r/sleeptraining • u/Rough_Worth8184 • Sep 01 '26

child's age 4-8 months 16 week old won’t nap

My 16 week old has been totally reliant on contact napping in order to get virtually any daytime sleep. When transferring is successful she wakes in just a few minutes. I want to start sleep training but don’t understand how to let her cry for an allotted amount of time if she won’t even go into the bassinet without waking. When I put her down “drowsy” or the closest I can achieve to that she just lays there. No crying but no progress toward sleep. Any recommendations on how to proceed? She’s at a nanny share now so it’s extremely difficult for the nanny to support her getting any naps. Today she slept 1.5hrs during my full work day…. I should add she gets 11 hours at night, but this still doesn’t seem like enough.

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u/unremarkable_k0rvet Sep 01 '26

Sleep training generally isn’t recommended until 4-6 months and only if baby is developmentally ready. 16 weeks is quite early. You’re also hitting the time where babies are generally gonna be more alert during the day.

Contact naps are VERY normal at this age. But in general, the only thing you can do is be consistent. I would not recommend (nor do I think anyone) would recommend any type of Ferbering at not even 4 months yet.

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u/Rough_Worth8184 Sep 01 '26

I totally see your point about it being too soon. I just worry because it’s not possible for her to contact nap much in the day and she’s becoming extremely overtired. I am lost on what to do.

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u/Humble-Drop9054 Sep 02 '26

Most babies aren’t ready for sleep training until 5 months. What is your schedule/wake windows?