Hi ladies
Like KathrynK I just wanted to add another positive experience to the mix. Leo napped for 45 mins from 7 weeks, which changed to 30 minutes at about14 weeks. I KNEW he was not OT for various reasons. I had originally had some success extending the 45 min naps by holding down through the jolts but this would work for a week, then not for a week, then again etc etc. It was helpful, but unbelievably stressful. ONce he went to 30 mins, it never worked again.
Anyway around 5 months, we started to get longer naps, but only ever really at lunchtime, so we tend to do a Gina Ford style day (unfortunately LO cant go without the catnap yet so I tend to AP to fit that in - usually the pram). I am scared to jinx things by saying this, but on the whole if we get the A time right and he's not ill (which unfortunately is q often being in "cold" season), I usually get one really decent nap a day, which is enough for Leo, witha short morning and afternoon one. Once we started solids at just over 5 months, things got even better - Leo had never been a brilliant milk drinker, I think because of his reflux,so for once he has been full, and with something heavier. The other thing that tended to help him sleep, before we got established with the solids, was massage!
None of this might be any help, but I just wanted to let you know that not all babies respond to extending naps, and that for some it's simply a developmental thing- which is partly a reason why I know Leo wasn't OT. That being said, it did nearly give me a nervous breakdown at the time simply because every day revolved around fitting in extra little sleeps! I think that's why for the most part he STTN, only on those days where he had enough sleep (which early on meant 5 or 6 30 min naps!!) Hideous at the time!
Hope things improve for you all xx
Ellie x
