Is he a short napper or not?

[KIMMCGOWAN]

Hi there

Here to ask for some insight about my second son who is 12weeks, Bfed, who only naps for 45mins when home. When out in the pushchair or car will easily go past the dreaded 45mins up to a couple of hours. Currently sleeping at night from about 7pm - 5am for a feed then back to sleep. When I try to extend the naps (as I did with my first born) this one just screams and I don't think I have managed to extend yet, without holding him for the whole cycle. Also with my toddler here and about to head to nursery daily I find it hard to dedicate the time.

When he wakes he cries, but once someone has attended him, he is happy and smiley... So my question - is he is a natural short napper? If he is (and part of me is reluctant to change things cause the nights are so good and such a contrast to DS1) how on earth do I manage his EASY? Can't find anything about this online... Could anyone help?

Currently it looks like this:
TOTAL A = 1hr30 Start wind down at 1hr15. This is regardless of whether he has had 45mins or a couple of hours....
E = about every 2.5hr on a good day. Can be down to 2hrs.

E 530am for about 45mins plus winding
S 630am
E 9am for about 45min / 1hr with winding and nappy change
S 11 (overtired and so only 30min)
E1130am
S 1230pm
E 130pm
S 3pm (in the pushchair for over an hour!)
E430pm (cluster feeding for 1 hour, then another 20mins)
S615pm (another 30)
E 645pm (Bottle usually 150/180ml formula)
S 715pm

He is a big feeder and spends a lot of time feeding (not just suckling as can tell from winding and posseting) so is happy to feed so regularly.

Many thanks in advance




 

[Layla]

Hi there,

At this age, dd3 was also a catnapper, something she grew out of when she transitioned to 2 naps. For some short naps are just developmental. I used to try and work on extending 1-2 naps and if it wasn't working, I would move on with our day and offer more A before E was due and if E was due close to S, I would feed first and then try for another S again. Sometime around 3 months, dd3's morning nap extended to 1.5hrs, with the rest of the day consisting of either 2 or 3 short naps.

One thing you may want to consider is reducing the A time a little bit if the nap is short, to avoid him from getting overtired, not by much... maybe 10-15mins.

I fed dd3 on demand and some time around 3 months, we started stretching our E's to 3 hrs, so you could also try doing that so he takes more (he may be snacking rather than taking in a full feed) and in turn he may sleep longer as he may be waking earlier out of hunger?

Have a look through this post short naps at 3-4 months? Take it easy, it will get better!

Let me know what you think