Skip to main content

7 tips to help your baby nap longer

One of our favorite times of the day as new parents is when our little ones take their nap. But what happens if their naps are not as long as they should be? What if the naps are just in quick bursts? Some say to nap when the baby naps, but that can be pretty hard when the baby doesn’t nap for very long. And, of course, if your baby isn’t getting enough sleep, that’s not good for them either. So how can you get your baby to nap longer?

Create a sleep-inducing environment

If it is extremely bright in your baby’s nursery, and the curtains are always open with the sun shining in, as nice as that is, it isn’t very conducive to good rest for the baby. If you want to create a nice sleep-inducing environment for your little one, you can start by using blackout curtains, which will keep the light out. (Don’t worry, you can always open them back up when the baby is awake so they can play, of course.) A white-noise machine is also a wonderful idea to have on hand because it can gently soothe your sleepy child off to dreamland with the various pleasant sounds it can produce.

Make a naptime routine

Just as you would have a bedtime routine, something that may help to keep your baby asleep longer is to have a naptime routine. You could make it rather similar to a bedtime routine, where you read a special book, have a little cuddle time, and then put them down to nap. This way, each day when you do this, their bodies will acclimate to it, and their minds will realize that it is naptime.

Offer a meal or snack

Babies are little creatures that are constantly growing, which means that their hunger grows, too. Try offering a small feeding before putting your child down for a nap. If they are a little older, try to offer them just a snack. That way, they will not be woken up by any hunger pangs, and you can both sleep soundly.

Baby Eating

Look for signs of tiredness

If you wait too long to put your baby down for a nap, they may be overtired by that time, and neither of you will get any rest because they may just refuse sleep at that point altogether. One way to make sure that they are not overtired by the time you lay them down for a nap is to watch for the signs. If they begin to lose interest in their toys and books, or they are just starting to yawn, that is the prime opportunity to start their nap routine. You should get a longer nap when you do this versus waiting until they are overtired.

Keep it consistent

One thing that you are going to want to do in order to have your baby sleep longer during their naptimes is to keep it consistent. This means that to the best of your abilities, you are going to want to put your baby down for a nap at the same time every single day if it is possible. Even if it is relatively close to their naptime, that should be okay. Again, this is part of a routine, so keeping it the same every day will help you and your baby.

Avoid screen time

While babies don’t use tablets or phones, they certainly watch television sometimes. When we have the TV on, we may not even realize the baby could be watching it. But by doing this, the blue light from the TV screen can keep your baby awake. Do your best to assure that when it is getting close to naptime, shut down anything that has blue light and is near your baby.

Baby With Television Remote
komokvm/Shutterstock

Avoid other sleeping spaces

While some babies can easily fall asleep in their swings and their strollers, it is best for them to have their naps in their crib — their designated sleep space. That way, the room is just how it is supposed to be, and your baby will associate it with sleep and naptime when they are in there.

There is no magic potion to make babies sleep longer, but utilizing these tips may help!

Editors' Recommendations

Jennifer Passmore
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jennifer has written two books on how to deal with living with chronic illness using the power of positivity. She has written…
How to soothe a baby crying in their sleep and get your rest as well
Guide to help everyone get some rest when baby is waking up crying
Parents at crib of their sleeping baby

Babies mean lots of cuddles and that addicting baby head smell. But they also mean a lot of sleepless nights for everyone involved. It doesn't matter if it's one fussy night or a bad week, there are many reasons your baby keeps everyone up crying at night. Sometimes it’s as simple as their pacifier falling out before they're in that deep sleep cycle. Other times, it takes a bit of going down the checklist to see why your baby is crying in their sleep.

Whether your little one normally snoozes soundly or seems to be having a few cranky nights, soothing a crying baby is a good skill for every parent to have. We'll help you comfort those nighttime baby cries and help everybody get back to sleep.

Read more
Your local library will help you stick to your New Year’s goals and so much more
How to check off all your New Year's goals using only your local library
Woman tutoring a middle school student in the library

Was one of your New Year's resolutions for this year to learn a new language? Find a new hobby? Check out every museum in your area? Do you know what can help you get all of your goals checked off? Your local library! It amazes us how many people don't know all the awesome (and free) things to do through your library and with your library card. We know, we're as excited to tell you as you are to know how your library can help with your New Year's goals.

Sign your kids up for free classes
Your library's calendar should be incorporated into your family's schedule. There are classes for infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and teens. Whether your children like crafts, science, art, book clubs, or themed activities, your library has a class for that. If you homeschool, your library even has special days and times for those children.

Read more
6 easy muffin recipes for kids to make with or without your help
Healthy muffin recipes that are so easy to make, your kid can be the chef
Two kids having fun baking in the kitchen.

While kids would prefer to eat dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets partnered with mac and cheese for every meal, sometimes parents want to see their children eat something a bit healthier. That’s where we'll help. If you thought all muffins have to be either loaded with sugar or taste like dry cardboard, you're going to love us.

We found six healthy muffin recipes for you to make with your younger kids, but they are also simple enough that your older kids could make them for you. Eating healthier doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice when it comes to flavor. Make one (or all) of these delicious easy muffin recipes that your kids will enjoy as much as you will.

Read more