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Studies find that babies who nap well have longer attention spans and are less fussy than poor nappers. And although this next point seems counterintuitive, babies who nap well during the day sleep better at night. Here are some tips adapted from THE LULL-A-BABY SLEEP PLAN: The Soothing, Superfast Way to Help Your New Baby Sleep Through the Night...and Prevent Sleep Problems Before They Develop by Cathryn Tobin, M.D. Rodale Books SRP $14.95.

NAP TRAP #1: “My baby wakes up the instant I put him down.” He shouldn’t fall asleep in your arms in the first place. Remember the rule: to bed semi-awake.

NAP TRAP #2: “My baby refuses to nap.” Typically, the problem is timing. A baby won’t nap unless he’s tired. Try too early, and he’ll resist; try too late, and he’ll catch a second wind. In general, a young baby needs to nap after 2 hours of activity.

NAP TRAP #3: “My baby takes only short naps.” There are several equally good reasons a baby may take only catnaps. First, a short nap may be all she needs; some babies are fully energized after 30 to 40 minutes of sleep. But the more likely the culprit is that your baby may be having problems going from a shallow to a deep sleep state. She may wake up after 20 minutes because she can’t settle down. Here are some ways to help your baby relax.

• Turn down the volume. Sudden household noises interfere with drifting off. Consider using white noise to minimize outside distractions. Like the mantra “om . . . om . . . om” white noise allows a baby to dive into a deeper level of consciousness. Once he’s asleep, there’s no need to keep the troops quiet.
• Get there first. If your baby consistently wakes up after a 30-minute nap, tiptoe into her room around the 20-minute mark, and charm her back to sleep once she starts the wake-up shuffle. Don’t leave the room before she’s in a deep sleep. If you try to sneak out too early, she’ll notice and wake up.
• Think outside the crib. Even when your baby’s sleeping, his gifted brain is busy soaking up outside signals. A dark room sends the message “go back to sleep” and can extend naptime. So hang dark curtains and get rid of the night-light.

NAP TRAP #4: “My baby naps best in her car seat.” A baby who loves to sleep in her car seat is most likely one who loves to feel cuddled, as though she’s in a cocoon—which isn’t surprising, considering a baby spends 9 months curled up in the womb. Swaddling is the best way to re-create this comfort.

NAP TRAP #5: “My baby power-naps in the car on the way home from daycare and then refuses to go to bed.” Play around with the timing of the afternoon nap so your baby’s not so tired when you pick him up. Avoid giving your baby a bottle on the way home—the moving car plus relaxed sucking is a dangerous duo. Finally, when choosing a daycare center, consider one close to home so you can at least try to reduce the risk of your baby falling asleep on the way home.

NAP TRAP #6: “My baby only catnaps because we’re always on the go.” If you have a jam-packed schedule, perhaps it’s time to simplify. In an effort to allow stay-at-home naptime, I suggest you cut back on commitments, carpool, or hire a sitter.

NAP TRAP #7: “My baby will nap only if I lie down with her.” Sit beside the bed and charm your baby to sleep. She’ll feel the same sense of closeness and ultimately sleep for longer stretches. Best of all, you can sneak out of the room as she becomes more adept at self-soothing to sleep.

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• Offer a pacifier at every sleep period. This will maximize the protective benefits.

• Begin offering a pacifier at one month of age to ensure that breastfeeding is firmly established. The risk of SIDS is very low during the first month.

• Limit pacifier use to the first year of life. This includes the peak ages for SIDS risk and the 1-5 month period when the baby’s need for sucking is the highest.

• Pacifiers should not be used as a substitute for nursing or feeding. The pacifier should be offered following a feeding session as you place the baby down to sleep.

• Once the baby falls asleep, there is no need to reinsert the pacifier if it falls out. Experts feel that frequent pacifier users may undergo adaptive changes that are beneficial even when the pacifier is not in the mouth.

• Infants who refuse a pacifier should not be forced to take one.

• Pacifiers should not be coated with any sweet solutions.

• Do not use a string or other device to attach pacifiers around your baby’s neck or to clothing.

Addressing Concerns

• Otitis Media. The risk of otitis media is relatively low in the first year of life. Frequent cleaning and replacement of damaged pacifiers can further reduce this risk.

• Breastfeeding Success. In randomized, controlled trials, pacifier introduction after one month was not detrimental to breastfeeding duration. Other trials did not show an effect of pacifiers on breastfeeding duration among term or preterm infants. Mothers should receive regular support, encouragement and assistance with developing proper breastfeeding techniques to build confidence and ensure success.

• Dental Malocclusions. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry policy on oral habits, pacifiers are unlikely to cause long-term problems if stopped by the age of 3 years. In addition, it has been shown that infants not offered pacifiers were more likely to suck their fingers, a problem that is more difficult to break and more likely to cause malocclusions.

Provided by First Candle, the nation’s leading organization dedicated
to infant health and survival. www.firstcandle.org or 800.221.7437

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