Nap Emergency! Severe Weather Contingency…Tips From A Baby Sleep Consultant in Scotland

Oh what to do when your child needs a nap and it’s snowing a blizzard outside with ankle deep snow?

For some people they will be thinking – what is she talking about why would the weather outside matter to nap times….right, BUT if you get this, you know what I am talking about! Your babe wont sleep unless motion, car ride or buggy and you need to keep moving at a steady pace or he wakes up.

You likely have been looking forward to the better weather! But we are in March and it is a red alter in Scotland. 

So what do you do?

You try baby in their cot, even if you have done it before and it was a total disaster, so let me walk you through that.

Step One: Get the Timing Right
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This will likely be different from when you usually take baby out in the buggy, you see she can fall asleep really easily in the buggy or with motion sleep, but it is a different story in the Cot, so if you are trying in the Cot, aim for an extra 30 mins awake time from what you usually have naps.  Here is a guide

Awake Time Between Naps:
Newborn – 3 months: 45  - 60 minutes (3 to 4 naps per day)
3 – 6 months: 1.5 – 2 hours (3 naps per day)
6 – 9 months: 2 – 3 hours (2 naps per day)
9 – 12 months: 3 – 4 hours (1 to 2 naps per day)
12 – 24 months: 4 – 6 hours (1 nap per day)

Step Two: Nap Routine

I always coach families to do a short, simple nap routine. 
1)      nappy change in baby’s room
2)      comfy clothes on
3)      into sleep sack/swaddle
4)      darken down the room
5)      song from mum/dad
6)      cot – Awake

Step Three: Give Baby Time

Once she is in her Cot, then what?
 
If she has been used to motion it might be difficult, but stay with her, sit in the room in a chair next to the cot, offer comfort, stroking, shhhhhing, patting, pick up if you need to and a cuddle and back into cot.

Give her some time to figure out how to fall asleep, it is ok if she has a bit of a party in her cot for 10 mins, as long as you stay calm and quiet, if you have given it a go for 30 mins with no joy, take a break for 10 mins, walk around the house. and re-do the nap routine and try again for 15 mins if no joy you might have to revert to buggy in the house and rocking back and forwards.  Of course you could always opt for this straight away, but imagine if you try it and it works and you get a cot nap for the first time in like forever. 

Step Four: Feed soon after she wakes

This was a game changer for me with my Son at 6 months, Wake, Feed, Play, Sleep, Wake, Feed, Play Sleep……in that order throughout the day, it was a nice flexible way of structuring the day for us and prevent him falling asleep while feeding at nap times.  ​