottom gently, and make the shushing sound until baby is asleep. These actions mimic the sensation of being in the womb and help baby relax into sleep. I do this when Jackson stirs from a nap to help keep him down, and it is always my first move in the game of strategy that is nap time.
#2 A Secret Weapon
When shushing and patting isn’t enough, I have a secret weapon to pull out of my arsenal: a gentle face rub. This soothing motion encourages baby to close their eyes and helps them relax. I like to brush my finger tips straight down the forehead to the tip of the nose, but you can also rub your hand across the forehead, over the eyebrows, or down the sides of the face. Often when Jackson is fighting hard against sleep but obviously tired, getting him to close his eyes is all it takes to get him to wave the white flag. That’s why I always keep this secret weapon on hand when we go head to head over naptime.
#3 Taking The Offensive
When baby is really fighting hard, you may need to switch to a more aggressive battle strategy. Rocking in a chair, walking back and forth with baby in your arms, or bouncing them gently is a great tactic for moments like this. Studies show that babies feel more relaxed when their caregiver is standing or moving because it puts their survival instincts at ease. I prefer to rock in the rocking chair because my boulder of a son can tire out my arms very quickly, but he prefers to be walked around the house. I often end up pacing the battlefield at nap time shushing and patting as I go. Combining these battle tactics is key to getting baby to sleep before you get too worn out to continue your offensive.
#4 Calling A Truce
Sometimes you and baby need a break from the battle of putting them to sleep. Though it may seem counterintuitive, a momentary reprieve can help you both reset when the fight starts to become too much. Remember that baby feels your stress, so sometimes just refreshing yourself can make all the difference. Read a book, take a walk, play a game, sing a song or just hang out for a minute. Then try again. You may find that baby is more likely to agree to your terms of war after the break.
#5 Break Out The Big Guns
When all else fails, it may be time to turn to the heavy artillery. Pur baby in the stroller or in the car, and take them for a ride. Though not always ideal, this battle tactic is a great one to have in your playbook for those days when nothing else seems to work. The stroller is an easy go to for my little guy because it almost instantly puts him out. Be sure not to leave baby unattended while sleeping in a car seat or stroller, but feel free to ride out the nap as long as they can be supervised.
Naptime warfare can be a difficult battle with baby, but with the right tools in your arsenal you can prevail! Take a deep breath, and remember that it isn’t always going to be this hard. After a while, you’ll be surprised how natural it becomes for you to soldier on. Trust me, you can do this!
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