Jumping the gun

Are You Starting Nap Time Too Early? Here’s Why It Could Be Backfiring

Let’s talk about something nearly every parent has done — starting nap time just a little too early.
You check the clock, nap time is in 10 minutes, and you think, “Let me get them down now to give them time to fall asleep.” It sounds logical, right? But it can actually backfire.

Quick disclaimer: This advice is for Babes over 4–6 months old. Newborns operate on a totally different rhythm, and the rules are a little more flexible in those early weeks.

So… What’s the Problem With Starting Early?

When you begin settling your Babe too early — even just 10 or 15 minutes before their nap is actually due — you may be missing the mark on sleep pressure.

Sleep pressure is your Babe’s natural biological drive to fall asleep. It builds up during their awake time, and if you try to put them down before it’s peaked, their body just won’t be ready.

What Happens Then?

You might notice:

• Babe lying in the cot wide awake

• Resisting your rocking or cuddles

• Rolling around, chatting, crying, or getting frustrated

• You getting frustrated because it's taking forever

• Or even worse — a skipped nap altogether

And it’s not because your Babe doesn’t need the nap — it’s because they weren’t quite ready yet.

What To Do Instead

Let your Babe stay engaged and awake right up until their nap time. Then, begin the wind-down routine on time — not early.

So if nap time is 10:00am, aim to:

• Bring Babe into their room at 10:00

• Close the blinds, pop them in their sleeping bag

• Use your usual sleepy cues (soft voice, familiar phrase, song, etc.)

• Finish with big, calm snuggles

This whole process only needs to take a couple of minutes.

That way, their sleep pressure is at its peak — and they’re actually ready to fall asleep when you lay them down.

The Takeaway?

Jumping the gun can actually make naps harder, not easier. Trust your schedule, trust your Babe’s biology, and let sleep pressure do its thing.