4 months - STTN but always short naps

[HAJOMU]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times and I've read FAQs but feel I need to ask specific advice on my particular situation.

DS is almost 4.5 months and is a short napper and pretty much always has been.  I feel like I've tried watching and tweaking his A time and sleepy cues for such a long time and nothing seems to help.  Sometimes he goes down beautifully for naps, just coos for a few mins, and sometimes we have a full on screaming fit which ends up with me either taking him out in the stroller or rocking him in the stroller inside just to ensure he gets some sleep and doesn't end up OT.  Generally he wakes up happy and cooing although he'll be super tired and cranky a short time later.  If he wakes up crying, I tend to leave him for 5 mins and he is able to resettle but only for another 10-15 mins or so.  Very occasionally he'll sleep for 1hr15 but there seems to be no rhyme nor reason for this. 

I am in the process of moving to full FF and have been doing so gradually so to prevent engorgement and it's working well.  I have also recently moved him over to 4 hourly feeding.  I haven't noticed any change in his sleep behaviour as a result of these changes.  He has never slept well during the day.

We had to do some sleep training around 2.5 months old as he was waking 4-5 times a night and still only napping for 40-45 mins during the day so I was never able to catch up on any sleep.  Please, no judgement here, I was beginning to go completely crazy from sleep deprivation.  We tried a few different techniques (including BW shh/pat) but anything which involved us going in to him would just increase his crying so we would have to just leave him to cry.  We mainly focussed on him getting to sleep independently at the start of the night and this pretty much solved our NW bar a 4.30am feeding.  We introduced a dream feed at 10.30pm and this eliminated the 4.30am wake up.  We've recently dropped the DF without any issue.  We have done all of this in discussion with the pediatrician who is very happy with him.  He's in 87% for height and 61% for weight (15lb 13oz at 4 month appt).

I have started a better nap routine which generally has helped him get to sleep for the morning nap (nappy change, into room with lights off, story, cuddle to lullabies, leave lullabies on) but is not always successful for the others.  His room is never that dark.  We live in the heart of a city with floor to ceiling windows.  All sleep is in the crib unless otherwise stated.  Unswaddled.  No dummy - he has never taken it.  No medical issues.  When awake he is a very happy and very active baby.  He's always on the move.  Rolling inconsistently front to back.

His routine is generally EASASE.... with very little Y! 

WU 6.45am
E: 7am  BF
A: varies - sometimes 1.5hrs, sometimes up to 2hrs depending on sleep cues.
S: 40-45 mins
A: 30 mins, starts to get agitated and upset as tired.
S: often in stroller to ensure some sleep but sometimes he fights this
E: 11am FF (8-9oz)
A: sometimes as soon as 11.30am if been unable to get second short nap in before feeding.  Otherwise 12.15/12.30
S: 40-45 mins
A: varies dependent on amount slept already
S: often out in stroller to get more sleep
E: 3pm FF (8-9oz)
A: 1hr - again, it varies dependent on sleep
S: 4pm ish - 45 mins
A: 5.45 / 6pm bath
E: 6 / 6.30pm BF
S: 6.30pm / 7pm
Then, he STTN which I am so thankful for as otherwise I'd be unable to cope.

I feel like I spend my entire day trying to get him to sleep.  I'm out of ideas.  Thanks in advance.

[*Kara*]

welcome to BW hun... I do need to remind everyone that we do not condone ever leaving a baby to cry when teaching sleep.  Tracy firmly believed that it would break the bond of trust between child and carer.

That said, I think he needs a bit of an A time increase starting with his first activity time.  At 4.5 months, he should be heading towards 2 hrs of A time (and with a solid night, he should be fine as well). 

A 40-45 min nap is most certainly UT and the fact that he wakes happy and then gets grumpy after a short time supports this.

I would start by pushing his first A time to a consistent 1 hr 45 mins for a few days and see how he does... if you are still getting naps less than 1 hr 30 mins after 3-4 days of consistency, bump up to 2 hrs of A time.

If he naps less than 90 mins, be sure to reduce his following A time or OT will get worse as the day goes on... if he naps at least 45 mins- 1hr, reduce his next A time to 1 hr 30mins... if he naps less than 45 mins, watch him closely and don't be shocked if he is tired after 1 hr 15 mins or so...

[HAJOMU]

Thank you Kara.  I appreciate you taking the time to respond.  I shall certainly give your recommendations a try.  With regard to pushing out the A time, he is showing clear sleep cues as early as 1hr15 sometimes so does increasing A time not just end up with a OT baby? Or is this something that he'll gradually get used to?

[*Kara*]

Part of it is getting used to a longer A time for sure.. some OT happens anytime we increase A times..

As for showing clear sleep signs at 1 hr 15 mins, this could simply be the buildup of OT from the short naps each day... he then crashes at night and sleeps a long time (though may be a bit restless)...

Sometimes it has to get worse to get better with sleep... The UT/OT loop is a common issue under the age of 1 for so many babies (I was there quite a few times!)

[HAJOMU]

Thanks Kara.

I've tried all you recommended and we're still on 40-45 mins (although he's pushed 1 hour a couple of times).  I've even put black out blinds in his room now and that's not making any difference either.  I think we're resigned to short naps forever.....  I appreciate your thoughts though!  He is generally managing 2 hours A time though first thing so that's an achievement!

[*Kara*]

They may be a developmental blip hun.. it's really common from 3-6 months of age (generally starting around the 4 month mark though) and if this is the case, it will stop very suddenly as well.  If increasing A times doesn't work to lengthen naps, keep A times a little shorter to keep OT down and carry on with your day   So long as baby is happy, I wouldn't worry too much... If that changes, we can certainly look again.