Dealing with a catnapper
- Over stimulation and overtiredness can lead to catnapping
- Also try the following to help your baby learn to sleep in her cot suring the day
Many young babies sleep like angels in mummy’s arms, but only for ten minutes in her cot. This is normal. Think about it from baby’s point of view: babies are ‘programmed’ to survive – and to survive, they must do everything in their power to stay close to their food source (mummy), warmth (preferably mummy) and safety (preferably mummy). ‘In arms’ is the only place a baby knows that she is safe. If you were living in the wild, would you put your baby down under a tree and go away to hunt and gather …?
Now you may be thinking – but I am not living in the wild – I have a life, I have things to do, my back hurts! And this is understandable. We do not live in clans in the wild. The loss of the clan or extended family is quite a pity for modern mums. It means that you have to care for your baby all day and all night! So we have to find ways of meeting baby and mum’s needs.
Many mums expect that babies sleep three to four hours at a time, wake to feed, and then sleep another three to four hours. Unfortunately this is not the case with most babies. It is more realistic to expect short naps several times a day. 30-60 minutes of sleep counts as a nap (the average sleep cycle of a baby is 45 minutes).
Some babies are born catnappers. You can turn a long napper into a catnapper by interfering with her sleep, but you cannot turn a catnapper into a long napper. However - before you jump to the conclusion that your baby is a born catnapper, first try the suggestions below to see if you can lengthen her naps.
This kind of napping can be very frustrating for you, but don’t despair – babies do eventually learn to nap by themselves (just as they learn to eat and walk by themselves). This phase will pass.
Erica Neser is a Breastfeeding Counsellor (UNICEF) and Infant Massage Instructor (IAIM) who has been working at two busy baby clinics for the past 12 years and runs a private practice from home. She also has a BA degree in Psychology and is trained as an Aromatherapist and Postnatal Depression Group Leader. She is the author of Sleep Guide for Babies and Toddlers (Protea Books, 2006) and Coping with Crying (self published, 2008). Erica often gives talks to groups of parents or health professionals, contributes to parenting magazines and websites, and has participated in talks on radio and television. Erica has three children - Roald (16), Aniek (14) and Mila (7). For more information, please visit www.babysleep.co.za.
