Willow is almost 7 months old. Most babies at that age have a morning nap and an afternoon nap.
Cherish and I know most babies have settled into two naps by now. We've read it in books. We've read it online. Our doctor has told us.
Willow does not get two naps.
Up to last weekend, she was getting four a day, a 20-minute nap at 8 a.m., a 40-minute nap at 11:30 a.m., a 40-minute nap at 3 p.m. and a 20-minute nap around 6:30 p.m. As you can see, she had a nap regimen. She usually slept for these lengths, but sometimes she'd clock a 1-hour nap, and occassionally she'd settle in for two or three hours.
Willow's doctor told us this nap routine was fine, but she wondered how OUR schedules were holding up to it. I'm staying home, so I adapt reasonably enough. Cherish and I also have read that although most babies have settled into two naps at this point, it's normal for a few babies to be frequent catnappers, just like Willow.
Cherish and I haven't sweated the napping, nor do we expect you to sweat it. Willow is happy and healthy, and she sleeps wonderfully peaceful at night.
But I wondered if that 8 a.m. nap was needed, so I started an experiment this week: I took that nap away from Willow.
And she hasn't missed it. She's even had two-nap days two days in a row, usually at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On top of that, her nighttime sleeping has even improved.
I'm not going to give her back that 8 a.m. nap, and we'll see where the rest of the day goes.
I suspect she'll have three naps on most days, but who knows, maybe she'll become that two-a-day baby those baby books seem to crave.
I'm leaving it up to her, for now.
Cherish and I know most babies have settled into two naps by now. We've read it in books. We've read it online. Our doctor has told us.
Willow does not get two naps.
Up to last weekend, she was getting four a day, a 20-minute nap at 8 a.m., a 40-minute nap at 11:30 a.m., a 40-minute nap at 3 p.m. and a 20-minute nap around 6:30 p.m. As you can see, she had a nap regimen. She usually slept for these lengths, but sometimes she'd clock a 1-hour nap, and occassionally she'd settle in for two or three hours.
Willow's doctor told us this nap routine was fine, but she wondered how OUR schedules were holding up to it. I'm staying home, so I adapt reasonably enough. Cherish and I also have read that although most babies have settled into two naps at this point, it's normal for a few babies to be frequent catnappers, just like Willow.
Cherish and I haven't sweated the napping, nor do we expect you to sweat it. Willow is happy and healthy, and she sleeps wonderfully peaceful at night.
But I wondered if that 8 a.m. nap was needed, so I started an experiment this week: I took that nap away from Willow.
And she hasn't missed it. She's even had two-nap days two days in a row, usually at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On top of that, her nighttime sleeping has even improved.
I'm not going to give her back that 8 a.m. nap, and we'll see where the rest of the day goes.
I suspect she'll have three naps on most days, but who knows, maybe she'll become that two-a-day baby those baby books seem to crave.
I'm leaving it up to her, for now.
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