Help! 4.5 months 40-45min naps cant extend.

[clmanley]

My 4 ½ month old only takes 40-45 min naps.  He has recently switched to feed every 4hrs.  This weekend I worked on Pu/Pd to extend his nap times.  Please someone let me know if I am doing this correctly.  After a wind down he will fall asleep on his own and wake up after 40-45 mins.  I do not go into the room till he has a real cry.  When I go in I can not calm him in the crib so I do pu/pd.  He cries hysterically the entire time and I never can calm him down.  I try pu/pd and doing the shush/pat in between and he doesn’t calm.  I read in the book at his age I need to put him down within 3 minutes whether he is calm or not and pick him back up.  So I do that and he cries even louder.  As soon as nap time is over and we leave the room he calms down immediately.  Please help I am not sure I am doing this correctly because he never seems to calm down during pu/pd.    I work during the week and have a nanny that is working on  BW & pu/pd too. She called me this morning and said he napped for 2 hrs she even had to wake him for his next feeding.  But the second nap didn’t go so well, again he was crying the entire time of pu/pd.  Could it be that he was so tired from yesterday that he slept long the 1st nap? I just feel bad that I am not able to calm him and afraid this is hurting him because I have done pu/pd for over an hour at a time.

He is able to fall asleep at night time on his own. He does still wake once a night to bf which my dr. says he does not need anymore.  My dr. suggest not to change everything at once and to work on the naps first than work on weaning the night feeds. 

[Purplecattypants]

Hi there,

I am so sorry you're having a tough time. Could you please post your routine for us in terms if E, A & S?

Also, it is perfectly normal for a baby to still need a night feed at this age....some need it up to 6 months, longer even. However, there are ways to determine whether he still needs it or whether its habit, but I would work on naps first.

[clmanley]

Thanks for responding.  Any suggestions will help.  I am working on the 4 hour routine.

7 am feed
7:30  activity
9:00   Nap
11:00 feed
1:00   Nap
3:00   Feed
5:00   Catnap
6:45   Feed
7:00   Bath
7:30   Bed time

[Purplecattypants]

So, after he has a short nap are you reducing the amount of A time or still the same amount? Anything going on like teething etc?

I am moving this to Naps for you as he doesnt have trouble going to sleep, but staying asleep for a good nap. Also changed the title for you to better reflect the issue 

[clmanley]

Thanks for the help!
I have not reduced the A time after a short nap still trying to get him used to the 4 hour routine.  I try to get him back to sleep during the sleep time.  Had to stop using pu/pd because my nanny couldn't handle the crying.  I read through the Naps yesterday and we are going to try the wake to sleep where we go in and put a hand on his chest before he jolts.  I just don't understand why he can't stay asleep at nap time he has no problem at night time except for waking once to feed.  Are there any other ways to help him nap longer?

Yes he is teething but I don't think that is the reason for his short naps.  He has always taken 40-45 min naps and ever once and awhile will take a 1 1/2 to 2 hr nap.

[Purplecattypants]

I would try shortening A time byt 15-20 mins after a short nap to prevent the build up of OT.

45 min naps are very common at this age, 3-6 months is when they sort their daytime sleep out (0-3 months night sleep), so naps often go wonky. It is often developmental and they outgrow it in time. Have you tried shush/pat for extending instead? Also, one thing that helped me a lot when we had short naps at this age was getting him up for 10-15mins, doing some quiet activity (staying in his room with the blinds shut), then putting him back down again...didnt always work, but more often than not it did 

Oh, and yes try w2s, you may get some joy with that too 

[clmanley]

Thanks,  I have a few question.
So say he takes his first nap from 9-9:45 and than feeds at 11:00.  I would then shorten my A time after the 11:00 feed right?  what If he takes another short nap and can't get him back to sleep do I try to shorten the A time again after his next feed at 3?  also if he takes 2 short naps should I try to extend the 3rd nap that should actually be the catnap?

I have tried sh/pat but not sure if he likes it.  I usually don't go into his room till he has a real cry.  I try the sh/pat but it doesn't calm him down.  Do you think I should go in before he starts crying?

[Purplecattypants]

No I wouldnt go in until he signals he needs you. Shush/pat can be modified to suit your baby....for example, we did white noise/belly rub. Do you have a white noise machine? They are invaluable.

Yes, keep the shortened A times and see if that helps. You may end up feeding slightly early but things should settle down once those naps get better. If he's had a day of bad naps, you can let him sleep for say and hour at the catnap instead of 45 mins, or keep it 45 mins and have an early bedtime. IMHO, after a day of bad naps an early bedtime is always prudent anyway.

[clmanley]

Thanks!  I have recently ordered a white noise cd but haven't received yet.  He does calm to the vaccum but I was afraid that was a prop.  I will try the vaccum when he wakes at 45 mins and see if that helps.

[Purplecattypants]

A fan works well too. White noise cd should do the trick hopefully