Hands up if you have a baby who seems to love to catnap! And hands up if people keep telling you “it’s normal” and you just have to deal with it.

If this is you, you’re absolutely not alone. There are many babies out there taking catnaps day in, day out, and there are just as many people telling them it’s a phase and there’s nothing they can do about it.

Despite hearing this advice, you’ve probably noticed that your little one is utterly exhausted from all the short bursts of napping then waking and napping then waking again, especially by dinnertime. You’re probably exhausted too, and let’s be honest, maybe a little bit worried that something’s wrong with your baby because they’re so tired and cranky even though everything is “normal”.   

So let’s address the first issue: catnapping is not “normal”. It’s COMMON, but just because lots of babies are doing it, it doesn’t mean it’s OK. In fact, babies who consistently catnap don’t get enough of the good quality, restorative sleep they need each day, so it really is something parents and caregivers need to address.

The good news is that unlike what you’ve heard, there ARE many things you can do to encourage your baby to take longer naps – whatever age they are. 

How do we do this? Well, we need to realise that catnapping, just like many other sleep issues, is a symptom of issues with your little one’s sleep and routine in general. By looking at the bigger picture and what’s happening over the whole 24-hour period, we can address the root causes of catnapping.

Helping your little one to nap for longer during the day starts with the overnight stretch of sleep. A baby who hasn’t had enough good quality sleep overnight – with or without milk feeds as needed according to their age – begins their day already tired. And come naptime, when that baby is now even more tired, they find it much harder to sleep well. Starting their day on the back foot like this sets them up for short, poor-quality naps, day after day.  

Another way to lengthen your little one’s naps is to make sure all the healthy sleep foundations are in place so that when they get to the end of one sleep cycle, they rouse or wake up and then put themselves right back to sleep. 

If you’d like to learn more, my Solutions to Catnapping audio file contains all the education, strategies and solutions you’ll need. Ending the catnapping cycle takes a little education, time, consistency and commitment but is 100% worth it – for both you and your little one.

The information in this Blog Article relates to healthy babies and children with no undiagnosed, untreated medical issues or concerns. If you have any concerns about the health of the baby or child in your care, please see their GP or paediatrician.

For more sensible, straightforward, safe advice and resources on getting your family the sleep you all deserve, explore my website – sleepbysteph.com.au