Have you heard of cat naps ? They are called that precisely because they act as a “bridge” during transition periods in the sleep routine, but they can also serve as “emergency naps” to prevent the baby from becoming over-tired. In this post we answer the main questions about this useful tool in your little one’s sleep routine.

Why are naps called "bridge" naps?

Precisely because they act as a “bridge” during transition periods in the sleep routine when the baby stops one of his naps (for example, he goes from 3 to 2, or from 2 to 1 ), and needs extra support to get to bed at night.

However, they can also serve as “emergency naps” to prevent over-fatigue. of the baby, if for some reason he did not meet his rest needs during the day.

Unlike regular naps, this nap does not have a restorative purpose, but for babies whose sleep windows are not yet as long or who are adapting to longer periods, this nap is very useful to avoid over-tiredness.

Some features:

• - It is a temporary addition to the routine, it is generally the last nap, and is characterized by being brief and flexible.

• - It should not last longer than 45 minutes. If it is too long, it could disrupt your baby's bedtime and nighttime sleep.

• - Since they are more 'improvised', it is common for them to be naps while moving or in places that are not the baby's normal sleeping environment.

When to offer this nap?

There is no hard and fast rule regarding when to offer a nap bridge. Every baby is unique and every day is different, so you should always go by the cues your baby gives you, that's the main rule.

They are very useful in...

• - Nap transitions: very useful during these transition periods, to help your baby consolidate his new routine. Many babies need this 'bridge' to adapt to longer sleep windows.

• -Daytime naps have not gone well: It is normal for your baby's sleep to vary, and for him to have better days than others. For 'bad' days, a cat nap is an excellent ally to avoid over-tiredness.

• - Changes in routine: trips, vacations, unexpected events, it is normal for the routine to be altered sometimes. In these cases, this mini nap will be very useful to give your baby the rest he needs.

Once your baby has established his sleep routine (with the appropriate naps and sleep windows), this nap begins to disappear.

What if this nap becomes necessary every day?

If you feel like it's becoming permanent and that your baby always needs it so he doesn't get overly tired at the end of the day, you probably need to review his schedule and make adjustments to his routine.

If you need help figuring out the best routine for your baby, visit our Schedule Generator, which will suggest a personalized routine for your baby by simply entering a few details. It also includes very useful information, with tips, examples and activities.