Naps on the go
Today, I am going to give you everything you need to know about naps on the go, the good, the bad the ugly, the how to’s, etc…
I know that it’s intimidating to think about schlepping your baby out at nap time, wondering how, where and if they will even sleep. I, too, wonder that about my own kids when doing naps on the go. And yes, many people in the sleep training world, and even well-meaning family and friends will tell you the importance of being homebound during nap time, which has truth to it, but that’s not always possible for many people, especially those who have multiple kids and are working around multiple schedules.
But don’t worry, I am here to take the fear out it for you and tell you that you do not need to be homebound in nap prison for all of your child’s naps and until the end of time, I am here to set you up for success for when you need or want to do naps on the go.
I get so many questions about babies napping on the go and figured I would answer them in detail here. So let’s get right into it.
It is ok for my baby to nap on the go?
Yes, it is perfectly ok for your baby to nap on the go and often necessary and unavoidable. Obviously it would be ideal to nap babies in their crib all the time, but reality says we need to get them used to life where naps may be in the car, the stroller, a plane or carrier.
Whether we nap ur babies on the go because we want them getting used to it or because we have to, naps on the go are part of babyhood and are going to happen.
Here’s a scenario:
Say you have carpool and need to pick up your kids by 4 pm and your baby usually naps at 3:00 pm. Obviously you aren’t leaving the house at 4 pm to get your kids, but you are also not fond of totally skipping your baby’s nap. You can either:
A) adjust the nap time routine so that that nap starts a half hour earlier (I’ve done this before) This may require you waking your baby up half hour earlier in the morning (don’t do this if they are already waking at 6 am).
b) Opt for a short nap, especially if it’s the last nap of the day. Do a half hour nap, wake your baby up, you can certainly try and transfer them to the car seat asleep, but if that doesn’t work then, adjust bedtime half hour earlier.
C) Opt to nap your baby in the car. Leave 10-15 minutes earlier than you normally would, give your baby a chance to fall asleep and just hope that they do! It might take them some getting used to, but if you practice the same routine for a few days of the same thing and they will likely start falling asleep in the car at nap time.
So yes, you can do naps on the go and in fact I recommend you getting your baby used to sleeping on the go so that you aren’t totally stuck at home. All. The. Time.
Aim for at least one nap in the stroller or baby carrier or car seat from day one and your little one should get used to itWhat do micro naps look like?
How do I adjust the schedule with unexpected naps on the go?
We all know how pesky those car naps can be, sometimes they are completely unavoidable and sometimes we do have some control over when our babies will fall asleep in the car. Let’s talk about what to do if your baby falls asleep in the car during or close to nap time.
Here are some practical transfer rules to follow for when you get stuck in this situation.
SCENARIO 1: THE NAP WAS LESS THAN 30 MINUTES
If the car nap was less than 30 minutes (depending on the age of your baby), you have a few options.
OPTION 1:
You can keep driving so that your baby gets in a sufficient nap so that you can keep to your regular schedule and not have to adjust anything.
OPTION 2:
You can simply call it a day, take your baby out and add 15-30 minutes extra to their current wake window (depending on their age and add more time for older babies!) So if nap time is usually at 12:00 pm, you will now put them down at 12:15/12:45 and adjust the rest of the day accordingly.
SCENARIO 2: THE NAP WAS MORE THAN 30 MINUTES
If the nap was more than 30 minutes, then technically, this is considered a sufficient full nap, even if your little one normally sleeps a full 1.5-2 hours. In this scenario you really only have 1 option.
WHAT TO DO:
Consider it a full nap, wait a full wake window before putting your baby down for their next nap or bedtime. You may have to adjust bedtime earlier in this situation, especially if the nap was shorter than it normally is.
EXPERT TIP:
If you want to avoid car naps and you can avoid them, simply try not to venture out during your little one’s nap time. Aim to go much earlier before nap time or after naps, this way you can keep your schedule in tact. But if you don’t have a choice, it’s ok, go about your day as usual and just apply these transfer rules to ensure you are keeping to the most optimal schedule as possible.
EXPERT TIP FOR BEDTIME:
Similar rules apply for whether your baby fell asleep in the car closer to bedtime. If it was 30 minutes beforehand
Is it safe for my baby to sleep on the go?
This is a really important topic to bring up because so often parents are unaware of safety guidelines for their babies when sleeping on the go.
You always want to make sure your baby is safe wherever they are sleeping outside of the house. Whether they are asleep in the stroller, baby carrier or car seat, you want to make sure you have checked off all the tips here on the list to ensure your little one’s safety. I know that that safety for sleep on the go may be easy to overlook, you just put your baby in a stroller and go and that’s that. Easy, but you want to be mindful of their safety when doing this.
Across the board, you want to check these things:
Make sure your little one is in view at all times. Never leave your baby unattended when you are out in public, even for a minute. You or an adult should always be present when your child is sleeping outside of the house.
For car seats, make sure your little one is strapped in and secured safely at all times and according to safety guidelines.
Make sure you NEVER cover the stroller, car seat or baby carrier with a heavy non-breathable blanket. I see this ALL THE TIME. I know that many people do this not even because their baby is cold but to block out the light and the noise etc…but temperatures can become dangerously high especially if you are walking in direct sunlight or outside. Always use a breathable stroller shade or cover if you want to purchase one. This is important.
Make sure your baby is snug in the baby carrier, that their chin is off the chest. If you cannot fit your finger underneath your baby’s chin then their airway isn’t all the way open and you want to make sure it is. You also want to make sure their back is properly supported and a straight position.
Will my baby ever get used to sleeping on the go?
Maybe, maybe not. Not every baby sleeps well on the go and some may not even sleep at all. I find this to be part personality, part what we get them used to. Some moms try getting their babies used to sleeping on the go and it’s not always a successful venture. Especially once they graduate the newborn stage and are much more aware of their surroundings, but practice practice practice!
Aim for at least 2-3 naps on the go per week to help your little one get used to it.
Here are my top tips for successful naps on the go
I know naps on the go can be tricky, but implementing these few simple things can Make all the difference in your napping on the go experience.
Practice makes improvement. The more you practice naps on the go, the more your baby will get used to them. Don’t give up and no, it’s never too late to start practicing this.
Follow appropriate wake windows and sleep cues for naps on the go, this will ensure your baby is ready for sleep when you’re out.
Recreate your usual nap time. An abridged version of bedtime is recommended to help your little one settle into a sleepy state, to show them what time it is even when you are out of the house.
Noise Machine, car seat or stroller cover, lovie, etc…Bring all the essentials! Noise machine to eliminate extra noise and to help the transition when you get home.
Leave the house BEFORE nap time, not right at nap time. Leaving right at nap time means your baby may take a while to fall asleep, they may become overtired, overstimulated and may not fall asleep at all. Give your little one ample time before nap (15-20 min) to allow time to settle and fall asleep.
For babies on a multiple nap schedule, aim for at least 1-2 naps in the crib at home, preferably the first nap of the day. You want them to be used to sleeping in their crib for nap time. For babies on a 1 nap schedule, aim for a nap on the go 2-3 times a week, with the other remaining naps in the crib.
Lower expectations - some babies never nap on the go, some don’t nap well. Don’t expect amazing 2 hour naps in the carrier. Generally they tend to be shorter naps simply because it’s not the most restorative sleep which means it’s not the deepest and they are more easily woken.
Here is one of the most important things you need for successful naps on the go
FLEXIBILITY
Naps on the go don’t always go as planned. More often than not they have a mind of their own and don’t go as planned. It’s ok. You need to be able to adjust the schedule accordingly if you want to be stress-free outside of the house during nap time.
If you are stuck in nap jail at home and you are desperate to get out, the first thing you need to do is reframe your expectations of what you think nap time will actually look like out on the go. Some babies nap amazingly well and some take crap naps.
So if you are outside for nap time and your little one skipped a nap competely, you have to be prepared and open to adding in a 2nd or 3rd nap later in the day to accommodate for missed sleep and to prevent severe over tiredness at bedtime. This happens and it’s normal and NO it will not ruin your whole schedule. It might throw things off for a day but if you have a good sleeper with a good schedule, they typically bounce right back to their routine.
So if you were in that situation and you had to add in a third nap for your baby who usually only does 2 naps, don’t sweat it. Just adjust bedtime a bit later and call it a day. Nothing bad will happen, I promise.
And if you pull up to a store and your baby falls asleep as you put your car into park, sit in the car for a few extra minutes, let baby snooze a little to ensure they sleep a bit and then go about your day.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO:
Expect shorter than usual naps
Expect some missed naps
Adjust the bedtime according, earlier for a missed nap and later for an unexpected added nap.
Except that it may take your little one longer than usual to fall asleep on the go (mostly due to overstimulation).
Expect that your little one may be a bit crankier than usual if they had a short nap.
Expect that naps on the go are NOT going to always go as you planned them.
Bottom line is: You have options but you also need flexibility.
