Should I Wake Up My Baby from Naps?
Listen, I know there’s an old saying that says “never wake a sleeping baby.” And I get it—it’s really hard to wake a tiny baby who is sleeping so peacefully.
But think about this: if you slept for 8 hours during the day, would you be able to sleep all night? Probably not! Babies are still figuring out when and how to sleep, and it’s up to us to teach them.
Day Sleep Affecting Night Sleep
Yes, babies need day sleep. But TOO MUCH day sleep can be detrimental while they are learning to sleep. So yes, I suggest you wake your baby up during the day at the 1.5/2 hour mark. But as stated above, this is key *while they are learning to sleep.*
This means, once your baby knows how to sleep all night, it’s totally okay to let them nap longer, sleep in in the morning, etc. But until that point, yes, I recommend you wake up your baby during the day to help set them up for success at night.
When to Wake Your Baby From Naps
You should wake your baby from naps if:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your baby is still learning the difference between day and night.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your baby is getting too much day sleep and it is affecting night sleep. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your baby is under 12 weeks and you are still trying to establish feedings. I try not to let my babies sleep into feeding time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When to NOT Wake Your Baby From Naps
You don’t need to wake your baby if:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your baby sleeps through the night and long naps do not affect night sleep. Usually 6+ months.
Your baby took a super short morning nap and needs to make up for it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your baby is sick and needs extra rest.
The Benefits of Sleep Training
The beauty of sleep training is that you work hard in the beginning so everything happens naturally over time. Around 3-4 months, your days become predictable and you no longer have to debate whether or not to wake your baby. They’ll just wake up!⠀⠀⠀⠀
Also, the older your baby gets, the more flexible you can become. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever woken my 6+ month old babies from a nap. If they are sleeping extra long, they probably need it!