When to start a nap routine with baby
Why do babies need routine?
Babies thrive on routine, and if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense! The world is a brand new place to them. They are bombarded with new information every day, their schedules change rapidly (especially as newborns), and they’re trying to learn new skills on top of all that. Keeping their routines consistent is like an anchor to their day.
Routines act as a transition from play to sleep. Without the transition period that the routine provides, your newborn could be too overstimulated by the lights and sounds of their environment to just easily fall asleep, which could lead to unnecessary frustration.
This paper examines the positive effects of having a pre-sleep routine on early childhood development. The evidence supports routines to promote healthy sleep and the child’s overall well-being. This includes early child stimulation and positively influencing language development, literacy, child emotional and behavioral regulation, parent-child attachment, and family functioning, among other outcomes.
When to start a nap routine?
Basically, the sooner the better. According to Secrets of Baby Behavior, “by six to eight weeks, babies show clear signs that they can predict what will happen during feeding, social, and naptime routines.” The routine will signal to your baby that sleep is coming, and as a result, the baby will begin to calm down in preparation for the nap.
What should be included in a newborn nap routine?
The nap routine can be an abbreviated version of their bedtime routine. As long as your baby isn’t still contending with day/night confusion, you can begin to put your newborn into a cool, dark room with white noise for naps. I would recommend swaddling them for naps as well, as long as they’re still being swaddled at bedtime.
The way you perform the routine is important as well. You will want to speak softly and calmly to your baby, slow your movements down a bit, and you’ll start to see your baby following your lead. Babies have mirror neurons, which means they tend to pick up on our energy and attempt to match it essentially.
Example of newborn nap routine:
Fresh diaper
Swaddle
Turn off the light, turn on the white noise
Song/cuddle/rock (you can try low pressure practice to see if they will fall asleep on their own if you lay them down, but if they get upset it’s completely fine to help them)
Into their bassinet/crib (or contact nap if you want some cuddles!)
Newborn nap routines really don’t have to be a big elaborate production! When the day is a blur of feeding, diaper changes, and short bursts of sleep, remember to just keep it calm and simple.
