3 Month Nap Regression
Your newborn was probably taking pretty good naps for the first few months.
You may have had a hiccup around the 6-8 week mark but besides that, you’ve probably been able to get some pretty decent naps in.
Cue 3 months old! It is common to experience a nap regression with your baby around 3 months old. This typically looks like your baby’s naps only lasting about 30 minutes each.
I know this can feel frustrating, especially if you were just starting to get on a predictable nap cycle with your baby, But rest assured this is completely normal and won't last forever.
How do I handle this regression?
When our babies are going through a regression, we want to do our best to optimize sleep and prevent overtiredness.
My biggest tip for this regression is to save the nap. The ideal goal for a nap is at least one hour. If your baby wakes up after a 30-45 minute nap, spend some time trying to rock or soothe them back to sleep. Your baby may fight this at first. They are experiencing a nap regression after all. Just remember, you can’t spoil a newborn. If getting them back down in their bed is tricky, wearing them or finishing off with a contact nap are both great options! Check out this blog post for tips for independent naps with your newborn.
What if I can’t save the nap?
In a perfect world, our babies would sleep at least an hour at every nap. But that’s just not reality. If you have some free time and can spend 10-15 minutes trying to extend your baby’s nap, great! If you try and save their nap and you can’t get them back to sleep within 20 minutes, just get them up and move on with the day.
I also don’t want you spending the whole day in the nursery trying to extend every single nap. While short naps might stress you out, do not sacrifice your mental health by trying to save every nap. Do what you can by extending at least one or two naps a day and try not to stress about the rest of the cat naps.
When will this regression end?
While the 3 month nap regression can feel frustrating, there is some light at the end of the tunnel! Your baby is so close to 4 months old. Around 4 months, there is a massive change in sleep. Babies are moving out of newborn sleep and are ready for deeper rest. After 4 months you can teach your baby independent sleep skills. This means your baby can learn how to fall asleep independently, connect their sleep cycles, lengthen naps, and cut down night wake-ups.
Wondering how to teach independent sleep skills? That’s what I’m here for! I work with families to create individualized step-by-step plans to optimize daytime sleep, teach independent sleep initiation, lengthen naps, and cut down night awakenings. Each plan is tailored to fit the needs and wants of every family. Click here to learn more!