We asked the UK’s leading baby sleep expert Sam Saunders, aka ‘The Baby Guru’, to share some of her top tips on baby nap times using the amazing SnoozeShade products.

Sam Saunders is a noted voice on baby sleep and has a wealth of experience as a gentle parenting and baby coach. She has worked as a baby sleep expert for several well-known brands including Johnson & Johnson and Mothercare, and she most recently hosted weekly virtual Q&A sessions on baby sleep for Baby Mori.

Sam has helped more than 1,000 parents in the last 10 years with their questions on sleep and routine for their babies. Her clients include Hollywood actresses and European royal families - but today she is sharing her top tips closer to home from her home.

“When I am contacted by parents about nap times, it’s often because their little ones are only taking short, infrequent naps or that they are skipping nap time altogether. This can lead to their babies becoming overtired, struggling to settle at bedtime and frequently waking at night. On the flip side, it can sometimes be because their little ones are napping well when they are at home, but only take cat naps when they are out and about, so parents feel tied to the house.

“To help your little one take consistently good naps for their age, there are a number of things you can do:

• Creating a positive, calm and dark environment for sleep is essential for us all. We would find it a struggle to fall asleep with lots of light and stimulation and babies are no different. This is especially true from around four months when babies are becoming much more aware of their surroundings.
• A consistent routine is another key factor in helping little ones to settle and stay asleep. With a naptime and bedtime routine, they learn the cues for sleep, allowing them to fall asleep more easily.
• Having naps out and about is great for getting a blast of fresh air, and it’s useful when on the way to or from activities. Using the pram or sling to extend a short nap helps prevent little ones becoming overtired.
• My method to help your little one fall asleep independently in their cot, is that I advise that if your baby does not settle after 45 minutes of sleep cues, then use a pram or sling for a nap to prevent them from becoming overtired.
• When on holiday or away with family or friends, keeping to regular nap times can help your baby adjust. You can even add an additional, late nap, so they can stay up in the evening while you’re out for dinner.
• Think about the appropriate naps and gaps for your baby’s age. Below is a table showing the advised number of naps and their approximate length, for each age range. The important thing to remember is that all babies are individuals and some need more sleep than others but most do well on a 12 hour day and 12 hour night routine.

“Keep your little one sleeping soundly while on the move.

“This is where the amazing SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe becomes so handy. It helps create a dark environment with less visual stimulation, so little ones can drift off to sleep easier and stay asleep for longer. It blocks out 97.5% of the sun’s rays and protects from the wind, chill and insects. It will fit all buggies and pushchairs. It’s super soft and the stretchy mesh is better than breathable – it’s air permeable, allowing the air to pass easily through it.”

Visit www.thebabyguru.co.uk for more information on how The Baby Guru can help you and your little one that much-needed sleep.

If you would like one to one help with your little one’s sleep, please get in touch by emailing sam@thebabguru.co.uk

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Some helpful additional reading:

Discover the Gina Ford baby sleep method

Expert sleep tips for newborns

Tizzie Hall demonstrates the Save Our Sleep method of baby sleep training