Finding it difficult to get a balance of managing your child’s nap schedule?

Do you find it difficult to get a balance of managing your child’s nap schedule with making plans to get out and about?

Here are my top tips. 

Of course, naps in the car and buggy are going to be required on some days. I recommend practising cot naps from an early stage and from 5 months, having at least 1 – 2 naps daily in the cot. Motion sleep is not as restful as cot naps. However, naps in the car and buggy are going to be required to ensure a good balance with managing your child’s sleep schedule and enjoying family outings and occasions. While cot naps in my opinion are key, it is also important to have your little one used to napping in the buggy or car from a young stage to help you get this balance. I recommend using white noise and a dark out shade for the buggy (ensure to use one that is safe) to help your little one nap easily on the go, I also recommend using white noise for naps in the car on the move and having blinds/shades on the rear side windows. White noise in the car can be especially helpful to drown out the noise of other siblings also/cars beeping etc.

More specifically here are my tops depending on your child’s nap schedule.

4 – 5 nap schedule – Babies up to 5 months will often take 4 – 5 naps daily, and motion naps will be essential on many days. I recommend practising 1 – 2 cot naps where possible to ensure your child sees a crib/cot as a regular sleep environment and to work on good quality and consolidated naps.

3 nap schedule – On a 3-nap schedule, the last nap of the day is a power nap, to power your child through to bedtime. This nap is not as restful overall, and it’s a nap that you can have motion based every day without generally impacting your nights, affording great flexibility.

2 nap schedule – Close to 6 months where babies can often only manage a 2-hour wake window between nap 1 and 2, if you need to get out and about, a nap on the go may be essential. Close to 9-12 months, most children can manage 3 – 3.5 hours of a wake window between the two naps, giving you a nice opportunity to get out and about at that point.

1 nap schedule – Personally as a parent I find this the easiest nap stage to get out and about with juggling naps. I never recommend starting this nap before 12 noon and some children can manage until 1pm, giving you a full morning to get out and about or failing that, a nice window in the afternoon to get out and about if you prefer not to have the nap on the go.

And most of all, DON’T STRESS! It’s important to balance your child’s sleep schedule, however it is also important to not feel so restricted that it feels very stressful.

I hope these tips help you.

Colette