Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Infant Not Napping during the Day | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
I have a sleeping and napping question. I have read a range of experts' opinions--from Dr. Sears, to "The Baby Whisperer," to "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"--and am quite confused and not sure how to get our four-month-old daughter to nap during the day. She sleeps beautifully through the night (10-13 hours every night) but, when it comes to daytime naps, we can't seem to get her to go to sleep on her own.
We look for signs of when she is tired and have tried establishing a ritual of putting her in her crib while awake. She fusses at first and then really starts wailing. We don't agree with letting her "cry it out for an hour"--15 minutes is the longest we'll let her cry--but she never goes to sleep. The only way she can drift off to sleep is by breastfeeding, or being carried in the Baby Bjorn or in a swing (we hate the swing but its a last resort).
Any guidance would be great! Thanks.— Diana in Paeonian Springs, VA USA | | | ANSWER |
December 19, 2001 | | | Dear Diana,
To start with, it is really remarkable that your four-month-old baby sleeps 10-13 hours straight at night. Many parents would sell their souls (or at least the family car!) for just 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep from the baby. It may be that your baby's total sleep requirements aren't much longer than 13 hours. After all, the 16 hours sleep requirement for newborns is an average. There are healthy babies who need less. (Are you, the parents, people who tend to need little sleep? In my experience, sleep requirements often run in families; parents who need little sleep often have children who do, too.) It may be that a few quiet times during the day are all your baby needs, with a quick nap thrown in now and then.
I take it you are still putting her in her crib drowsy but awake--a good practice, because it reduces night waking not only now, but months from now as well. A bedtime ritual is certainly a good thing. I also agree with you--after about 15 minutes of fussing, it makes sense to pick your baby up, rather than waiting for her to become more and more upset (which only makes it harder to fall asleep). I think what you are doing sounds good, and I wouldn't worry too much about her not napping. I imagine that her world is quite pleasant and interesting, and she doesn't want to miss any of it!— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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