My baby sleeps in short bursts, leaving her exhausted by day's end—how do I break this cycle?

Short naps accumulating into evening exhaustion is a common cycle, and it's valuable that you've noticed it. The problem is usually this: If your baby isn't put down at the end of each awake window, the body starts releasing cortisol (stress hormone), which makes falling asleep harder and naps shorter—a vicious cycle.

The most effective way to break it is to track age-appropriate awake duration. For example, a 4-6 month-old typically stays awake 90-120 minutes; if you catch sleep cues (yawning, eye rubbing, restlessness) before this window closes and put them down, you prevent accumulated nighttime exhaustion. Keeping your baby's first nap at home in a quiet environment also balances the rest of the day. A consistent pre-nap routine (dark room + book + a few minutes of calm talking) signals to your baby's brain that "it's sleep time." You should notice the cycle softening within 3-4 days of consistent practice. If it doesn't improve, talking with a pediatrician or sleep consultant can help.