Waking up 30min. into nap. Help!

[cacy38]

I have an 11-week old son who always wakes up 30 min. into his nap crying.  I don't know what to do.  I'll change his diaper, check the sheet and put him back down.  Then he will still continue to cry.  I'll pat his back gently if he cries, but it does not help.  Today I tried for 30min. before I picked him up.  When I did pick him up he was fine.  But he's sleepy when I hold him, so I know he needs to sleep. 

He sleeps thru the night great.  I also try paci for the naps, but it doesn't help but for a few min.  The longest he'll sleep is 1hr.  Is this normal?  This is my 2nd child, so I am on the babywise schedule and also love the Baby Whisperer book.  He eats every 3 1/2 hrs. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I really think he just wants to be held......  My 3 yr. old daughter was like that when she was a baby.

[~Karen~]

30 min naps are most likely to be OT.  What A time is he doing? 

[cacy38]

OT?  Activity is: sometimes tummy time, he'll sit in his bouncy seat for no more than 15 min. while I do dishes or eat lunch, etc...  I don't think I'm overstimulating him.  His big sister (3 yrs. old) also likes to talk to him.  Sometimes I'll carry him around with in the house while I do things.  He does have acid reflux.  He's on prevacid, but he's been doing good lately.  I don't really know if that's what's causing him to wake up?

[~Karen~]

Sorry, OT mean overtired.  How long is he awake for from when he wakes up until he goes back to sleep? 

[cacy38]

On the 3 1/2 hr schedule, I try to keep him awake from the time I start feeding him.  Then put him down for a nap. Yes, he is overtired.  I know that for sure, but he won't stick with the schedule.  He wakes up way too early from his nap, won't go back to sleep so there's usually an hour or more til his next feeding.  That's what makes him overtired.

[~Karen~]

If he's only having 30 min naps then you'll need to cut his awake time.  Can you post his current EASY?  Can you extend naps in your arms or anything?

[cacy38]

I breastfeed for about 10 min. on each breast (that's just a guess really on time).  Activity time is about 45 min. or so: time in bouncy seat, tummy time, time on blankie looking at objects.  I try not to overstimulate him.  Sleep: He does sleep thru the night at least until 5 am or sometimes until 7a.m.  For his naps, I put him down awake in his crib and he will fall asleep on his own after a few min. of fussing.  He sleeps on his tummy.  Then he will wake up after about 30 min. has passed once he stops fussing.  Yes, I can extend naps if he is sleeping on me or a family member. 

Also, I think he is teething.  I know that sounds crazy for a 2month old.  But my daughter was 5 months when she had 4 teeth come out and my husband was 4 months old when his first teeth cut.  My son is slobbering like crazy and loves to chew on the burp cloth, bib and things like that.  Could that be contributing to his bad naps?

[~Karen~]

Yes teething can contribute to bad naps.  Are you giving him meds at all before naps?  Try cutting his A time back a bit to see if that helps.  If he needs to sleep on you maybe once a day to extend and get a good nap then I'd go with it for now.  Sleep is the most important thing and the extending on their own will come with time.