#asktheexpert Why is my 3 months old baby doesn’t take long naps in day

Question

Accepted Answer

It's common for 3-month-old babies to take short naps during the day, as their sleep patterns are still developing. However, if your baby isn't napping for long, here are some possible reasons and tips to improve nap duration:

Possible Reasons for Short Naps 1️⃣ Short Sleep Cycles (Normal at This Age) Babies at this age have short sleep cycles of 30-50 minutes. Some babies wake up after one sleep cycle and can’t settle back to sleep.

✅ What to Do?
✔️ Try gentle rocking, white noise, or patting to help extend the nap.
✔️ Ensure a calm environment so the baby can fall back asleep.

2️⃣ Overtiredness (Too Much Awake Time Before Nap) If your baby stays awake too long, she may become overtired, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Ideal wake windows for a 3-month-old: 1-1.5 hours between naps.

✅ What to Do?
✔️ Watch for sleepy signs (rubbing eyes, yawning, fussiness) and put the baby down before overtiredness kicks in.
✔️ Try a consistent nap routine (dim lights, gentle rocking, lullaby).

3️⃣ Hunger Waking the Baby At 3 months, babies still wake up if they’re hungry. Growth spurts around 3-4 months can make them wake more often.

✅ What to Do?
✔️ Feed before naps so hunger doesn’t wake the baby.
✔️ Check if she’s feeding enough during the day.

4️⃣ Daylight & Noisy Environment Babies sleep better in dark, quiet places. Bright light and noise can make naps short.

✅ What to Do?
✔️ Use dark curtains or a sleep mask.
✔️ Try white noise to block out sounds.

5️⃣ Discomfort (Gas, Diaper, Temperature) If the baby is uncomfortable, she may wake up early from naps. Gas, reflux, wet diaper, or being too hot/cold can disturb sleep.

✅ What to Do?
✔️ Burp well after feeds to prevent gas.
✔️ Dress in comfortable, breathable clothing.
✔️ Keep the room temperature around 22-24°C.

How to Encourage Longer Naps?

✅ Follow a consistent nap routine (feed → diaper change → rock → sleep).
✅ Try contact naps (some babies nap longer in a parent's arms).
✅ Offer a pacifier if your baby likes sucking for comfort.
✅ Resettle quickly if the baby wakes up too soon—pat, rock, or shush.

🚨 When to Worry?

❌ If baby is fussy all day, not feeding well, or not gaining weight.
❌ If sleep issues come with high fever, breathing issues, or excessive crying.

Most babies start taking longer naps around 4-6 months when sleep cycles mature. Is your baby sleeping well at night? Sometimes, good night sleep leads to short daytime naps! 😊