How to Deal With Nap Refusals
Jul 30, 2022
"Help!! My baby just flat our refuses to nap!” I get this message a lot!
First of all, breathe!
If this nap refusal is random and unusual. You likely don’t need to do anything at all. Sometimes babies or toddlers decide they aren’t going to nap one day (or one week). This could be due to sleep regression, developmental growth, hitting milestones, sickness, teething, or just simply “because.” It’s going to be ok.
You can offer your child a nap, provide them the best environment, and even teach them the skills to fall asleep on their own.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, SOME DAYS YOUR BABY JUST WON'T WANT TO NAP.
I promise there is nothing wrong with this. It’s hard, it can be incredibly frustrating, but it’s likely not a long term issue!
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS ON WHAT TO DO IN THE MOMENT:
1. Go in and try and get a cuddly contact nap (they might just need it that day).
2. Go back to your sleep teaching method of choice until nap time is over.
3. Simply move on and start over the next nap! Write it off as a rubbish nap day, and offer them an earlier bedtime to compensate!
Tomorrow is a new day!
If this nap refusal is chronic and consistently happening every day for more than a couple of weeks, then it’s probably time to change things up. You may need to adjust their routine, sleep environment, teach sleep skills, or something else.
If you’re struggling to work out what to do next or if you just feel like you’re constantly worrying about short naps, nap time battles and sleep schedules… I’m here to help!
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