Why can my baby fall asleep independently for naps and not bedtime?
You often hear that bedtime is easier for babies to practice independent sleep because of the increased drive to sleep from circadian rhythm and sleep hormones.
While this is true, there may be several reasons why my baby fall asleep independently for naps and not bedtime!
Wondering why can my baby fall asleep independently for naps and not bedtime? Here are 5 possible reasons:
A different routine: If the bedtime routine is different from the nap time routine, it may cause confusion and make it harder for the baby to fall asleep. I often find that babies who fall asleep independently for naps are following an “eat, play, sleep” cycle so feeding is separated from nap, but because parent’s are really concerned about waking for hunger overnight, they want them to eat really close to bedtime. This can cause increased drowsiness or even put them all the way to sleep which means you’ll struggle with independent sleep at bedtime.
Overstimulation: Babies can become overstimulated before bedtime, making it harder for them to calm down and fall asleep. Evenings are often more chaotic than earlier in the day as there are a lot of transitions happening in a short period of time. From older siblings or a parent returning home, to the dinner rush, to the routine rush… it’s not always as relaxing as we hope it’ll be!
Separation anxiety: As babies get older, they may experience separation anxiety and become clingy, making it harder for them to fall asleep without being held or comforted. There is a longer separation from night to morning than just a nap and kids know this! So think of ways you can bridge that separation like extra 1:1 time during that bedtime routine.
Schedule: If a baby is over-tired, it can make it more difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. A lot of parents will want to make sure they’re awake longer before bed so they’re “extra tired” and will sleep all night. We all know that’ll backfire in a heartbeat! They may also allow for too much day time sleep to have a later bedtime which won’t help falling asleep either. Gotta find that “goldilocks” balance!
Hunger: If a baby is hungry, they may have trouble falling asleep, especially at bedtime. This is actually why we recommend feeding earlier in the routine when they’re less sleepy and more awake. This can ensure a fuller feeding happens so they’re not eating a little, dozing, off, waking up, eating a little more, etc.
If you’re really struggling with independent sleep all around (or just at bedtime/overnight), set up a chat and get started with 1:1 help so you can reach your sleep goals!
