Are short/missed day naps ok if night sleep is good?

Armo24 · 2024-12-22T20:14:56+00:00

Hi! I’m sure everything will change as it does all the time with young babies, and this is absolutely not a complaint, but I just thought I’d ask as there are so many on here with a lot more experience than me - I have a 7 month old (my first) who generally sleeps well at night (usually from 6.45-7.30 often with no wake-ups) which I feel very lucky and grateful for. I just wondered if this is the case does it matter for her development if her naps in the day are rubbish? Often very short or hard-fought or completely missed? And generally only possible at all in a constantly moving buggy? I know sleep is needed for development so should I be trying harder at making day naps work?

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EdithGrantham · 22/12/2024 20:24

If she has the opportunity to sleep and you're not keeping her awake/waking her up on purpose she will be getting the sleep she needs. I wouldn't be pushing for more daytime sleep if she sleeps well at night.

BlueScrunchies · 22/12/2024 20:31

In my experience you really see the impact of lack of daytime sleep around 18 months or so. My DC really struggles without daytime sleep of at least 80 mins minimum. So I would say it’s good to get into these habits early on if you can.

In your shoes I would definitely continue to encourage daytime naps as odds are she will take to it eventually. My DC had awful daytime sleep the first few months if she wasn’t on someone, I persevered and eventually got her to do short naps in a cot around 7.5 months and it grew from there. Now on weekends she can sleep a solid 2-3 hours.

If you try this and she won’t sleep, just continue to offer it she may eventually go for it. That’s great overnight sleep you have already so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about a developmental impact if I were you. You will have your 9-12 months HV check up soon, raise it there if you are still concerned 😊

Original poster

Armo24 · 22/12/2024 23:07

BlueScrunchies · 22/12/2024 20:31

In my experience you really see the impact of lack of daytime sleep around 18 months or so. My DC really struggles without daytime sleep of at least 80 mins minimum. So I would say it’s good to get into these habits early on if you can.

In your shoes I would definitely continue to encourage daytime naps as odds are she will take to it eventually. My DC had awful daytime sleep the first few months if she wasn’t on someone, I persevered and eventually got her to do short naps in a cot around 7.5 months and it grew from there. Now on weekends she can sleep a solid 2-3 hours.

If you try this and she won’t sleep, just continue to offer it she may eventually go for it. That’s great overnight sleep you have already so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about a developmental impact if I were you. You will have your 9-12 months HV check up soon, raise it there if you are still concerned 😊

Thank you so much for your perspective, it’s really helpful - and that’s great that you managed to establish such solid day sleep by persevering!

OP posts:

Wibblywobblybobbly · 22/12/2024 23:12

If your baby needs to sleep they'll sleep at that age. Don't stress about it and torture yourself with wake windows etc. It's just not worth it and will drive you crazy.

Enjoy the fact baby is sleeping well at night, offer the chance for a nap a couple of times a day (even if that's just a walk in the buggy) and don't sweat it if they don't need it.

There's a whole industry built up around convincing people their baby's sleep needs "fixing". The human race managed perfectly well before nap schedules and wake windows.

Wibblywobblybobbly · 22/12/2024 23:13

Also if you "fix" the nap situation you might break the night sleep and then you'll be kicking yourself.

Original poster

Armo24 · 23/12/2024 11:12

Wibblywobblybobbly · 22/12/2024 23:12

If your baby needs to sleep they'll sleep at that age. Don't stress about it and torture yourself with wake windows etc. It's just not worth it and will drive you crazy.

Enjoy the fact baby is sleeping well at night, offer the chance for a nap a couple of times a day (even if that's just a walk in the buggy) and don't sweat it if they don't need it.

There's a whole industry built up around convincing people their baby's sleep needs "fixing". The human race managed perfectly well before nap schedules and wake windows.

This is very reassuring thank you! Sometimes I think she gets frustrated and upset when I’m trying to get her to nap and she’s ok just having some quiet time for a bit rather than actually sleeping when she’s been awake a while. Mysterious little things!

OP posts:

Wibblywobblybobbly · 23/12/2024 18:34

Armo24 · 23/12/2024 11:12

This is very reassuring thank you! Sometimes I think she gets frustrated and upset when I’m trying to get her to nap and she’s ok just having some quiet time for a bit rather than actually sleeping when she’s been awake a while. Mysterious little things!

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I wish I'd realised earlier on that not all babies are the same in terms of sleep needs. Much like adults. They've not read the book about what they're meant to do and when.

I got myself in a state for months worrying that my baby wasn't sleeping when they should be, that I was .messing up wake windows etc. We were both far happier when I ignored it all and just went with the flow.