⚠️ Putting your baby down before* their scheduled nap time, in anticipation of their settling time 🚫
For example, if your baby’s nap is scheduled for 9:00am, you might put them down at 8:45am, expecting that it could take up to 15 minutes for them to settle or fall asleep 😴
However, there is a chance they may settle faster than you anticipated 🆘. If this happens, they are likely undertried at bedtime and could wake up after just one sleep cycle because they lack the sleep pressure needed to link sleep cycles or consolidate their sleep 😖. It is important to remember that at the beginning of sleep training and establishing a sleep routine, longer settling times are normal before gradually reducing over time 🙌🏻. Just as we don’t typically fall asleep the moment we get into bed, we shouldn’t expect that from our babies either 🥰🩷
So, what should we do instead? 🙄
Put your baby into their bed at their scheduled nap time, and don’t stress about how long it takes them to physically fall asleep 😴. Continue to wake them at the end of their scheduled nap to set the foundation for their circadian rhythm, as their settling time should gradually decrease to about 5-10 minutes 😍🙌🏻
With that said, if your baby is still catnapping, resisting sleep, or waking frequently overnight, book a consultation or download our Sleep Essentials Guide at www.settletosleep.com.au so we can support you in restoring sleep for you and your family 🩷🌸💫