Why does my baby do short naps?

18 Sep 24 • By Positively Parenthood

One of the most common concerns we hear from parents is about their baby’s short naps. Many babies struggle to nap independently for more than 30-45 minutes (or less sometimes!), leaving parents frustrated and unsure of how to help their little one get the rest they need. Of course, short naps can be normal in the early months or whilst your little one is poorly or teething, but ongoing short naps don’t have to be normal for your family and are usually an indication that something else is going on. Let’s explore the top three reasons for frequent short naps and how you can get your baby doing long, independent naps.

1. Over/Undertiredness

Finding the sweet spot between a baby being too tired and not tired enough is crucial for helping them nap well. Babies who are overtired may struggle to settle and enter a deep sleep, leading to shorter naps. On the other hand, if your baby isn’t tired enough, they might wake after a short nap because there wasn’t enough ‘sleep pressure’ to encourage a long nap. Keeping an eye on your baby’s wake windows, which are the periods of time they can comfortably stay awake, can help you find the right balance. You can find a free guide to awake windows from 0-12 months in your Positively Parenthood membership area.

2. Tummy Discomfort

We talk about this all the time – babies are sensitive, and any discomfort in their tummy can very easily disrupt their sleep. Wind, reflux, or other digestive issues can make it hard for a baby to settle into a deep, restful sleep. Sometimes there may be clear signs of discomfort like being unsettled, arching their back, or drawing up their legs but sometimes the signs are less obvious. We’ve worked 1:1 with hundreds of clients experiencing short naps, and when we make some tweaks to feeding, diet and address the tummy discomfort, the longer naps quickly follow!

3. Self settling

A long, independent nap depends on baby’s ability to move from one sleep cycle to another without any assistance. If your little one is helped to sleep for their nap by rocking, feeding etc, you may find their naps are short or they only stay asleep for one sleep cycle because they’re unable to get into another cycle without your help. Teaching your baby how to self settle, using age-appropriate methods, can help them link their sleep cycles and enjoy longer naps. This might involve gradually reducing your involvement in helping them fall asleep, so they learn to do it on their own.

If short naps are a problem in your family and you want to make a change, we’re here to help! Check out our Baby and Toddler sleep courses or book a 1:1 with Mel for more personalised sleep advice.

Why does my baby do short naps?

1. Over/Undertiredness

2. Tummy Discomfort

3. Self settling

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