napping 30-40 min.

[xraychic]

My eight week old daughter can't nap more than 30-40 min during the day for the last week and she's been sleeping 9-10 hours a night for the past 6 days. She has had a little cold and been congested for the past 6 days. The congestion seems to be worse and maybe that's why she can't sleep, but why does she sleep through the night for 10 hours and is able to get back to sleep if she wakes up coughing.It's nice to sleep through the night but she is so cranky during the day because she doesn't nap good. I'm trying the shush/pat thing but she screams so loud. I don't know what else to do .

[Mom to M&M]

Could she be overtired? How long is she awake for between naps?

[xraychic]

she woke up at 12 after being asleep since 11. I couldn't get her back to sleep so she ate at 1 and we went to take a nap at 1:30 . I had her down and at 2 she woke up. I don't know what to do anymore . I don't understand how she can go back to sleep at night but not during the day. I'm so upset that I started crying and it's just gonna upset her more. But I don't know what else to do.My son starts school on mon. which is totally gonna screw everything up because I have to drive him, plus I go back to work in 3 weeks. When they wake up do you keep trying to put them back to sleep?

[Mom to M&M]

So she's only 8 weeks old but was awake from 12 until 1:30? That's a REALLY long time for her age - she really should probably only be awake 45 minutes-1 hour tops at this point. I'd focus on shortening her A times and if you can get her down before she's overtired she'll likely take better naps.

[xraychic]

so if she wakes from a nap early should I feed her early that way she's not up too long.

[Mom to M&M]

If she wakes at say 12 but isn't due to eat until 1 I'd probably feed her at 12:45 and then put her down right after a diaper change. What time does she wake up in the morning? What itme is her first nap?

[xraychic]

she's been asleep by 9pm for the past 4 nights and waking up between 6:30- 7 am. She started sleeping all night she's so tired. I feed her as soon as she wakes up and around 7:30 try to get her down for a nap. Also should I be waking her for a dreamfeed? She was waking up about 2 am to eat but has slept through the last few days.

[Mom to M&M]

9pm is a very late bedtime - most sleep experts, Tracy included, recommend a bedtime between 7-8pm. Can you start by moving her bedtime earlier by 15 minutes every 3 days? No need to wake her for a dreamfeed if she's sleeping through - we didn't do the DF ourselves and just let DD wake on her own for a night feed until she outgrew it.

If she's waking at say 6:30, I'd feed and do light activity (diaper change, lullaby, look around house) and get her down at 7:15/7:30 for first nap.