Wakes from naps after 30 mins but alert and happy

[Emanueles Mom]

Hello! If my lo wakes up early from a nap but he is in his crib babbling and happy should I try to put him down again? I can't imagine that he is getting enough of a rest from a 30 minute nap.

[marensmama]

30 minute naps normally mean OT, so even though baby is happy, the nap should be extended.  If you post your routine we can certainly take a look and see if we can tell what's going on!

[Emanueles Mom]

Here is what I aim for but lately the naps have been shorter around 30 minutes sometimes 45 minutes. When I go in his room he looks so happy laughing and smiling that I figure he's had enough sleep. The only time he wakes and seems cranky is if he doesn't get a full hour at the 5:30 cat nap. I HAVE to put him back down or he cries through his bath.

8:00am feed
1030/10:45-12- nap
2:00 feed
2:30-4- nap
4:00 feed
5:30-6:15\6:30- cat nap
7:00- bath
8:00 -feed and bedtime
11/11:30- DF

Thanks!

[marensmama]

How old is your LO?
What happens between 12 and 2?

[Emanueles Mom]

He is 5 months old and he is usually in his exersaucer or in the playpen between 12-2. Or he is in the car seat while I am out and about.
But boy o boy I learned the hardway to make sure he gets more sleep today!!! He slept for 30 minutes between 2:45 to 3:15 today and by 3:45 he was sooooo overtired that he was hysterical. His eyes were bloodshot and I couldn't calm him down at all. I just fed him at 4:00 and its almost 5 and i am going to put him down now so he can catch up on his sleep. He had a 1 hour nap this morning but that was NOT enough!! So I guess 30 minute naps are NOT good even if at the time they seem sufficient. I will NOT let that happen again. My poor little guy : (

[marensmama]

Awww, sounds like it was rough for both of you.  A times for babies that are 5 months are usually 2 to 2.25 hours long and the first A time of the day is usually the shortest, so I think he's OT from that first A time on.  Try putting him down after 2 hours of A time then and see if that helps. 

Also, is he not fed between 8 and 2 or is that a typo?  I'd try for not more than 2.25 hrs of A time in any block of EASY, and aim to have him fed and in bed asleep by 8, so he's got a 12 hr day/night.  If he's not tired by then I'd move the catnap up or limit it to 45 minutes if his other naps were decent.

HTH!

[Emanueles Mom]

Thanks! I think that I forgot to add his 12:00 feed. He eats at 8/12/4/8/11 is. I have tried to put him down at 8 but he wakes frequently until around 9/9:30 so now I just put him down at 9:00.

[marensmama]

You mean 9 at night?  If you try putting him to bed at 8 and he falls asleep but wakes frequently, that generally means he is OT and having a hard time settling.  So while it seems to go smoother putting him down this late, it's actually just contributing to his OTness and those day naps will be harder to sort out.