What To Do If Your Newborn Won’t Sleep Or Nap During The Day

Reasons why your newborn is not sleeping or napping during the day

Newborn not sleeping during the day? There are many 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 outlined below. 

Your baby is overtired

Once your baby becomes overtired, it’s much harder for them 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 put them down for a nap before they reach the point of being overtired. 

Your baby is 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 quiet time before a nap, and give your little one the opportunity to fall asleep somewhere appropriate when their awake time is coming to an end. 

Your baby is hungry

Just as we don’t enjoy going to bed hungry, neither does your baby. It’s a good idea to schedule a feed just before nap time. You want to avoid feeding your baby to sleep if you can, but it’s important their little tummies are full before they nod off to stop them from resisting their nap, waiting to be fed. 

Your baby is uncomfortable

If your baby is wet or they are uncomfortable with the temperature, they may not be able to settle themselves to sleep. Always ensure baby has a fresh nappy before their nap, and that they are dressed and swaddled in breathable fabrics that are temperature-appropriate to the climate you’re in. 

Your baby isn’t taking the right number of naps during the day

Babies should have a certain number of naps each day, depending on their age. If they aren’t able to take the right number of naps, it may affect their ability to fall asleep. Here is a quick reference guide for average number of naps baby should take per day:

• 2-3 months old – 3-5 naps
• 4-5 months old – 2-3 naps
• 7-12 months old – 2 naps

Create a consistent sleep schedule to allow your baby plenty of opportunity to get their naps in for the day. 

Your baby is used to a different sleep cycle

If you’re in the process of changing how your baby falls asleep or training them to self-settle, that may be a reason baby’s not sleeping during the day. For example, if your baby is used to being, rocked, patted or fed to sleep and you are trying to have them fall asleep in their cot, it may take a period of adjustment before you baby becomes accustomed to a new sleep cycle or way of falling asleep. 

How to get your newborn to nap during the day

In order to get your newborn to nap during the day, try some of the following ideas:

• Create a consistent sleep schedule and allow your baby to have ample awake time before trying to put them down for a nap
• Watch for sleepy cues and ensure baby is given the opportunity to nap before they become overtired
• Ensure baby has some quiet time before their nap and is not being overstimulated by activities or their surrounding environment
• Feed, change and swaddle baby just before they nap
• Ensure your baby’s environment is conducive to sleep. If you can, dim the lights, ensure the room is at a comfortable temperature and minimise any disruptions