Resettling Your Child During Naps

SLEEPING ON PURPOSE

TITLE:   Resettling Your Child During Naps

SUBHEAD: Debunking Myths and Embracing Science

As parents, we often navigate the sea of child-rearing advice, searching for shores of wisdom in the midst of overwhelming information. A common concern I've heard from many moms revolves around the concept of teaching their child to resettle during naps. They describe a cycle of short naps, followed by the arduous task of resettling, hoping their child will drift back to sleep. Today, I aim to dispel a prevalent myth and shed light on a more intuitive approach to your child's naptime.

The Myth of Resettling

The narrative often goes like this: "My child wakes up after 30 or 40 minutes, and I need to teach them how to resettle to extend their nap." However, this perspective overlooks a fundamental truth—your child inherently knows how to sleep for extended periods. The real culprit behind these frequent awakenings? Most of the time, it's the timing of their sleep that's misaligned.

Understanding Sleep Timing

Inconsistent or inadequate naps often stem from two main issues: excessive sleep the previous night reducing sleep pressure, or insufficiently long wake windows. It's typically a mix of both, though the exact balance is highly individual to each baby. While I cannot offer a one-size-fits-all solution, the underlying principle remains the same: getting the timing right is crucial.

For children over five months old, I'm going to make a bold statement—90 percent of the time, your child will naturally fall into a long, consolidated nap with perfect timing. This holds true regardless of whether you feed or rock your child to sleep. Sleep associations, in this context, play no part in their ability to initiate sleep independently.

The Separation of Self-Settling and Long Naps

Many mothers in my group worry about their children's self-settling abilities, fearing this impacts the duration of naps. Let me reassure you, that the capacity for self-settling and taking lengthy naps during the day are distinct. Achieving those coveted extended daytime naps boils down to understanding the science of sleep and mastering a few sleep skills.

If you dream of a day when you can confidently anticipate your child's hour-and-a-half nap, free from the anxiety of premature wake-ups, focus on mastering the signs of sleep readiness and perfecting the timing. Unfortunately, there's no universal schedule that fits every child, which means customization is key. If you're unsure how to tailor this approach to your child's needs, don't hesitate to seek help.

Embracing a New Mindset

In closing, I offer you this simple yet transformative mindset shift: Your child never needs to learn how to resettle themselves during naps. The concept of a resettling skill is a myth that we, as informed parents, can move beyond.

This insight isn't just about improving nap times; it's a philosophy that respects the natural development of our children and empowers us to nurture their sleep in a more informed, less stressful manner. Remember, the path to better naps is paved with knowledge, patience, and a willingness to adapt to our child's unique rhythms.

Get Your Child to Sleep Through the Night Quickly and Easily Without Fuss, Tears, or Frustration

(From You or Your Child!) 

Sleeping On Purpose

By: Ruth Tai