What to do when your baby has refused a nap:

Knowing how to manage your baby’s nap(s) can be really tricky, and this is made SO much worse when they refuse one – but spoiler alert – this will happen to basically all babies and toddlers at some point. So how do you go about the rest of the day.

1.     First, take a deep breath, its all ok – then… use any of the following to help you get to your next nap time, or bedtime

-       If your baby is under 6 months, consider assisting them to sleep in the car, a baby carrier, the pram or a good old fashioned cuddle in arms. From there, follow you baby’s awake times for the rest of the day.

-       If your baby is over 6 months, but still on 2 or 3 naps, bring their next nap forward by about 30 mins, then consider if bedtime needs to be earlier too. Be flexible so that your baby doesn’t become overtired.

-       If your baby refuses their last nap of the day, go straight into your evening routine as soon as you humanly can, and make sure their bedtime is at least 30-60 mins earlier than usual

-       If your toddler on one nap completely refuses their nap, that’s ok! Expect some meltdowns and bring bedtime forward by about 60 mins.

2.     Next, now that you have a plan in place consider this:

Was this a once-off (maybe you’re having a tricky day, or your out of the house for most of it) or is this a pattern forming?

If it’s a pattern forming, it night be time to consider if your baby’s sleep needs have changed. To help you figure this out – grab my FREE guide here. This will give you guidance on how much day sleep they need, and what ages nap transitions typically happen

3.     Last thing:

Don’t let one day make you feel that everything is falling apart. I know it can feel that way, and the anxiety around naps and what that means for the night coming can be super stressful.

Let me reassure you, you will definitely be able to get things back on track.