4 Ways to help your baby or toddler to nap in their cot
I regularly get asked “How can I get my baby to sleep in their cot/crib”. Most of my clients whose babies or toddlers struggle to sleep in their cot, end up napping on their parents because it is the only way they will fall and stay asleep.
Having your baby on you in the early days is beautiful, lovely and nothing really compares. I mean even when they are older, it is lovely now and again. However, being nap trapped for every nap, every day can lead to feeling claustrophobic and frustrated, not having time or space for yourself, and not being able to get anything done.
So I thought I’d share with you my first 4 steps on how to move from contact naps to napping in the cot or crib.
Realistic Expectations
If you have a newborn (or a very young baby) it maybe unrealistic for your baby to nap independently in a separate sleep space. They are likely to be in the fourth trimester which is when they need help with the womb to world transition. Equally, if you have a 1 or 2 year old who has always contact napped since birth, it is unlikely that you are suddenly going to be able to lay them down and they fall asleep independently immediately. Working towards independent naps takes time and patience
Baby Steps
Try starting off by getting your baby or toddler used to sleep in the same room as their cot or crib. For example, you may find it useful to contact nap in their room or yours so that they identify that this is where they sleep. Once they have got used to this being their sleep space, then you can look to gently getting them into their cot. Please note that it is recommended for all babies under 6 months to sleep in the same room as their caregiver to protect against SIDS.
The Transfer
Once your baby or toddler has become used to sleeping on you in the same room as their cot/crib, the next step is to try the dreaded transfer from your arms into their sleep space. The key here is transferring them 15-20 minutes after they have fell asleep, as this is the time is takes for your child to fall into deep sleep. If you find that this doesn’t work, then if your child is in a cot, you can try getting inside the cot so you can get as close as possible to help fall asleep.
Overtiredness
Probably one of the most important factors to consider is making sure your baby or toddler is not overtired when trying to move sleeps to the cot. Trying to help a baby to fall asleep when they are overtired is a really stressful and almost impossible task. When your child is overtired, their cortisol levels increase, in order to fall and stay asleep cortisol needs to be low. Overtired babies and toddlers may resist going to sleep in the first place, wake up shortly after falling asleep, crash to sleep within 5-10 minutes, cry, scream, arch their backs. In order to set your child up to win at sleeping in their crib, it is important to try when they are tired and not overtired. Take a look at my recommended awake window guides for babies and toddlers.
There are my four ways to help your baby or toddler to nap in their cot.
