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Parents Guide to Babies Naps From 6 Months

5th October 2022 0 Comments

What are the benefits of naps?

baby naps

How do naps help with memory and learning?

There is now more evidence than ever to support the essential role naps play in babies’ and children’s learning and memory. Everything your baby sees, hears and experiences while they’re wake is stored in their hippocampus, a bullet-shaped structure located deep within the brain. During naps (and nighttime sleep) these memories are moved out of the hippocampus and are stored in different cortexes within the brain; this creates space for more memories to be stored. It enables babies to recall memories when needed and for them to make sense of their world by connecting old and new experiences

Naps improve nighttime sleep

We know from research that naps can help reduce cortisol levels, helping your little one fall asleep more easily and assisting with early-rising issues.

Naps improve appetite and mood

Naps also help to regulate your child’s mood, and appetite and give you some well-needed time to rest.

How do I know when my baby is tired?

Naps are not always easy to achieve and you may find yourself struggling to get your little ones off for a few hours of precious sleep time in the day.

 

naps

 

Having an understanding of when your baby is ready for a nap will mean they won’t be over-tired when you put them down and will settle to sleep more easily.

It is usually a combination of sleep cues and timings that get the best napping results.

Some babies and children can be very subtle with their cues.

Here are some cues you might see in your baby to indicate they are ready for sleep.

Your baby  or child may show just one of these or it could be a combination:

  • Whining or fussing.
  • Staring blankly into space
  • Frowning
  • Arching of back
  • Clenched fists
  • Yawning
  • Rubs eyes
  • Pulling at ears
  • Sucking on fingers or fist
  • Ignoring interaction and losing interest in toys

How do I settle my baby for a nap?

Your baby or child will be more relaxed and settle faster if you factor in 15 minutes of quiet time before you start; then settle them as you would at bedtime.

  • Tidy away the toys and sit looking at a book together or just having a cuddle.
  • Give your little one a feed in the living room.
  • Then to settle your child for their nap go into the room where they usually sleep, close the curtains and use blackout blinds. From about 5 months babies can become distracted by their surroundings; darkening the room will help to prevent this.
  • Put on a clean nappy, pop your baby into their sleeping bag, and have a little story or lullaby and a cuddle.
  • Then settle them to sleep as at bedtime.
  • If after 20 minutes your baby or child has shown no signs of settling go out for a walk instead and try again later when they show tired signs again.
  • We suggest having one nap a day in the cot, but some naps can be out and about.

 

 

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