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How do I sleep train my 4 month old for naps?

We recommend starting sleep training at naps once you have a baby that consistently sleeps through the night. Nights are a better place to start because your baby has lots of hormones working with them and an environment that supports the most challenging part of sleep training - the initial learning of falling asleep independently! Additionally, many children will become jet-lagged as they learn to sleep through the night, and even great nappers will have haywire naps as soon as their nights normalize!

When you start, you first must understand how long your baby's naps should be. We have a comprehensive guide to nap transitions that will help you know how to find your baby's nap schedule based on their age. Once you have that schedule, you have start and stop times for your children's naps. Place your baby in their perfect sleep environment and practice your sleep training technique between these times. Only let your little one sleep 15 minutes after your end time, or you can start to experience early morning wakings and bedtime battles. 

If you don't want to use a nap schedule, your other option is to follow the "Crib Hour" rule. The Crib Hour rule says that after placing your baby in their crib, you should practice your sleep training technique for the next hour. If your baby is awake after the hour is finished, you go to them. If they are still asleep, let them sleep. 

Pro Tip: Your goal is to let your baby connect sleep cycles once per nap. Each baby sleep cycle is 30-45 minutes, so the crib hour gives them ~15 minutes to practice one sleep cycle connection. With practice, they will start to lengthen their naps naturally.

Have trouble connecting daytime sleep cycles? See this lesson in our app on lengthening naps!

What is the Lovebug App?

Our sleep training app is unique to your baby, and unique to you. It doesn't matter whether your baby is an infant or a toddler. It doesn't matter if you want to use the Ferber Method, Attachment Style Parenting or Sleep Train in a weekend.
It's time to take out the guesswork of baby sleep.
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First, you log.

When you log your baby’s activity, we keep track of over 40 metrics. Together, these metrics provide clues to underlying issues.

An iPhone showing how the lovebug app analyzes each baby's sleep data.

Then, we analyze.

Our science-backed algorithm reviews your baby’s metrics, and identifies the causes behind sleepless nights and short naps.

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Finally… solutions!

The next morning, you will get an expert-led sleep lesson and sleep schedule that matches your current issues. Each day is unique, like you are.

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Start for free.

Just getting started with sleep training & coaching?

Take our quiz to find out how Lovebug gives you personalized sleep support.

A flowchart quiz for viewers to understand what their parenting style is and how they should sleep train their babies based on that parenting style.A quiz to help a parent determine their parenting style. Once they know their parenting style, they can use that parenting style to determine the right solution for sleep training for them.

How does your parenting style define you?

A+ Planner

The sleep gods are definitely in your favor. You are smart, grounded, and don't want to be taken by surprise when it comes to your baby's sleep (or lack there of)!

You will shine in this first year of parenthood with a tool that gives you a solid sleep plan to execute, guiding you to great sleep from the newborn phase to the toddler years.

See Solutions for A+ Planners

Rock Star

The sleep gods honor those who are prepared! And, you have impressed them! Your logical, practical, and systematic approach to your baby's sleep since early on will definitely pay off.

You'll flourish with a solution that helps you keep your baby sleeping well through all of the regressions, transitions, and baby sleep curve balls thrown at you in the first years of life.

See Solutions for Rockstars

Free Spirit

The sleep gods know that you don't stress when things don't go exactly as planned! You are spontaneous, playful, and likely love a good nap on the go!

You'll thrive with a flexible solution that will guide you in the moment. One that will adapt and adjust to you, your baby, & your parenting style.

See Solutions for Free Spirits

Warrior

The sleep gods acknowledge your strength and willingness to do anything for your baby! You wear your heart on your sleeve. You are a loyal, protective, determined, and steadfast parent.

You will thrive when given open communication to a live sleep consultant trained in all sleep methods, and a personalized plan that honors your needs and parenting style.

See Solutions for Warriors

Our Blog Blends Science and Love

a baby with sunglasses on and the words nap transitions

Baby Nap Transitions: The Comprehensive Guide

Let Lovebug help you transition from one nap transition to the next with the Lovebug dynamic baby nap schedule.

Lovebug's baby sleep training app explains how to adjust wake windows and your baby's nap schedule for summer travel

Prepare your baby's sleep schedule for Summer Travel

Learn from pediatric sleep experts on how to prepare your baby for summer adventures and the resulting sleep disruptions.

Lovebug baby sleep training app's pediatric sleep consultant describes crying's role in sleep training

Why is my baby crying so much during sleep training?

Jenica explores the complex relationship between crying and sleep training while evaluating the research cited by Cry-It-Out opponents.

Lovebug's baby sleep training app describes the interval method (ferber method, takingcarababies), the chair method (gentle sleep training, fuss it out) and the extinction method (cry-it-out)

Which sleep training method should I choose?

Should you choose Ferber, Cry-it-out, or a "gentle" sleep training approach? Let us help you decide.