I recently wrote on what to do when your baby woke early but wasn't hungry. Several readers shared what they did. Here are 14 moms' tips on how to put a baby back to sleep after early waking from a nap.
Natalie said: Depends on the age - for newborn we would transfer to swing to at least make a go at a full nap! Now with an older baby (mine is 16 months), if he wakes up early I let him be. Sometimes he will cry a bit and go back to sleep, sometimes, he will wake up and roll around and play and never go back to sleep (but I still won't get him up until nap "time" is over). Use your gut instinct, however - if he wakes up screaming and is very upset, I will get him up early and assume he had a bad dream/is teething/not feeling well.
Kimberly said: For younger babies the pacifier and bouncer if they really need the sleep. For older babies I give a soft book or simple board book. A few minutes of looking at it and my little ones usually go right back to sleep.
Krista said: The swing! Anytime before about 3 months with my second if he woke early, I put him in the swing. Never to start, but if he woke early. And about 85% of the time he would go back to sleep until I woke him to start the next cycle.
Sarah said: When I put him down I lay him on his tummy, tuck his head to the side and pat his butt a couple of times. If he wakes up from a nap and stays on his tummy I ignore like I would at night. If he moves around I'll go in and "reset" the bedtime space by flipping him back, tucking his head and patting his butt and walking back out .
Christina said: I leave a book in the corner of the crib sometimes. Or else just let my daughter self soothe back to sleep if it’s only been an hour or two. 95% of the time she will go back to sleep. Today my daughter woke a half hour early, but with molars and getting over a nasty cold, she was up for good.
Elisabeth said: I can't hear him... and he usually goes back down all by himself. Clever boy! (Sometimes he wants his back rubbed or face stroked - but not often)
Kelly said: Young baby: Rub their back and shush or gentle shake the crib. Pick up put down method. Older baby: rock for a minute until calm. CIO. And honestly if they are older I adjust the schedule for the rest of the day. Toddler: books but by toddler I expect mine to stay in bed and play with their stuffed animals until it's time for nap time to be over.
Brittney said: Swing, then that stopped working, so rocked, then that stopped working, so baby carrier, then that stopped working so I just leave him to roll around until he starts to cry then call naptime over at that point!
Jennifer said: Leave the baby in the crib for at least 15-20 min and see if baby will self soothe back to sleep.
Robin said: Nothing! My children have always fallen back to sleep on their own if left alone.
Lourens said: Dummy them again if they take the dummy
😜😜turn them on their other side, throw a light blankie over their face....wait hope and pray 
☺️Nikki said: Quiet crib time! At least they are relaxing their bodies and not being overstimulated.
Amanda said: Swing!!!
Kehly said: Any advice for when they fall asleep in the car seat and you get home, place car seat still in quiet room, and they wake?! Baby #2 and still haven't found a way around this, besides driving around forever! Can't do that with a fidgety toddler in the car!
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