Reasons why your newborn is not sleeping or napping during the day
There could be a few different reasons your baby sleeps well at night but not for naps, and thankfully it’s probably not because they’re a natural-born party animal. Some of the most common reasons are:
Overtired
Once your baby becomes overtired, it’s much harder to get to sleep. In an overtired state, your little one can produce cortisol and stress hormones, making the task of falling asleep a lot harder. Watch for your baby’s sleepy cues, so you can try to put them down for a nap before they reach the point of being overtired.
Overstimulated
Babies are sensitive to light and sound. If you’ve taken your baby to a loud, busy place or they’re being passed around the lunch table by a legion of adoring fans, they may become overstimulated and unable to fall asleep right away come nap time. Consider some down time before a nap, and give your little one the opportunity to fall asleep somewhere calm and quiet when their awake time is coming to an end.
Hunger
It’s a good idea to schedule a feed just before nap time, to give your baby the opportunity to fill up their tiny tummy. There are some recommendations not to feed your baby to sleep to avoid developing hard-to-break sleep associations but sometimes, you just need to do what works to get the sleep happening!
Discomfort
If your baby is wet, too warm, or too cold, they may not be able to settle for sleep. Always check that baby has a fresh nappy before their nap, and that they're dressed in breathable, temperature-appropriate fabrics. A Swaddle Up™ in the right TOG for your room temperature can help keep them comfortable without overheating.
Number of Naps
Getting the balance of naps right can be tricky. Too few and your baby is overtired. Too many and they may not have built up enough sleep pressure to settle well. Following age-appropriate wake windows and watching your baby's individual cues can help you find the sweet spot
Change of settling technique
If you're in the process of changing how your baby falls asleep say, moving from being rocked or fed to sleep to settling in their cot, it may take a period of adjustment. This is normal. Your baby is learning a new skill, and like all new skills, it takes a bit of practice.
