gone are the days my newborn would sleep anywhere, anytime, in anything like this photo! while we aim for most of our now ten month old baby’s naps take to take place in the crib, we also intend to keep things flexible! family time is valuable to us, and while baby’s sleep is too, sometimes he’s gotta take a snooze on the go. and if we are home, sometimes baby just fights sleep and naps don’t always work! that’s normal! I shared on instagram a few days ago that when this one refused his morning nap the other weekend, I gave him some time, went in to reassure him once and then decided I’d rather try to get him to sleep in fresh air with the rest of our crew then spend my Sunday morning getting frustrated listening to him fuss or going in and out of his room.
part of researching baby sleep has been out of curiosity and part of it is to find better ways to create structure while also allow flexibility. with the twins I stuck to a more rigid plan as it was necessary but I was also so much harder on myself when things went awry! with the third baby I’ve been so much easier on myself and found much more freedom through that.
Half the time I feel like it’s our mindset that makes the difference. Personally staring at the monitor works me up, then works him up and game over. the days I say “it’s gonna be fine!” and take my eyes away from the camera, take the pressure off or decide to try a nap on the go, I feel so much more at ease and so does he. then the things fall into place.
funny how this is sort of how life works right? let go, and most times, things will happen in your favor. even if they don’t, the letting go mindset tricks you into thinking they are ;) that’s the beauty of it!
when working with mamas, i always remind them that keeping a healthy mindset can allow us so much more. we can have a schedule and flexibility. our baby can nap in the crib most times and in our arms other times. and we can create space for ourselves but also embrace these fleeting moments of our tiny humans.
if you need some tips for napping on the go, here are mine:
- let newborns be newborns
first off, if you’ve gotta newbie, don’t worry too much about when and where your baby’s naps are! most likely they can and will sleep anywhere, anytime. and on the go it is! once he or she is a few weeks/months old you can move to the next step…
- set up a healthy sleep foundation
before chatting naps on the go for babies older than 3 or so months, it’s important to lay down a healthy sleep foundation for them. while newborns are experts at napping wherever, whenever, it’s so key to practice some naps in the crib, so that you can have flexibility later. when baby moves past the first few weeks/month, we suggest doing at least 1 nap a day in the crib. once baby is in a predictable routine, it’s easier to have flexibility and do naps on the go, as baby will usually easily easily revert back to the crib for the next nap! if naps are always done on the go however, baby will get used to this and have a harder time sleeping in the crib when you want him or her to. you can visit my top 10 tips for laying down a healthy sleep foundation here or contact me if you need support in setting up these habits as there are some significant steps here you don’t want to miss!
- invest in a good carrier
buy or borrow a carrier or wrap that you really like, and that’s comfortable for both you and baby! My favorite wrap is Solly, for when babes are under 6 months, and Lillebaby for a more structured style for babies over 6 months. We also love our Artipoppe as a luxury carrier and Baby Bjorn has a great carrier too. Most wraps can be used up to one year plus of age, but a more structured style is usually better and more comfortable for all parties involved when trying to achieve that nap with a heavier babe.
- have a stroller ready to go at all times
buy or borrow a stroller or two- one that lives in the car, and one that lives in your garage or near your front door for a quick getaway. this way when baby fights the crib nap, you can easily plop him or her into the stroller for a walk if you prefer to push your baby rather than wear. many babies find the strolling very soothing and if done at nap time, they often fall asleep. make sure you have the intention for baby to sleep in the stroller if you’re putting him or her in around nap time! IF you are still working on crib naps, I always caution mamas I work with to be careful as babies so often tend to doze off unexpectedly when put in the stroller within 30 minutes of nap time!
- time it well
the first nap is so important in setting up the day, but it tends to be shorter, so it’s a good nap to do on the way to older kids school drop off, an errand or what not. even 20-30 minutes of rest for little one will prevent him or her from becoming too over tired to take a restful second nap.
- no expectations
don’t expect your baby to nap. because that’s the pressure building up whether you’re intending on it or not. the purpose of the nap on the go is to take the pressure off that perfectly regimented nap routine in the crib, and to loosen up a bit. if it doesn’t happen, it’s okay, you can try again next nap!
- mindset
don’t forget this one! back to the point of no expectations, the purpose of the on the go nap is to take the pressure off yourself mama, and baby! allow flexibility and also freedom to be with your other children or literally take a break from working as hard as we do to get our children to nap sometimes. have fun with the nap on the go, laugh, and if it doesn’t happen, that is okay!
email me at carlykenihan@sleepshopconsulting.com if you are looking for specific but gentle tips or tools. one of my goals in getting certified in baby sleep was to support more of you and i love connecting over this subject!
and finally if you’re having a rough day, tell yourself out loud, “it’s going to be okay.” you can try again next nap. and again, tomorrow. but until then, look for the little blessings in these few hours in front of you. and always (always) try to laugh! it helps!
