5 Months to 25 Months – Taking Cara Babies

First, I want you to repeat after me: "Flexible Routine NOT Rigid Schedules!" Say it again, "Flexible Routine NOT Rigid Schedules!" It took me four kids to learn the valuable lesson of flexibility. Perfection is over-rated and babies are born to show us that rigidity is fairly useless in parenting. So, buckle up and join me on the ride through Nap Land.

Please remember naps ARE important. We know "sleep begets sleep." This means that adequate daytime rest leads to fewer night wakings and longer night sleep. However, naps can be so difficult to navigate through without any guidance. (Insert Cara with a cape!)

This blog post is created for parents with babies 5 months – 2 years. I will give you sample schedules. However, please understand that your baby probably will NOT follow any of them exactly. If you haven't figured it out yet, your baby is different from all the rest! That's a good thing!

Please use the guidelines set forth based upon your baby's age, watch your baby's sleepy cues (yawns, eye rubs, crankiness, "zoning out"), and adjust your routine accordingly. Please understand that if your baby is NOT sleeping 10-12 hours at night independently, THAT is the place to start. Night sleep is typically accomplished prior to day sleep. Now, these schedules can be helpful, but naps may remain a bit messy until your nights are conquered.

If your baby is struggling to sleep through the night and has inconsistent naps,  "The ABC's of Baby Sleep" is the place to begin! This online class will help little ones achieve 10-12 hours of night sleep in the crib, wean night feedings, and solve nap troubles.

If you have taken the newborn class, "Will I Ever Sleep Again," you may notice that the schedules below do NOT align with the E.A.S.Y. method encouraged for newborn care. I tend to squelch E.A.S.Y. at five months of age. And why is that, Cara… a baby's awake time begins to lengthen, making it difficult to maintain E.A.S.Y. while still fitting an adequate amount of calories in during their day. Because of this, continue to offer feedings according to your baby's hunger cues. Yes, continue to offer breast and bottle feedings every 2-3.5 hours throughout your baby's first year of life. Just fit feedings in around nap times when you see true hunger cues

If a feeding falls prior to a nap, try not to feed your baby to sleep. Wake him up prior to putting him in the crib. Feeding to sleep can actually lead to shorter, less productive naps. Again, if you're struggling to implement naps, the online class, "The ABC's of Baby Sleep" will help.

Goal Amount of Daytime Sleep: 3-3.5 hours
Average Number of Naps: 3
Wake Windows: 2.5-3 hours
Bedtime: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Feedings: About every 2.5 -3.5 hours based on hunger cues

Your Daily Routine Based Upon Wake Time:
2 hours after Wake Time= Nap 1
2.5 hours after the end of Nap 1= Nap 2
2.5 hours after the end of Nap 2= Nap 3
2.5 – 3 hours after end of Nap 3= Bedtime

(Bedtime may need to be pushed a bit earlier depending on the last nap of the day so as not to exceed three hours.)

Side note about that 3rd nap: This nap is typically a "catnap" lasting 30-45 minutes. The purpose of the third nap is to help baby make it until bedtime. Sometimes, that third nap of the day is a real BEAST! If you are struggling with this nap and it's becoming a daily battle, consider a nap out on a walk in the stroller, while running errands in the car seat, or just when being held. This may not be ideal, but your baby needs this catnap to make it to bedtime. Get it however you can get it.

Signs it's time to drop the third nap:
*most commonly happens around 7 months
*difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at nap time  (when this wasn't a problem previously)
*3rd nap is getting so late it's interfering with bedtime
*early morning wakings begin to manifest (because baby is getting too much daytime sleep)
*baby just doesn't seem tired at nap time- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Sample Schedules:

*Please offer solids throughout your day as advised by your pediatrician with every schedule.

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