During the first year of life, your baby will need naps during the daytime in order to get enough rest and avoid any crankiness that comes from exhaustion. If your baby naps well during the daytime, she is likely to get a better night's rest, according to Dr. Sears' website. You need to create a calming and relaxing environment to encourage your baby to sleep during the daytime. If your baby continues to have trouble napping, speak to your pediatrician for additional advice.
Step 1
Set regular naptimes. Choose the time that you put the baby down for a nap based on the time that he awakes each morning. For example, you may find that he tires approximately two hours after waking. Therefore, a 10 a.m. nap may be appropriate if he wakes up at 8.
Step 2
Start a naptime routine. For example, it can soothe the baby to have you sing the same song or read the same story before her daytime nap. According to Parents Magazine, repetition gives a baby a secure and comfortable feeling.
Step 3
Be flexible. Even though you can set regular naptimes, you may need to change it up from time to time. For example, if she falls asleep earlier or later than normal, do not wake her. If the child is ill, her nap schedule is also likely to be disrupted.
Step 4
Put the child down in the place that he sleeps at night. If he associates the crib with sleep, he's likely to fall asleep in it during the daytime as well. The place that you lie him down should be darkened and quiet. You should have darkening blinds installed in a room of your house for this use.
Step 5
Lay her down when she is sleepy, but not asleep. If she needs to be rocked or nursed to fall asleep for her nap, you can run into a problem later on.
