Everything you need to know about naps-on-the-go!

Whether you are going on a road trip, vacation, family gatherings or just want to get out of your house!

Naps-on-the-go are ESSENTIAL.

Yes, I said it, they are important for our mental health, and we need to incorporate them into our daily lives.

So can great sleep and naps-on-the-go really co-exist????

I say hell ya!

Life is about balance and sometimes we need to live our lives and free ourselves from nap jail.

Here are 5 ways to do that:

https://www.lilbabysleep.ca/sleep-schedules

  1. Practice - If your baby is not used to sleeping in a stroller or car seat and you put them in there expecting a great nap…It’s going to backfire. This is a new place and your baby will be interested in exploring it. Make sure to make it familiar!

    During the summer practice one nap in the new space-stroller, pack n play, car…whatever space you want them to get used to. Make sure to plan for a short nap though, because unfamiliar sleep spaces will cause short naps at first (the “wait where am I” factor).

  2. Provide the best environment possible for naps- Just because you’re planning a nap on-the-go doesn’t mean that you can’t optimize your little one’s sleep environment. We know that our little ones will be distracted so getting a cover for the stroller and cover for the back car window will help decrease stimulation.

    I recommend a safe cover like the snooze shade (please don’t use a blanket of any kind as it can cause babies to overheat in the summer months).

    A portable white noise machine is also a helpful tool that will help drown out ambient noise and help create a great sleep environment for your baby.

    Consistency in your sleep environment (as much as possible) and in your routines will help maintain a sense of security and help your baby sleep better anywhere.

  3. Time it out - Timing with naps is everything! You can also plan naps around your schedule to knowing that naps on-the-go will likely be short. So plan for one nap at home and the shortest naps on-the-go! You may need to troubleshoot your day and that’s okay! If your baby is well-rested then they will bounce back. As long as they get a total amount of day's sleep and at least one restorative nap, then some troubleshooting might be required but not the end of the world. I want you to feel confident adjusting your day, my clients and Your Dream Plan families can re-calculate and adjust naps in an instant!

    **Worst case scenario, your baby doesn’t nap, well then just rely on an early bedtime (6pm) and go back to your schedule the next day.

  4. Expectations - Will your baby have the best nap of their life?! Probably not.

    It really does depend on temperament but most of us don’t sleep well when we are in an unfamiliar environment (hmmhmm…go back to practicing). Some of us can sleep in a car or just about anywhere (we all know those people), and some just can’t (like me). So there is a chance that you’ll have a short crappy nap or no nap at all. We need to be realistic that we can’t always control the environment.

    If you have a well-rested baby, a baby who is a good sleeper and not sleep-deprived, then that is okay! Your baby can handle the odd sleep disruption and will bounce back SO easily! Let it go, if you do some naps being held, in a carrier, or on the beach then that’s okay.

    As long as we are consistent 80% of the time, 20% of the time life happens!

  5. Get back to normal afterwards- Enjoy your outings but when you get home troubleshoot the rest of your day, early bedtime and go right back to having a predictable routine (doesn’t have to be a rigid schedule).

    You’ll be surprised how fast your baby adjusts back with a little repetition and familiar cues. Babies find a sense of security in predictability and this is done through repetition.

The one thing you do need to ensure is that your little one is well-rested before you start attempting naps on-the-go.

If your baby is not sleeping well at night and is overtired, then your days will be filled with meltdown and naps will likely be harder (in ANY environment). So reach out let’s get some good nights under your belt and that will immediately make naps on-the-go easier and change your quality of time together.

A well-rested baby that sleeps independently does exponentially better with changes to their routines. Happy to connect about how to make that happen fast for you! So you can get out of your house and enjoy some fresh air!

Happy Napping!

Lil xx

 
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