Sleep problem · 3–14 months
My Baby Won't Nap in the Crib
Naps are the last thing to fall into place. Here is the order of operations that works.
By Jenna Verrelli, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant · Updated September 2026
Quick answer
Crib naps are harder than nights because daytime sleep pressure is weaker, so a nap exposes any missing self-settling skill immediately. Fix bedtime first, then work one nap at a time, keep the room fully dark, and hold a crib hour so the nap has room to restart.
The fix, step by step.
- Fix nights before naps. Independent sleep at bedtime transfers to naps within a week or two. Working on naps first usually costs three weeks and produces nothing.
- Make the room as dark as the night. Blackout blinds, no nightlight, white noise running the whole nap. Light is the strongest signal telling a baby the nap is over.
- Pick one anchor nap. The first nap of the day has the most drive behind it. Train that nap in the crib and let the others happen wherever they need to for now.
- Hold a crib hour. When your baby wakes after 30–45 minutes, leave them in the crib until the hour is up, using your chosen response. This is what teaches cycle-linking.
- Cap the rescue naps. Contact or stroller naps later in the day are fine while you train, but cap them at 30–45 minutes so bedtime pressure survives.
Naps by age.
| Age | Naps per day | Total day sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 months | 4–5 | 4–5 hours |
| 5–8 months | 3 | 3–4 hours |
| 9–14 months | 2 | 2.5–3 hours |
| 15 months–3 years | 1 | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| 3–5 years | 0–1 | 0–1.5 hours |
If it still isn't working.
If nights are solid and crib naps still fail after three weeks, the schedule is usually the culprit — most commonly a wake window that is 15–30 minutes too short before the nap.
A free 15-minute call is usually enough to find the missing piece — book one here.
Keep reading.
Disclaimer · General educational information, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about your child's specific health, sleep, and safety.
Quick answers
Common questions.
Why will my baby nap on me but not in the crib?
Motion, warmth, and your breathing regulate your baby through the light sleep at the end of a cycle. The crib doesn't, so the nap ends there. Teaching sleep onset in the crib is what closes the gap.
How long should I leave my baby in the crib for a nap?
Up to one hour. If they haven't fallen asleep or resettled by then, get them out, keep the next wake window short, and try again at the following nap.
Do stroller and car naps count?
They count as sleep but they are lighter and shorter. Use them as rescue naps while you train, not as the main nap you are trying to fix.
Better sleep starts with
one call.
15 minutes. Free. No pitch.