Why Is My Baby Taking Short Naps?
If you’re a mom, you know exactly how this goes: You lay your baby down, tiptoe out of the room, take a deep breath, and think, “Okay, I’ve got at least an hour.” You start unloading the dishwasher… maybe even dare to sit for a moment… and then—BAM! Thirty minutes later, your baby is wide awake.
Short naps are incredibly common, but here’s the good news: they don’t have to be your norm. With the right foundations in place, those dreamy 1.5–2 hour naps are absolutely possible.
Below are the top 10 reasons babies take short naps and what might be going on behind the scenes. See if any of these fit your little one!
1. Baby is overtired or under-tired
Timing is everything. Wake windows help you line up naps when your baby is ready for sleep—not too wired and not too wide awake. When naps are mistimed, connecting sleep cycles becomes much harder.
(If you need guidance, check out my Instagram post with recommended wake windows by age!)
2. Hunger
If baby is taking tiny “snack feeds” or feeding only as part of falling asleep, they may not be getting the full feeds their body needs to support long naps. Fuller, more intentional feedings help build a rhythm where your baby stays fuller longer, which often leads to longer, more restorative naps.
3. Developmentally appropriate sleep patterns
Before about 3 months, babies don’t yet have mature sleep cycles. They cycle through light and deep sleep, which can create unpredictable nap lengths. This isn’t a “problem”—just part of normal development. As their sleep cycles mature around 3–4 months, naps can to lengthen with the right routines and practices in place.
4. Micro naps
A quick snooze in the car or a 5-minute stroller doze before nap time can significantly reduce sleep pressure.
Translation? Baby doesn’t feel tired enough to stay asleep for a full nap, even if the “real” nap starts on time.
5. Sleep associations
If your baby relies on rocking, feeding, bouncing, or a pacifier to fall asleep, they may need that same support to connect sleep cycles.
Since sleep cycles last 30–45 minutes, they often wake at that point and call out for the same help that put them to sleep initially.
6. Sleep environment
Where your baby naps matters.
A bright, warm, noisy, or constantly moving nap environment (car seat, carrier, errands, etc.) makes it harder to transition between cycles.
A consistent nap space that’s dark, cool, and quiet sets your baby up for longer stretches.
7. Inconsistency
Babies thrive on predictable routines.
If naps happen in different places, at different times, or with different routines each day, it becomes harder for your baby’s internal clock to regulate and learn to connect those cycles.
Consistency doesn’t have to be perfect—just predictable.
8. It’s become a habit
How you respond to short naps matters.
If your baby is used to getting up after 30–45 minutes, their body will begin to expect (and schedule!) that shorter nap.
Teaching independent sleep skills and gently guiding them back into another cycle can help reset the pattern.
9. Developmental leaps
Rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling up, babbling—your baby’s brain is BUSY. During these leaps, naps often get shorter, and that’s completely normal. The good news? These phases pass, and sleep often returns to normal with consistency.
10. Nap transitions
When babies are ready to drop a nap—from 4 to 3, 3 to 2, or 2 to 1—you’ll often see short naps pop up. This is their way of saying, “Hey! My schedule needs adjusting.” Transitions can be bumpy, but they’re also predictable and manageable with the right timing.
Final Thoughts
Short naps can be so frustrating—but they are almost always fixable with the right tweaks. Understanding why they happen is the first step toward helping your baby take longer, more restful daytime sleep.
If short naps are wearing you down, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’d love to help you create a plan that works for your baby and your family. Just reach out—I’m here for you.