One of the most popular questions we get around here (aside from “How can I get my baby to nap longer?”) is “How many naps does my baby/toddler need each day?”

All babies are different and your baby will develop at a different pace than other babies the same age. Even twins develop at a different pace, sometimes! Just like some babies will walk first and some babies talk first, the age at which your baby will transition to fewer naps will vary, too.

Newborns and Naps

In those first few months after your baby is born, it’s best not to worry much about a napping schedule. Your baby’s brain is developing, central nervous system maturing, and sleep is organizing. As we’ve previously shared:

In the beginning, your newborn sleeps most of the time and you don’t usually have to worry too much about naps. Your newborn’s sleep schedule and patterns are highly unpredictable, usually, so it’s hard to tell if she will have 5 naps or 8 on any given day. You’ve just given birth (or partnered the birth), so as long as she sorts out the difference between day and night, you probably won’t stress too much about it, unless she isn’t “sleeping like a baby.”

Once your newborn has become more social, you may begin to have more napping challenges. You may also want more predictability in your day. This won’t come easily for some babies, depending on age, but you can begin focusing on getting your baby to nap better and get on a schedule, especially if your baby won’t nap at all. No naps or short naps can lead to fussiness (for you and baby!) and make it difficult for your baby to sleep through the night.

How Many Naps Do Babies and Toddlers Need?

Here are some guidelines for how many naps your baby or toddler likely needs:

• From 1-4 months, the number of naps your baby takes will be variable, but will hover around 4-5 naps per day, depending on how long his naps are and how long he can stay up between naps.
• By 3 or 4 months old, she will lean towards just 4 naps, rather than 5.
• From 5-8 months, most babies will have three naps per day (though my son had four until after 7 months). They will start to resist the fourth nap, no matter how tired they are. There are a few babies who will only have two naps at a very young age, but those naps are usually long.
• From 9-15 or 18 months, on average, your baby will nap two times a day. Although many people believe most babies can transition to one nap at 12 months, the average age is actually 15 to 18 months.
• From 18 months to 4 years, toddlers nap once a day. The age to transition away from all napping varies a lot, from 2 to 5+ years old, but the average age is between 3 and 4 years old.

Remember, these are general guidelines and all babies are different. We have seen a few 10 month olds taking just one nap while others are taking three naps, still. Your baby’s sleep needs will vary. You should also know that a nap should be at least an hour to be considered restorative, except for any third or fourth nap of the day, which are almost always catnaps of about 30-45 minutes each.

My Baby/Toddler Won’t Nap — Help!

If you’re looking at that chart, shaking your head, and thinking to yourself, “I wish!” then it may be time to do something about it! Again, there’s no set of rules that your baby or toddler has to follow when it comes to naps, but the fact remains that young children need naps to grow and develop properly. So, if you know your baby or toddler isn’t getting the naps or sleep he needs, be proactive, and consider working on your baby’s nap schedule.

You may want to view and bookmark our sample baby sleep and feeding schedules by age. And, if you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 40 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

Or, join our Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, discounts, peer support, and more! It actually costs less to join than buying products separately. For those looking for a more personalized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations. It’s not that you can’t make a plan; sometimes, you’re just too tired to do it yourself!

Is your child a champion napper? A no-napper? Something in between? Share your story!

Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated. Maybe all you need to count your Mother’s Day a success is for someone else to do the dishes for a change! Regardless of whether your Mother’s Day celebrations are big or small, we think there are three important things you moms out there should do for yourself this Mother’s day.

• Get some sleep. It wouldn’t be a Baby Sleep Site blog post if we didn’t mention sleep, right? If you’re an exhausted mom (and as a reader of this blog, you probably are), then put your own sleep needs first this Mother’s Day. Recruit your spouse or partner to watch the baby for a few hours in the afternoon so that you can get a much-needed nap. Or, if possible, ask them for the gift of a full night’s sleep — they can get up with the baby for the 1 a.m. feeding! (Breastfeeding moms, you can pump this once, can’t you?) If your partner isn’t in the picture, consider asking friends or family members to take your baby or toddler for the afternoon. You’ll be amazed at how far a few uninterrupted hours of sleep will go towards making you feel like a new woman!
• Do something you enjoy. A mom can’t live on sleep alone, so use your Mother’s Day to indulge in a few hours spent doing something you love. Maybe you’ve been longing for an afternoon out with friends — use Mother’s Day as your excuse to do it! Maybe you’re dreaming of sitting in a coffee house, sipping something warm and reading a good book. Or perhaps your desires are even simpler — maybe all you want is a little time sitting on your own couch, savoring some peace and quiet that you know won’t be interrupted by any little ones. Whether you’re longing to do something big and extravagant or small and simple, use Mother’s Day as a chance to do it. Every mom needs little breaks to get away and recharge her batteries, after all. Ask your spouse or partner to help you make this happen, or considering asking friends or family members (or even a trustworthy babysitter) to take the kids for a bit. And remember — taking some time for yourself isn’t selfish. It can feel that way, but spending an afternoon or evening away from your baby, doing something you enjoy, may be just what you need to feel renewed and refreshed. And that will likely make you an even better mom.
• Spend some time with your baby (or babies). After you’ve gotten some sleep and taken a few hours to do something you love, take some time and spend it with your little ones. After all, they get the credit for making you a mom in the first place! Mother’s Day can be a great chance for you to spend a few hours playing, snuggling, reading, or just being lazy with your kids. Use the day to do things you don’t normally have extra time to do: paint pictures, bake cookies, read a whole stack of books, play dress-up, or watch a movie from start to finish. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy your children when you set aside your normal responsibilities (work, chores, bills, etc.) and focus on having fun with your kids.

A few hours of sleep, some time spend doing what you love, and a few hours devoted to enjoying your little ones — sounds like a great day to us From all of us here at the Baby Sleep Site to all of you: Happy Mother’s Day!

How do you plan to spend your Mother’s Day? Big plans? Small plans? Let’s hear it!

And don’t forget to enter our Spoil Mom! Mother’s Day Giveaway

Feel like you’re too exhausted to even think about enjoying Mother’s Day? Maybe we can help! Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Family Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. – Erich Fromm,

And, as Mother’s Day in the U.S. approaches, we like to do a little something extra for all the moms out there with a giveaway just for you! Starting today through Sunday, May 13th, you can enter our “Spoil Mom!” giveaway for a chance to win a Bath and Body Spa Basket, a fabric cosmetic bag from our friends at Ambajam, and a Basic Sleep Email Consultation package.

Entries for this giveaway will be accepted today through 11:59 PM EST, May 13, 2012. Winners will be drawn on Monday, May 14, 2012 and notified by email. You can enter the giveaway using the form below and we’re offering multiple ways to enter! Using the widget below, it will offer you the variety of options for how to enter and you can choose which ones to do. Plus, there are a few additional ways not offered with the widget to also enter, which are explained below.

Listed below are the prizes we’ll be giving away for the Spoil Mom Giveaway. (*Note: Shipped prizes available to US Residents only. The Email Consultation package prize is open to entrants worldwide.) Read below for more information about the prizes.

Grand Prize- $150 Gift Certificate to Target OR Amazon

The Grand Prize Winner for the Spoil Mom! Giveaway will have their choice of either a $150 Gift Card to Amazon or to Target. Either gift card can be used to order easily online or the Target Gift Card can also be used in a Target Retail Store. (*Please note that the Target gift card option is only available to US Residents. If you are outside of the US and are drawn for the grand prize, you will receive the Amazon Gift Card.)

Vanilla Therapy Bath and Body Spa Basket

This gift basket includes all things mom needs to feel exotic, relaxed and pampered. Perfect for an at home spa day! This gift basket includes:
* Moisturizing Body Lotion
* Invigorating Body Spray
* Moisturizing Bath & Body Gel
* Soothing Body Butter * Moisturizing Body Scrub
* Soft Bath Loofah Ball
* Sisal Back Loofah
* Assorted Toffee Chocolates
* Wooden Foot Massager
* Therapeutic Back Massager
* Relaxing Aromatherapy Candle
* Room Aromatherapy Diffuser w/Reed Sticks
* Aromatherapy Potpourri
* Vanilla Room Spray
* Luxurious Terry Cloth Bath Towel.

Basic Email Baby Sleep Consultation Package

What better way for Mom to pamper herself than to get more sleep! Your baby’s sleep shouldn’t be stressful and The Baby Sleep Site strives to provide a strong, non-judgmental, support network to help you and your family sleep better. Our website has helped countless families through free online articles, step-by-step e-Books, and private and personalized sleep consulting services.

One winner will win the Basic E-mail Consultation Package (Personalized Sleep Plan™ Plus One Follow-Up) to help with your sleep struggles. You’d be surprised how far you can get in just two e-mails! If you already have an account, your account will be credited.

Mille Fleur Large Cosmetic and Toiletry Bag from Ambajam

These bags are signature Ambajam – fun, vibrant, colorful and functional! Available in a variety of sizes to meet most every need you have!

As you transition away from the diaper bags this bag is perfectly sized to accommodate a couple of diapers, a pack of wipes and any other necessity for a day out.

It is also an ideal size for all your toiletries when you are traveling. The nylon interior lining allows for easy wash and care. One lucky winner will receive this adorable Cosmetic & Toiletry Bag from Ambajam. See what else Ambajam has for moms and babies on their website.

Deadline to enter is Sunday, May 13, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EDT.

You can receive additional entries by also becoming a Fan of Ambajam on Facebook or following them on Twitter. Just leave a comment below letting us know that you became a fan or followed them.

Moving is not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!

But what about our kids? Moving is a stressful event for an adult; is it stressful for your baby? What about for your toddler or preschooler? The answer is yes — moving is just as stressful for children as it is for adults. And that stress can cause some big sleep problems for your baby or toddler.

Why Moving Affects Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

According to a report by the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Moving to a new community may be one of the most stress-producing experiences a family faces.” As adults, we tend to stress over the logistics of the move itself — selling the house, packing the belongings, etc. While young children won’t stress about those details, they will feel the anxiety that such an enormous change causes. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers tend to thrive with predictable routines; when those routines are disrupted, it can make them anxious, particularly if they are slow to adapt or sensitive. And of course, moving is totally disruptive — new room, new house, new school/daycare, new friends, etc.

How Moving Affects Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

For babies, the stress of moving is directly related to a disruption in routine, and there is no emotional or psychological element involved. For toddlers and preschoolers, however, it’s a different story. Toddlers and preschoolers feel the stress of a move the same way adults do, but they lack the vocabulary and self-awareness to articulate those feelings. Some of the ways toddlers and preschoolers may express their anxiety include:

• Increased clinginess
• Regressive behavior (bedwetting, thumb sucking, etc.)
• Decreased appetite or complaints of stomach aches
• Anxious habits (licking lips, twirling hair, etc.)
• Unusual behavior (increased shyness, increased aggressiveness, etc.)

How Moving Affects Naptime and Nighttime Sleep

All phases of the moving process (before, during, and after) can impact a child’s sleep:

Before the move:

Stress always hinders sleep, for both children and adults. And since moving tends to be a very stressful process, it can disrupt sleep in a big way. You may find that your “normal schedule” is far from normal as you work to house-hunt, pack, and sort out the details of your move. This can lead to short naps or missed naps for your child.

In addition, the stress of the upcoming move might cause your toddler or preschooler to have frequent nightmares, or to begin grinding her teeth at night, two sleep issues that are known to be caused by stress.

On moving day:

When the time for the move finally comes, everyone’s bound to be more sleepless than usual! This is especially true if your move is cross-country or international and will take a few days of traveling to complete. During those days, your children may have to sleep in hotel rooms, or even on an airplane. Unfamiliar settings like this certainly don’t encourage sleep, and you’ll likely find your child waking more frequently, or even refusing to lie down and sleep for naps and at bedtime.

After the move:

Once you actually get to your new place, the unfamiliarity of your surroundings may cause your child to wake frequently, or to resist going to sleep at all. This is particularly true if you use the move as an excuse to redecorate and end up purchasing your toddler a new bedroom set, or if you paint your preschooler’s room a new color. That’ll only add to the unfamiliarity of the new room.

In addition, your new home may be associated with new noises. If you’ve moved to the city, for example, you may have more traffic noise to contend with. And moving to the country doesn’t necessarily mean peace and quiet — when my husband and I moved into our first house (a rural little ranch), it was the middle of summer, and the bug noises at night were deafening!

Finally, if you’re moving cross-country or overseas, your child’s sleep challenges may be extra difficult. You have all of the above factors to contend with PLUS the jetlag that comes with traveling across time zones. Even a one or two hour time difference can be hard on very young children!

How To Help Your Baby, Toddler, or Preschooler Sleep Well During the Move

A move will be less disruptive for babies than it will be for a toddler or preschooler. For infants, simply do what you can to keep the routine as normal possible, and keep familiar objects (bedding, loveys, etc.) on-hand — make sure they don’t end up packed away in a box!

For toddlers and preschoolers, there’s no way you can make the physical and psychological stress of moving completely disappear. There are, however, steps you can take to minimize it.

Before the move:

• Talk to your toddler or preschooler about the move well in advance. It may seem like waiting until the last minute to tell your child about the move will make things easier, but the opposite is true. Your child needs time to process and prepare for the move, so start talking about it early.
• Give your toddler or preschooler the grand tour. If possible, take your child on a tour of the new house and the new town. Show them their daycare or preschool, point out playgrounds, and show them each room in the new house.
• Turn your toddlers and preschoolers into packers! Encourage your child to help you pack, especially when it comes time to pack up his own room. If he feels like part of the process, it may help ease his fears a bit.

On moving day:

• Say goodbye. Walk through each room of your house and say “good bye” to it. This’ll help toddlers and preschoolers develop closure. If your preschooler has a few special friends she’ll no longer be able to see, make sure she has a chance to say goodbye to them, too.
• Get help, if you need it. If the moving process is going to be an extended affair, consider hiring a professional moving company to do the loading and unloading. That way, you’ll be available to your child and won’t be preoccupied.

After the move:

• Set up your child’s room first. Make sure that your child’s bed is made, clothes put away, and toys in their appropriate places before you tackle the rest of the unpacking. It’ll be easier for her to sleep in a neat, tidy room than in a chaotic, box-filled one!
• Take a few days. In the first few days after your move, stay home as much as you can. Consider taking time off work. This’ll facilitate unpacking and will help your child adjust faster.
• Keep things normal for awhile. Make sure that the first month or so after your move is as “normal” as possible. Don’t plan a family vacation, or a major surgery, etc. in those early weeks after the move.

If you’re moving across time zones, and you expect jetlag to be a problem, the following steps can help your child adjust to the new time schedule:

• Think twice about keeping the baby awake. It might be fine to keep a preschooler awake even when he’s tired and have him sleep and wake according to the new place’s time schedule. But beware of that approach with babies and young toddlers; it could make them overly tired, which can create even more problems. You may need to wake her from sleep or make her go to bed when she’s not tired, so that she’ll adjust to the new day-night cycle, but prepare to be patient — it’ll be best for everyone if she’s allowed to adjust gradually.
• Get some rays! Exposure to sunlight can help “re-set” your body’s clock and help differentiate between day-night cycles, so spend time outside, if possible.
• Take a few days (at least!) If possible, plan a few days off after the move to give everyone time to adjust to the new time zone. In general, it takes one day for each hour time change.

Have you moved with kids? Share your tips!

Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Family Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

A diagnosis of ASD presents numerous challenges to families — challenges related to learning, to physical and social development, and (the number one thing we tend to concern ourselves with around this site) sleep. It’s estimated that anywhere from 40% – 80% of ASD children have significant sleeping issues related to their diagnosis.

Why do Autism Spectrum Disorders Affect Sleep?

Unfortunately, there’s no specific, easily-identified reason why children with ASD are more likely to have difficulty sleeping than those without. This is probably because ASD is a variable disorder itself. The way it manifests, and the problems it causes, vary from child to child.

There are, however, some general theories as to why ASD may causes sleep disorders:

• Social Cues: Children with ASD typically have a harder time reading social cues than other children do. This can make socializing hard for ASD children; it can also make bedtime hard! ASD children are less likely to register the social cues that it’s time to go to sleep (seeing their siblings putting on pajamas, listening to mom reading a bedtime story, etc.) They have difficulty seeing these as pre-bedtime rituals the way other children likely would.
• Increased sensitivity to light, sound, and/or touch: Some children with ASD under-respond to stimuli like light and noise; others over-respond. This is commonly referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD. It should be noted that while a large percentage (70% – 80%) of autistic children also have SPD, autism and SPD are separate diagnoses. So it’s possible for a child to have one without having the other. Children who are hypersensitive to stimuli may have difficulty sleeping For example, a child who’s extremely sensitive to light may find even a dim nightlight distracting. Or a child who’s hypersensitive to sound may be awoken by even the faintest noises. And a child who is extremely sensitive to touch may find the feel of sheets next to his skin unbearable.
• Low levels of melatonin: The hormone melatonin helps regulate the human body’s circadian rhythms (or daytime/nighttime cycles.) For most of us, our melatonin levels rise when it gets dark outside, making us sleepy; then, they drop off when the sun comes up, helping us feel awake and alert. Children with ASD, however, have lower-than-normal levels of melatonin, which may explain why they sometimes have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep at night.
• Anxiety: Feeling anxious can make any child sleepless. Children with ASD, however, are especially prone to feelings of anxiety; a large percentage of children with ASD even suffer from anxiety disorders.

Effects of Sleep Disorders on Autistic Children and Their Families

Poor and interrupted sleep obviously affects an ASD child’s nights, but this kind of chronic sleep deprivation may also affect his daytime behaviors. Sleep deprivation has been shown to have the same negative affects on children with ASD as on non-autistic children: increased irritability and aggression, depression, increased hyperactivity and emotional problems, and behavior problems.

And of course, the ASD child isn’t the only one affected — parents and siblings feel the effects, too. Siblings, as well as parents, may suffer sleepness right alongside the ASD child, and that kind of endless sleep deprivation can take a serious toll (maybe even put your marriage or relationship at risk.)

Helping Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Get a Good Night’s Sleep

The first step in helping your child with ASD get the rest she needs is to make sure that her sleep disorder isn’t related to something else. Make sure that her sleeplessness doesn’t stem from sleep apnea, teeth grinding, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), or another physical cause. Once you’ve ruled these out, you can begin implementing meaningful solutions.

Consider the following ways to help your child with autism get the sleep he needs:

• Keep a sleep diary: Keeping a sleep diary can help you identify any patterns in your child’s sleep disturbances and then work on solutions that match the problem patterns. And if your child is older, it can be a way for him to take ownership of his sleep disorder and become a partner (instead of merely a by-stander) in the problem-solving process.
• Develop a bedtime routine: Children with autism spectrum disorder must have predictable daily routines to help them feel safe and make sense of the world around them. Therefore, a bedtime routine (which is helpful for all kids) is especially crucial for ASD children. As you build a bedtime routine, try to build it with intention: don’t include any patterns or routines that you know you’ll have to break later (even if they’ll make your life easier in the short term!) Also keep in mind that children with autism don’t respond well to abrupt and unexpected changes. So it’s probably best to ease into the new routine.
• Evaluate the sleeping environment: If hypersensitivity is an issue for your child, evaluate their bedroom to see if anything there may be causing problems. Then, work to create a sleep environment that’ll be restful and soothing for your child. That could mean installing thick carpet to muffle noise (if your child is sensitive to sound) or hanging room-darkening curtains (if your child is sensitive to light). For children who are sensitive to touch, these weighted blankets have been shown to help. And you may even need to consider a custom-made bed designed specifically for autistic children (like this one) if your child is getting out of the bed and wandering the house at night, and you have concerns about her safety.
• Consider medication (but only as a last resort!) Vitamins and other supplements, like melatonin or iron, may help improve an ASD child’s sleep and are considered good options, as long as they’re administered under a healthcare provider’s supervision. However, sleep medications should be a last-resort option, and they should only be used in conjunction with some of the strategies listed above. Otherwise, once the child stops taking the medication, the sleeping issues will likely return full-force.

If you feel that your baby or toddler may be showing signs of ASD behavior, we recommend you consult your child’s healthcare provider for further information and testing.

Today, we live in a day and age in which families affected by ASD have abundant resource for help and education available to them (although there’s certainly room for more research into causes and treatments). And we here at the Baby Sleep Site count ourselves among those resources! We’re dedicated to helping every child, including those with special needs like Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder can present many challenges for families, to be sure, but it doesn’t have to mean years of sleep deprivation.

Have you been personally impacted by an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis? Share your story!

Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Article Sources:

Autism Society
http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/national-autism-awareness-month/

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/asd.cfm

Web MD
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/helping-your-child-with-autism-get-a-good-nights-sleep

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
http://www.sinetwork.org/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html

Autism Speaks
http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/melatonin-shows-promise-improving-sleep-problems-children-autism

SensoryProcessingDisorder.com
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/autism-anxiety-overload.html

Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100502080232.htm

Autism Day-by-Day Blog
http://autismdaybyday.blogspot.com/2012/03/sleep-deprivation-and-our-mental-health.html

The National Autistic Society (based in the UK)
http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/understanding-behaviour/sleep-and-autism-helping-your-child.aspx

Autism Support Network
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/establishing-positive-sleep-patterns-young-children-autism-spectrum-disorder-2271623

National Autism Resources Blog
http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2012/03/05/creating-a-good-sleep-environment-for-the-child-with-autism-asperger’s-or-special-needs/

SensaCalm
http://www.sensacalm.com/

Noah’s World LLC
http://noahsworldllc.com/

There’s no doubt that co-sleeping is a controversial topic, with parents offering strong and emotional opinions on both sides. Reports like the one in USA Today seem to indicate that co-sleeping is dangerous, but co-sleeping advocates point to research showing that it’s safe. So what do we make of this? Is co-sleeping actually dangerous? Should you and your baby co-sleep?

Defining Our Terms: Co-Sleeping vs. Room Sharing vs. Bed-Sharing

First, let’s get our terms straight. Co-sleeping simply means that a child shares a sleeping space with a parent. With that in mind, co-sleeping can mean a baby sleeping in the same bed as his parents; however, it can also mean a baby in a bassinet next to the bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls that kind of sleeping arrangement “room-sharing”. Room-sharing is considered completely safe, as long as baby’s sleeping area follows safety guidelines (no loose bedding, firm mattress that’s flush with the sides of the bassinet, tight-fitting bottom sheet, etc.) Bed-sharing refers to the practice of parents and children sharing the same bed. Bed-sharing (specifically when infants are involved) carries far more risks than other forms of co-sleeping.

Can Co-Sleeping Be Dangerous?

Room-sharing is safe; bed-sharing, however, is inherently risky, specifically when it involves young infants. As rates of bed-sharing continue to rise in the United States, so do the rates of infant deaths related to bed-sharing. The most obvious danger related to bed-sharing is suffocation. An adult (or an older child) can roll on top of a baby, or the baby can be smothered by the large pillows and heavy blankets that most adults use in bed. Some less obvious dangers include a baby falling from the mattress to the floor, or a baby becoming wedged between the mattress and the headboard/footboard or wall. The mattress itself can also be a threat; if it’s overly soft, a baby can sink too low and suffocate.

As a growing number of babies die due to bed-sharing, health organizations are stepping up their efforts to warn parents. The AAP, along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has issued precautions against bed-sharing, warning parents that it puts babies at a much higher risk of suffocation. And warnings like these aren’t just happening on a national scale; they’re happening at the local level, too. Bed-sharing was blamed for causing increasing rates of infant death in Milwaukee, WI, so the city’s health department responded by releasing a highly controversial ad depicting a baby curled up (in an adult bed) next to a large butcher knife. When critics attacked the ad as extreme (and it is), Milwaukee’s Commissioner of Health replied, “…what is even more shocking and provocative is that 30 developed and underdeveloped countries have better [infant death] rates than Milwaukee.”

Can Co-Sleeping Be Safe?

Again, room-sharing arrangements are considered very safe. In fact, the AAP recommends room-sharing as the best sleeping arrangement for infants, since it’s been shown to produce lower rates of SIDS than a solitary sleeping arrangement (which places baby in a room by herself.) And while bed-sharing is statistically less safe, advocates of bed-sharing point out that research studies (like the one cited in the USA Today article) fail to account for a variety of factors and ultimately make bed-sharing seem more dangerous than it actually is.

For example, researchers refer to bed-sharing as a baby and an adult sharing an “adult bed.” But an adult bed doesn’t necessarily mean an actual bed — in these studies, it can also mean a couch, or a recliner, or a waterbed (all surfaces that bed-sharing advocates would never recommend using). Research studies also fail to account for safety factors like smoking, or drug and alcohol abuse (parents who smoke or use drugs or alcohol should never bed-share.) Even factors like obesity, which advocates say should be considered (since obese parents are advised not to bed-share), aren’t considered in research studies.

Supporters of bed-sharing claim that when these factors are considered, research shows that safe bed-sharing practices make putting a baby to sleep in an adult bed just as harmless as putting a baby to sleep in a crib. In fact, a 2006 study indicates that when researchers controlled for these kinds of safety factors, rates of infant death related to safe bed-sharing proved to be very low.

Supporters also point to the fact that co-sleeping in all its forms (including bed-sharing) has been the norm for human infants since the dawn of time, while putting babies in cribs, in their own rooms, alone, is a practice that’s less than 200 years old. Anthropologist Dr. James McKenna, an outspoken advocate of co-sleeping, points to these facts as proof that mothers and babies are biologically designed to sleep together, and he asserts that co-sleeping is the best sleeping arrangement for families.

Finally, bed-sharing advocates emphasize that while co-sleeping is no longer standard practice in most Western cultures, it remains the norm in many, many countries around the world. These advocates are quick to point out that if it works for families around the globe, it can work for families in the West.

An important note, though, about comparing bed-sharing in Western countries to bed-sharing around the world: the comparison isn’t always a fair one. Western-style beds (with their soft, elevated mattresses as shown above, and their abundance of pillows and blankets) make bed-sharing more dangerous than do other types of beds found around the world. What’s more, health-habits vary worldwide, making the bed-sharing comparison a tricky one. Western mothers are more likely to smoke than are Japanese mothers, for example; this may partly explain why Japan has an extremely low rate of deaths related to bed-sharing. It’s best to take cultural differences like this into account when looking at bed-sharing from an international perspective.

Should You Co-Sleep Or Not?

Putting a baby to bed is a bit like stepping into a car. There are risks associated with driving, and traveling in a car can certainly kill you. But there are many steps you can take to make driving safe, like wearing a seat belt, obeying traffic signs, and taking proper care of your vehicle. Baby sleep can work the same way. There are risks associated with any sleeping arrangement, but parents can take steps to make their baby’s sleep environment as safe as possible. Parents who educate themselves and practice safe co-sleeping shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about their decision. And of course, neither should parents who choose not to co-sleep; after all, it won’t work for everyone! That was certainly the case with Nicole — during the short time she co-slept, she found herself so worried about harming her son that she hardly slept at all.

A final word: while many forms of co-sleeping are safe, bed-sharing is inherently risk. There are ways to bed-share safely, but the list of precautions is long, and some of the precautions themselves border on extreme. For example, it’s recommended that you remove pillows and blankets from the bed, and even that you put your mattress directly on the floor. It’s also safest if the only people in bed are mom and baby, meaning that if dad is around, he needs to find somewhere else to sleep! What’s more, safety guidelines specify that some people shouldn’t bed-share, including those who smoke and use drugs/alcohol, those who are obese, and those who are “overly exhausted.” That last one is bound to exclude many readers of this blog! If you’re considering bed-sharing, remember to review the list of precautions carefully, and then commit to following them. Otherwise, we recommend that you consider a different method of co-sleeping.

What do you think? Room-sharing? Bed-sharing? No-sharing? Tell us your thoughts on co-sleeping!

At The Baby Sleep Site, we’re committed to remaining judgment-free when it comes to parenting styles. We’ve worked with all kinds of parents (including those who are committed co-sleepers), and we’ve manage to help their babies sleep while respecting them as parents. So whether you room-share or bed-share (or neither!), The Baby Sleep Site has sleep products and services that’ll work for you!

Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Family Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Instructions: Mark “yes” or “no” next to each item.

1. My baby is happier when he’s had enough sleep.
2. My baby is more alert and engaging, eager to learn, when she’s had enough sleep.
3. My toddler is better behaved when he’s had enough sleep.
4. My toddler is less clumsy after a good night’s rest.
5. My baby or toddler and I have a lot more fun and can go out to activities when she’s had a good nap.
6. The evening or dinnertime is so much more pleasant when my child has napped well that day.
7. I am a better mom (or dad) when I haven’t been woken up numerous times at night.
8. All I feel like doing is falling asleep on the floor with my baby during the day, when I’ve been woken up all night.
9. I have more energy to take my baby out to activities when I’ve gotten enough sleep.
10. I laugh with my baby more when I’ve gotten enough some sleep.
11. All the little jobs taking care of a baby feel so much more mundane and/or tedious when my baby wakes up all night.
12. Sometimes I feel like I resent my baby.
13. I am starting to feel depressed about my baby’s sleep problems or my abilities as a mother/father.
14. I want to scream right along with my baby when he doesn’t sleep.
15. I have raised my voice at my baby, because he won’t sleep.
16. I feel like I’m going to lose it if I’m woken up again tonight.
17. I worry about my baby’s growth and development without adequate sleep.
18. I worry my baby will have sleep problems in adulthood, if I can’t do a good job right now.
19. I feel like I would love having a baby even more if we were both sleeping.

and…

20. I love my baby beyond words and would never do anything to intentionally hurt him or her. I know what’s best for my baby and this is not it. I love my baby and care for my baby to the best of my abilities all day and every day.

If you said “Yes!” or agreed to more than 5 items, you are most likely NOT selfish in sleep training your baby.

Note: This is meant to be a light-hearted look at this topic and in no way has been sanctioned by a licensed psychologist. Only you know if you’re being selfish or not in sleep training your baby. Only you know your most inner thoughts and feelings on the matter. And, sometimes, you may only think you’re being selfish, because being a mom is a guilt-provoking job. That’s what we do: worry and doubt.

A part of my personal story is this: My son was MISERABLE without sleep and still is to this day. He’s now 6 years old. His mood and behavior are worse without adequate sleep, too, including in school. I could not sit back and see the misery on my baby’s face every day when he was a baby. I did not feel like that was being a good mom. I had to do something about it. Add to that, I was miserable too. I was depressed not being able to see my husband, going to bed at 7pm every night to “help” my son sleep, yet still being woken up ALL. NIGHT. LONG. I was not able to be the best mom I could be. Actually, I was not able to be the mom I wanted to be. I would fall asleep on the floor in the toy room for goodness sakes! I don’t care if people think I was selfish to teach him how to sleep better. I know better. It was not for the cushy lifestyle, so I could party at night or anything of that nature. It was not only the most important thing I had to do for our family’s well being, but our happiness, too. It could not be better to grow up in an unhappy home absent of sleep training merely to avoid it, could it?

Would I do it again, if my son was happy being sleep-deprived? I’m honestly not sure. All I know is what we lived every day and it wasn’t right. I can’t tell you what you live every day and know if it’s right for you. What’s one family’s end of the rope is different from another family’s and I always pray people will seek help before the end of the rope. I am in awe when I work with a family of a 2 year old still getting up numerous times a night. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but they have and I couldn’t. That doesn’t make me less of a person. That just makes me a different person.

So, do you feel selfish in sleep training?

If you’re looking for ways to to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Sleep problems are very common among children. In fact, MOST children aren’t getting proper sleep at night. And every parent knows that when children are sleep deprived, they are likely to have a hard time controlling their emotions. This can lead to potential problems at home and at school, and can be exhausting for mom and dad.

Incorporating yoga into your child’s bedtime routine, provides the perfect sleep solution for your child by helping shift her minds’ focus from being preoccupied with daily stressors to focusing her attention to yoga postures, relaxation techniques and breath work, with the ultimate goal being a restful sleep.

The benefits of establishing a bedtime yoga routine for your child:

• The combination of breath work, guided imagery, and soothing yoga postures helps release excess energy, tension and stress while calming your child and helping her move towards stillness.
• Helps cultivate a relaxed state of body and mind and provides tools for stress management.
• Develops the ability to center and calm themselves all situations.
• Empowers children to be less reactive and more at peace with themselves.
• Lays the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being.
• Enables kids to fall asleep faster and achieve a higher quality of sleep.
• Helps reduce irritability, crankiness and hyperactivity.
• Encourages parents to interact and bond with their kids in a positive and healthy way that everyone will enjoy.
• Parents can get their kids to sleep with greater ease.
• Parents are likely to can enjoy a higher quality of sleep if their kids are sleeping soundly.

The following sequence has been carefully designed and will help a children establish a bedtime routine that is proven to work:

TAKE TWO:

Calming breath exercise. Make sure your child doesn’t hold his/her breath.
1) Take deep breaths in through your nose to the count of two; and
2) Breathe out through your nose to the count of two
3) Repeat 3-5 times

BEDTIME BUG:

Also known as happy baby, this pose relieves stress and calms the mind.
1) Lie on your back
2) Grab the outside edges of your feet with your hands
3) Open your knees as wide apart as your torso
4) Draw your knees down toward your armpits
5) Move slowly from side to side to massage your lower back
6) Hold this pose for at least 5 full deep breaths

THE TWISTER:

This is a simple pose that soothes digestion and helps relieve stress in the body.
1) Lay flat on your back
2) Spread your arms out to each side, like a “T”
3) Bring your knees to your chest and slowly drop them over to one side
4) Slowly bring your knees back up to your chest and again gently drop them to the other side
5) Encourage holding for 5 breaths on each side

GOODNIGHT LITTLE BODY:

This meditative exercise helps you move closer towards stillness by saying good night to each body part.
1) Start with your toes and move all the way up to your head
2) Say good night to your toes, then each foot, your shins, knees, thighs, then hips
3) Continue with your pelvis, behind, stomach, ribs, chest, then entire torso
4) Next is your fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, upper arms, your shoulders, neck and your face
5) Then relax your face and say good night to your entire body.

WISHING STAR:

Is a meditation exercise designed to prepare the mind for sleep. It clears away stressful thoughts and shifts your mind’s focus to something calming and positive.
1) Lay flat on your back, arms at your sides
2) Relax your body
3) Close your eyes
4) Imagine a star and it’s starlight shining in you. Make a wish.
5) Allow enough time to explore this image

Kids of all ages will be stretching and twisting and breathing their way into dreamland!

If you are looking for ways beyond yoga to help your baby or toddler sleep, please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of 5 (tear-free) Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night, our e-Book with tear-free tips to help your baby sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Family Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Have You Done Yoga With Your Baby or Toddler?

Laurie Jordan is the author of YAWNING YOGA: A GOODNIGHT BOOK FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP and the creator of Little Sprouts Yoga for Kaia Yoga Wellness Centers. She shares her expertise on all things kids yoga as a contributing writer for Elephant Journal. She has a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work and is a certified yoga instructor for children and adults.

Laurie created this bedtime book based on her successful bedtime yoga series, Yawning Yoga. She developed her unique “Yawning Yoga” sequence while working as a school social worker in an effort to help over-stimulated, over-stressed children enjoy a good night’s sleep and ultimately, greater school success. The combination of yoga and social work has given Laurie a unique expertise that provides insight and special solutions to growing children and families.

Here’s another drive-you-up-the-wall noise you may have started hearing lately: the sound of your toddler grinding her teeth in her sleep. The sound of grinding teeth is an awful one, to be sure, but for some toddlers, it amounts to more than an obnoxious noise — it’s a persistent problem that may have you starting to worry.

This article will explain the causes and symptoms of toddler teeth grinding and clenching as well as ways to treat it and how to deal with the problem at home.

Facts About Toddler Teeth Grinding and Clenching

The problem of teeth grinding (known as “bruxism”) is a fairly common one among toddlers and preschoolers. The Journal of Dentistry for Children estimates that about 38% of toddlers grind or clench their teeth. Most toddlers tend to grind their teeth at night, and the problem usually begins around age 3 (although it can begin much earlier, even as early as 1!)

For most toddlers, this habit is short-lived; the vast majority will outgrow it by age 6. However, some toddlers will continue the problem later into childhood, and a small percentage will continue to grind their teeth at night as teens and adults.

Causes of Toddler Teeth Grinding and Clenching

There’s no established cause of teeth grinding; rather, research done over the years points to an array of possible causes. Some are physical, and others are psychological.

Physical causes of toddler teeth grinding include:

• Pain, either from an illness, like an ear infection, or from teething. Teeth grinding is a way that some toddlers cope with the pain in their sleep.
• Improper alignment of the top and bottom teeth (called “malocclusion”).
• Medical issues. These can be everything from dehydration and nutritional deficiencies to allergies and even pinworms!

Psychological causes of toddler teeth grinding are stress and anxiety. For toddlers, this stress can be caused by things like the birth of a new sibling, moving to a new house, weaning from breastfeeding, a change in schedule, etc.

How Toddler Teeth Grinding and Clenching Affects Sleep

It seems like so many things can keep a toddler from sleeping well, doesn’t it? Sleep regressions can affect a toddler’s sleep; so can sleep disorders like (like sleep apnea). And we can add teeth grinding to the list of things that may keep a toddler awake!

Teeth grinding can disrupt sleep and cause your toddler to wake frequently at night. The noise itself can be so loud, it’ll wake your toddler (or even the people in the next room!) And your toddler’s teeth grinding may cause her to have frequent dull headaches or jaw pain, which may disturb both her nighttime sleep and her naps.

Treating Toddler Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Generally, toddler teeth grinding or clenching isn’t considered a serious problem and doesn’t usually require treatment (since the majority of toddlers outgrow this problem before their permanent teeth come in).

However, if you’re concerned that your toddler’s teeth grinding is serious, take him to see a dentist. The dentist will be able to evaluate if the teeth grinding is causing any major problems like worn enamel or fractures in the teeth. If necessary, the dentist may prescribe a custom-fitted mouth guard for your toddler to wear at night.

Dealing With Your Toddler’s Teeth Grinding and Clenching At Home

A dentist probably won’t consider your toddler’s teeth grinding or clenching serious enough to treat, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t causing problems at home! So what can you do to help your toddler’s teeth grinding?

First, try to establish the cause of the teeth grinding or clenching. If the problem is physical, treat it as best you can (if the problem is mild) or consider taking your toddler to his pediatrician if you suspect something serious, like an illness or a nutritional deficiency. Pain caused by teething or mild illness can be treated with children’s Tylenol. And if your toddler’s teeth grinding or clenching is causing him to have headaches or jaw pain, those can be treated with children’s pain reliever, too.

If you suspect that the teeth grinding is related to stress or anxiety, do what you can to help your toddler relax. Work on establishing a calming bedtime routine, complete with a warm bath, relaxing music, bedtime stories, etc. This can do wonders to help relax your toddler right before she falls asleep.

If your toddler is anxious about something specific, talk through her feelings with her (if she’s old enough to talk) and do your best to provide reassurance. This can be hard with a young toddler, but even repeating what your toddler says back to her (so that she knows you understand) and then repeating a calming phrase like “It’s okay, mommy’s here” again and again can help to ease a toddler’s anxiety. “Toddlerspeak” is an excellent way to communicate with even a younger toddler.

There’s no “cure” for toddler teeth grinding and, unfortunately, no way to prevent it from happening (aside from doing what you can to keep your toddler relaxed!) Like so many other things, your toddler’s teeth grinding is probably a phase that will more than likely pass with time and just needs to be “waited out”. If your parenting instincts are telling you it’s more serious than that, however, follow your gut and seek medical help.

Does your toddler grind his teeth at night? What tips do you have on dealing with teeth grinding?

Please be sure to pick up your FREE copy of Toddler Sleep Secrets, our e-Book offering tips to help your toddler sleep better. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3-Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep (babies) or The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep (toddlers). Using a unique approach and practical tools for success, our e-books help you and your baby sleep through the night and nap better. For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations, where you will receive a Personalized Sleep Plan™ you can feel good about! Sometimes it’s not that you can’t make a plan. Sometimes you’re just too tired to.

Of course, when it comes to naps, not all babies are created equal, are they? Some of you may have babies who are marathon nappers, providing you with several hours of uninterrupted time each day to shower and eat and pay bills and waste spend time on Facebook. Some of us, though, may not be so lucky. You may have a cat-napper who never sleeps for more than 30 or 40 minutes at a time, but who seems to wake as cranky and exhausted as when she started. And even if your baby’s sleeping through the night, short naps can still be frustrating, especially if you’ve worked hard for those 30-40 minutes putting baby down in the first place!

Some people recommend the “wake to sleep” method as a way to extend short naps. But does it work? Can your baby’s short naps be lengthened with this technique?

What is the “Wake to Sleep” Method?

Tracy Hogg first introduced the concept called “wake to sleep” in her book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate With Your Baby. Tracy suggests in her book that a number of babies who wake frequently at naptime and at night are habitual wakers — that is, they’re waking out of habit, and not out of hunger or distress. According to Tracy, habitual wakers tend to wake at roughly the same times each night, and they tend to wake from their naps about 30 or 40 minutes after falling asleep.

Does this sound like your baby? If so, she may be a habitual waker. This would explain why her naps are so short, why she often wakes seeming tired and cranky, and why you just can’t get her on a nap schedule. She’s waking out of habit, and not because she’s actually had enough sleep. It’s not a coincidence, however, that it’s 30 to 40 minutes later. Your baby may not be able (yet) to transition to her next sleep cycle without your help, or she may not expect to be required to do it on her own, depending on her age. She wakes 30-40 minutes because that’s how long her sleep cycle is and some people can set a clock to it!

It’s important to remember that the “wake to sleep” method is used to solve the problem of habitual waking. Before using this method, it’s important to make sure that your baby isn’t waking out of hunger, illness, or discomfort. If you’ve ruled out those causes, however, it’s safe to try the “wake to sleep” method.

How You Can Use the “Wake to Sleep” Method to Lengthen Naps

The idea behind “wake to sleep” is that you’re “supporting” your child through the transition from one sleep cycle to the next. The first 20 or so minutes of a nap is light sleep, or REM sleep. After that, baby transitions into deeper, or non-REM, sleep. It’s during that transition period that babies often wake and aren’t able to get back to sleep.

With the “wake to sleep” method, you lightly rouse your baby (rubbing his back, making shushing sounds, gently tickling his feet, stroking his hair, or simply turning on the light and whispering his name, if he’s a light sleeper) before he begins that transition, and then you help him make the transition, gently easing him into the next stage of deeper sleep.

Should You Use the “Wake to Sleep” Method to Lengthen Naps?

At The Baby Sleep Site, we do our best to empower parents in their sleep training decisions and to remain judgement-free when it comes to offering advice. “Wake to sleep” is obviously a very gentle method that would support a no-cry sleep training philosophy. If you’re a mom with a very young (or newborn) baby, or if you have a strong aversion to any amount of crying, “wake to sleep” might be a good option for you to try (doesn’t hurt to try!). In those early months (when it’s too soon to begin any real sleep training but you’re so tired you feel like you might fall asleep driving your precious cargo around), it helps to have every tool available in your toolbox!

One recent client shared with us that she successfully used this method with her son (before seeking our help with her nighttime issues) when he was 2 or 3 months old. He was waking from his naps after exactly 45 minutes of sleep. She said this:

“At the 40 minute mark, I would gently jiggle his Pack and Play so that he would transition from one sleep cycle into the other. I did this for a couple of weeks and it worked…Now, he rarely wakes at the 45 minute mark.”

For her, “wake to sleep” was a nice solution to her problem, since her son was still too young for actual sleep training. The “wake to sleep” method can be a good way to help your newborn nap longer.

Although this method works for some families, we generally don’t recommend using the “wake to sleep” method as a way to extend short naps. First, it is risky in that you may inadvertently wake the baby you’ve worked hard at getting to sleep! And, if your baby is anything like Nicole’s, the moment he saw you there, he’d be up! Second, if your baby is taking short naps due to a schedule problem, wake to sleep likely won’t work. And finally, we don’t want to help our babies create any sleep associations that involve lots of work on our part, whether it’s rocking or nursing the baby to sleep, replacing a pacifier every 15 minutes, or easing the baby through every transition between sleep cycles. Ultimately, the goal is for your baby to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep by herself, without you needing to perform any tricks to make that happen. Of course, all babies (and parents!) are different. What you mind “doing” at nap time, and how often you do it, will differ from another parent.

Furthermore, many people acknowledge that while “wake to sleep” can work, the results aren’t necessarily permanent, since you aren’t teaching the baby any new habits. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and feed him for life.” This same principle holds true for many parents using “wake to sleep” to lengthen naps. The “wake to sleep” method may help you extend today’s nap(s), but teaching a baby good sleep habits will likely mean good naps every day.

Did you try Wake to Sleep? What is your experience with Wake to Sleep?

If you are looking for ways to help your baby establish healthy daytime sleep habits, check out Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-to” of good baby sleep. With over 40 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style. For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night. Or, join our Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and join us for our tele-seminar on this topic a week from today! It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! For those looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation with support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations.