If it takes ages to get my LO to sleep, do I still wake at his next E time?

[okinawamama]

I have a 6.5 week old son who takes ages to settle for his nap. Currently we are using a sling ( because he has reflux that we're working on getting under control)  for all sleeps and even with the sling it takes anywhere from 15 min - 1hr to get him to sleep. His A time is around an hour I think. It usually takes 45 minutes to feed him and then we change his diaper swaddle and pop in the sling. When it takes a while to get him to sleep, it usually runs into our next E time. So this morning has gone like this.

E 630
A
S put him in the sling at 720 and it is now 840 and he's just gone to sleep ( after waking up once after being put down and then me having to put him back in the sling and walk around some more).

So, he's supposed to eat again at 930, but that will make for a nap that is 50min long. So do I wake him or let him sleep?

[shivi]

its a tough call...I had 45 min nappers from the beginning and they survived on their 45 mins naps till 4 mths....so I would say, yes, wake him as otherwise, you're going to get less feeds in in daytime and this may mean more NFs.

You *COULD* allow him sleep and hope that he'll cluster and tank up in the evening,.....but I wouldn't be that brave!

s x

[okinawamama]

I didn't have to make the decision today, he woke on his own. In the future though, I'll probably wake him. What you're saying about the feedings makes perfect sense! He's never been one to cluster feed really (or at least not when I need him to), so chances are he'd wake at night to make up for it. Thanks!

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

I had 45 min nappers from the beginning and they survived on their 45 mins naps till 4 mths

This makes me feel better to see, Shivi!  I know these short naps won't last forever but it's good to hear about kids who made it on them.  

Stephanie, I've been waking Grace even if her nap was totally broken up just to keep the Es on track.  I've been hoping it would help at night.  So far it hasn't but I guess it could be worse if she got fewer feeds in the day!