https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 14 Jun 2026 05:10:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012869 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:22:39 +0000 Torchwood 1012869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always stayed in the room and watching for signs they're starting to wake up, then soothed them before they could fully wake (patting a shushing without picking up). After doing that for a few days or longer, they start to stay down on their own better because their bodies have learned to nap longer better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012861 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:19:39 +0000 Bao 1012861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A just started taking longer naps about a month or two ago and she is almost one. She would take ok naps but it wasn't until recently they are about 2 hours, sometimes 2.5. She only takes one nap a day though, and he awake time is several hours before her nap, so I think that makes a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012860 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:19:29 +0000 Weagle 1012860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I think it's a hard thing to force at this age. Sleep is like any milestone, you can't make it happen until they're ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012842 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:11:05 +0000 loveisstrange 1012842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, 6 months was the sweet spot for us too. She went from cat-napper (lucky if we got 30 minutes) to champion napper (2, 2 hour + naps) in what seemed like overnight. </p> <p>I did used to leave her for 15-20 minutes after every nap, to encourage her to go back to sleep (as long as she wasn't screaming). Not sure if it helped or not though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012841 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:10:37 +0000 mrbee 1012841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sleep cycles are often 45 minutes... once your LO learns to self soothe, they can put themselves down again after they come out of that first sleep cycle!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012836 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:08:23 +0000 immabeetoo 1012836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ditto to what @littlecasita1122 said. i bent over backwards trying a million different things (separately of course) trying to lengthen naps but it was just a developmental thing. He went from 20 to 30 to 45 and then around 5.5 months started lengthening. Sorry, not helpful, but just time :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012808 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:58:44 +0000 travellingbee 1012808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlecasita1122: Yeah, that may be the case... It is just that sometimes he does sleep longer and other times, nope! He sleeps best in his swing and I am sure we are creating a nap-crutch that is gonna come back to bite us later. LOL. I just want him to NAP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012802 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:56:36 +0000 littlecasita1122 1012802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found that no matter what I did, LO would not nap longer than 45 minutes until he was 6 months old. Then one day he started sleeping for 1.5 hours and has been doing that ever since. I get jealous of LO's that nap for 2-3+ hours at a time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lengthening-naps-what-works#post-1012766 Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:50:15 +0000 travellingbee 1012766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep reading conflicting information. Do I....<br /> Stretch awake time? or Put down as soon as I see sleepy cues.</p> <p>(LO is 5 months old and very inconsistent with naps-- currently his awake time is about 2 hours and naps are between 25 min and 1 1/2 hours, depending on the day.) </p>