« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: How do you extend 40 min naps?  (Read 1425 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SILLYFACE

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Posts: 85
    • Location:
How do you extend 40 min naps?
« on: January 15, 2012, 20:47:48 pm »
Oh please some advice needed!

My LO is finally on the 4/4 routine with feeding...although S and consequently A times are a mystery!

She 'usually' naps for 1 1/4 hours in the morning but we only manage 45 mins at lunchtimes. I use PUPD and talking/hand on chest to try to put her back to sleep, but I can be at it for the remaining hour, resulting is a completely OT girl and a stressed mummy.

Furthermore her activity time is miserable and the breastfeed is a struggle. Predictably the afternoon nap is an OT nap of 40 mins, meaning the whole day from the lunchtime nap is horrible.

Not sure what to do to extend her naps and how long to continue the PUPD. I try not to keep her awake for more than 2 hours and act on the tired signals. She averages at 2 hours of awake time (including feed).

Thanks xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Logged

Offline Erin M

  • The Sentinel
  • Global Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 521
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 16463
    • Location: USA - the midwest...
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2012, 02:58:28 am »
Technically, you wouldn't PU/PD longer than the nap is supposed to last, so once you've made it to that next feed time you would stop.  What I found with all of mine is that they were able to stretch out to 4 hour feeds before they could handle the A time that went with it.  So, our EASY went more like EASAE.  Is she good with the 4 hours all day long?  We would get the 4 hours first thing and then during the day our feed times would get closer together until the last two feeds were more like 3 hours apart instead of 4. 

How is she acting when she wakes up from her naps?  Is she happy?  Crying?  Does she seem like she's tired enough to fall back asleep?  Ds always needs more A time than I think he does -- he tends to wake up happy from his naps which is my indication that he wasn't awake for long enough before I put him down for his nap.  However, I've had to stretch his A time very slowly over the course of weeks in order to get it to where he needs it. 
Logged

Offline SILLYFACE

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Posts: 85
    • Location:
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2012, 13:48:18 pm »
Thanks for your reply.

She 9 times out of 10 wakes furious! I try to put her back down and give up 15 mins before her feed time. It's pretty hard going.
I agree with the feeds - 7, 11 works fine. then I find she's hungry about 2/2.30, 5.00 and then top up before bed.
She is almost 5 months but is only 12lb, 2oz - so wondering whether 3hour EASY is more appropriate? She is quite random with A time - sometimes within 1h 15 mins, sometimes over 2. we haven't really got to grips with that yet.
Yesterday was horrendous - 1hour 10 mins, then 2 x 45min naps with a OT baby and fractious feed.
It's only been 8 days of implementing the EASY schedule properly and I suppose the hour nap is something to be pleased with.
thanks again x
Logged

Offline Erin M

  • The Sentinel
  • Global Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 521
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 16463
    • Location: USA - the midwest...
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2012, 16:11:13 pm »
You might try a 3.5 hour EASY and see if that helps - honestly, lots of bf babies take awhile to get to that 4 hour mark!  You probably need to keep pushing A time a little bit at a time, if she's waking cranky she's probably needing more sleep - or maybe a longer winddown.  If you've only been at it for 10 days I think you're doing great! 
Logged

Offline Erin M

  • The Sentinel
  • Global Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 521
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 16463
    • Location: USA - the midwest...
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2012, 16:13:28 pm »
Hey, just looked at your post again - 8 days in, not even 10!  Sounds like you're making progress.  Have you seen this link
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=223809.0

You might try wake to sleep for those short naps -- works really well for some people!
Logged

Offline SILLYFACE

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Posts: 85
    • Location:
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2012, 20:45:32 pm »
Thanks for your support - the 3.5 sounds a good idea. To be honest I think it is the activity time I need to address. It's quite frantic, so might need to tone it down especially towards the wind-down time. Think she might be over-stimulated and tired.
It seems a different story at night. She woke up just now after 45 mins and soothed herself to sleep - so she is definitely capable! Thanks for the link.
Logged

Offline Erin M

  • The Sentinel
  • Global Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 521
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 16463
    • Location: USA - the midwest...
Re: How do you extend 40 min naps?
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2012, 02:10:57 am »
That makes sense -- for us, I find it really helps if I bring him to his room a bit before we start wind down and play there quietly for a bit, sometimes with the room already a bit darkened.  That helps him settle down a bit, especially if A time has been very "active" (which is sometimes is with other kids running around, not to mention my dh)!
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »