When little ones have not learnt to settle to sleep, coming out of deep sleep and into lighter sleep can be where the cycle ends. When moving into the light sleep phase, infants can get stuck during this transition and look for help/cry out and often the nap ends there. Whereas independent sleepers can continue the cycle and start a new one, hence longer naps.
Here are 3 questions that are commonly asked:
Why does my child wake up at night?
Why does my child cat nap?
Why does my child wake up at 5am?
I can say with confidence that all three can relate to your child’s sleep cycle and how well they transition from one phase to the next. Children who have been taught the skill set to self settle can find the transition easier than those who need help falling asleep initially or rely on a certain way to fall asleep.
When transitioning into lighter sleep (30/40 minutes) dependent sleepers can wake at this point because they are looking for whoever or whatever helped them initially fall asleep to go back to sleep. BUT as they have had enough of a “power nap” and fully awake it is hard at this point to get them back to sleep especially with naps. Which can lead to lack of sleep and restless sleep at night.
My job is to introduce learning the skill set to sleep independently so longer naps, early rising and wake ups at night is eliminated. This skill works well with the right wakeful window, and a routine in place that’s right for you and your family.
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