Cat Napping Baby: Why It Happens and What to Try (4–8 Months)
If you have a cat napping baby, you know the feeling.
You finally get baby down… you sit… you exhale… and then 25–40 minutes later, baby is awake again.
It can make your whole day feel like a race. And it can also make nights worse, because an overtired baby often wakes more.
I’m Jenna, a Pretoria photographer, and I hear this from moms all the time. Catnapping is very common in the 4–8 month stage, and it can improve. Let’s talk about why it happens and what to try next.
What “catnapping” means (in simple words)
Catnapping usually means your baby naps in short bursts, often:
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20 minutes
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30 minutes
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45 minutes
Your baby wakes after one sleep cycle and struggles to fall back asleep.
This is frustrating, but it’s also normal for many babies, especially around 4 months and again around 6 months.
How long should a catnap be?
A “catnap” is usually a short nap that takes the edge off — often 15–30 minutes. But when every nap is short (and your baby can’t link sleep cycles), it starts feeling like a problem. That’s the difference.
If your baby has one short nap a day, that’s fine. If all naps are short and baby is cranky all day, you’ll want to try a few gentle fixes.
Why your baby keeps taking short naps
There isn’t always one reason. It’s often a mix of timing, environment, and baby’s age.
Here are the most common reasons:
1) Baby is overtired
If baby stays awake too long, their body gets stressed. That can lead to short naps and harder settling.
Overtired babies often wake after 30 minutes like they’ve had a “power nap” and now they’re ready to party… even though they’re actually still tired.
2) Baby is undertired
This one surprises moms. If baby goes down too early, they might nap lightly and wake quickly because they weren’t tired enough to stay asleep.
3) The room is too bright
Daylight can keep babies in lighter sleep. This is a big one for Pretoria homes during the day, especially in summer when the light is strong.
4) Baby needs help linking sleep cycles
Some babies wake between cycles and need a little support to move into the next one. This is where gentle nap training can help, but you don’t have to go harsh.
The first thing to try: adjust timing by 10–15 minutes
Timing is the biggest “small fix.”
Try this for 3–5 days:
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put baby down 10–15 minutes earlier for the first nap
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keep the nap routine short and calm
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watch if the nap stretches even a little
If it doesn’t help, try 10 minutes later instead.
Tiny timing shifts can change the whole nap. And you only need one nap to improve to feel like you can breathe again.
Catnapping baby 6 months: why it pops up again
Around 6 months, babies get more aware, more distracted, and sometimes they start fighting naps. They may also be moving toward a new nap rhythm (from 3 naps toward 2 for some babies). That transition can cause catnapping.
You don’t need to “fix everything.” Start with timing and routine first.
Make the nap environment more sleep-friendly (without turning your house into a cave)
If you only do one thing, do this:
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darken the room as much as you can
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keep it cool and comfortable
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keep it quiet (or use gentle white noise)
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keep the routine the same
You don’t need perfect blackout curtains. Even closing the curtains fully and turning off bright lights helps.
What to do when baby wakes at 30 minutes (a gentle resettle plan)
Try this “pause and support” method:
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Pause for 1–2 minutes (some babies resettle)
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If baby fusses, offer calm comfort (pat/shush/hand on chest)
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Try resettling for 10–15 minutes
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If it doesn’t work, end the nap and move on
The goal is not forcing sleep. The goal is teaching the body that naps can continue.
How to resettle a catnapping baby (what usually works best)
Keep resettling boring and calm:
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low voice
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same phrase (“Shhh, sleep time.”)
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minimal eye contact
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gentle touch (if baby likes it)
If you do too much talking, bouncing, and stimulation, some babies wake fully and the nap is done.
Should you rescue naps?
Yes, sometimes.
A rescue nap can be:
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a contact nap
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a pram nap
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a car nap
Rescuing one nap a day can stop the day from falling apart. It can also prevent overtiredness, which helps nights.
You’re not “failing.” You’re making a smart call so your baby gets the sleep they need — and so you can cope.
When catnapping lasts longer than expected
If your baby still has a cat napping baby pattern after 2–3 weeks of gentle changes, it might be time for extra support.
A baby sleep consultant can help you:
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check wake windows
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create a nap plan that fits your baby
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link nap changes to better nights
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support you through gentle sleep training if you want that
If you want help, link your directory here:
Baby sleep training Pretoria: Sleep consultants and gentle support — [add your link here]
For more tips and booking info, explore my Cake Smash Photography page:
https://jennadphotography.com/cake-smash-photography/
Final thoughts on cat nap
If you have a catnapping baby, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. Short naps are common in the 4–8 month stage, and they often improve with small timing tweaks, a calmer nap space, and gentle resettling.
Save this post and try the timing change for 5 days. Small steps count.
And if baby is around 10–11 months, message me early to book your 1-year cake smash date in Pretoria while you still have good options.
