Quick Shh/Pat Question

[christiewi]

I feel like this is a really stupid question with a very obvious answer, but I'm so tired right now I can't think about it for myself. lol! 

When my LO wakes early from his naps (i.e. a 45 minute nap, for example), am I supposed to only shh/pat when he starts crying, or start shh/pat as soon as he starts stirring/waking up?  Sometimes he'll wake up and just look around for 45 minutes, enjoying the world.  And even though I can tell he is still tired most of the time, he's not crying, so I'm not positive if I should just let him be, hoping he'll fall back asleep on his own, or start shh/pat, hoping he'll fall back asleep (and not think it's play time  ) with my help...

Thanks so much!

[jennandsophie]

I used to rush in and shh/pat my DD back to sleep, but after a while I realized that she could eventually fall back to sleep on her own.  Sometimes it took a while, like up to 30 min, but she'd always eventually go back to sleep except when I could hear that excited type of screaming like there's a party going on in her crib.  Then I knew there was no getting her back to sleep, shh/pat or not. 

I think everyone takes a different approach.  Some moms seem to intervene a lot more.  I just stopped doing it and she eventually got the message that it was her nap time and mom wasn't coming in to play with her until nap time was over.  Now I only go in to shh/pat during naps when she cries upon waking and doesn't stop because then I know she's overtired and can't calm down on her own to get back to sleep.

[texasmom]

I have wondered the SAME thing.  So I don't think a stupid question.     I worry that if I don't hurry up and intervene, she'll get too awake to go back to sleep! 

[christiewi]

Thank you so much! That makes sense!  Texasmom...I'm right there with ya!    It's such a fine line...

We will figure it out eventually, I imagine!