A napping baby is a beautiful thing. Now that he’s 11 weeks old, your baby is probably spending more and more time awake. Even so, he’ll still be clocking up an impressive 15 hours of sleep each day. You may find it hard to believe when you’re feeling so exhausted thanks to all the night waking, but sleep is high on your baby’s list of priorities.
How long should my baby spend napping?
Now that he’s 11 weeks old, your baby probably spends three to five hours each day napping. This will likely be split over two or three naps, giving you plenty of opportunities to wonder what the hell you should be doing when your baby naps in the day. Your baby may nap whilst you’re out and about, snuggled up in the sling or tucked up in the pram, allowing you to get on with your day whilst he sleeps.
What should I do when my baby naps?
If you’re home alone when your baby goes down for a nap, you might be wondering what you should do with the free time. Should you use the opportunity to get some housework done, ring a friend for a chat or use the time to fill in some of that baby journal? Of course, it’s your time so it’s absolutely up to you what you choose to do with it.
If you’re feeling sleepy (and, really, what new parent isn’t?), then your baby’s nap time is the perfect time for you to catch up on some sleep. Not everybody finds it easy to sleep in the day, but it may help you to restore those depleted energy levels. Close the curtains, get into your pyjamas and switch off the lights. Even if you don’t manage to fall asleep, the rest will do you some good.
If you’re not feeling sleepy, you can do whatever you like during your baby’s naptime. Unless your baby has settled into a predictable routine, you might find it frustrating that you can’t predict how long your baby will sleep for. Some days you might rush around doing odd jobs, expecting your baby to wake up any moment, only to find he sleeps for hours and you could have relaxed in front of a movie.
The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to do something useful just because your baby is asleep. You don’t have to wash the dishes, do the laundry or cook dinner. Looking after a baby all day is exhausting work, so you’re perfectly entitled to enjoy any downtime that comes your way. Read a book, watch a movie or have a bath. Do whatever you need to feel a little more like you.
What are your favorite things to do whilst your baby naps?
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
