Confused.... Can anyone help?

[hemz80]

Hi there

Firstly I must apologise... i realise the issue of 45min naps has been very well covered but the more i read the more i get confused at the moment.  My ds is 11weeks old and on 3hr EASY starting at 7am and bedtime at 7pm after a bath etc.  He used to wake 2-3 times at night but has recently just gone to one at 5am (fingers crossed it stays this way!) He is bf but has his dreamfeed at 10pm via bottle as i've found he takes it better (still only a couple of ounces though).  At around the 6/7 week mark he was bitten by the 45min nap monster and until now i've just gone with it... But he cries soooo hard when he wakes and by the evening is very very cranky.  My main confusion is around activity - i usually keep him up for an hour or so after his feed until he starts looking tired.  Is this correct?  Some of the threads suggest keeping your lo up so that they burn off some energy, others suggest you put them to bed straight after feed and nappy change???  He's getting better at self soothing but as the day goes on he cries during our wind down time ... i'm assuming it's because he's overtired.  He does fall asleep on his own still though but as the day goes on his naps shorten from 45mins to 20-30mins.  If i put him to bed straight away, how long will it continue?  I'm concerned that he'll never get any activity time if i always put him to bed straight after a feed.  Today i tried wake to sleep but when i stirred him he's eyes popped open, even after just 20mins - it took me another 20mins each time to get him back to sleep.  I've been trying so hard to follow the BW method and really want to try and get passed this short nap thing!  Any suggestions/ clarification would be appreciated!

Many thanks Xx

[KathrynK]

hi there
if his naps are getting shorter as the day goes on then chances are he is overtired. Can you post your usual daily routine so we can have a look -that's what actually happens in a day, not what you would like to happen 

[hemz80]

Hi there

7:00am wake up - feed
7:15-8:00am activity while mum has a shower etc
8:00am showing signs of sleepiness... wind down and then bed (in cot awake and falls asleep by aboy 8:20ish)
8:45am Try to stir
9:00am awake and screaming... shu pat until calm and soothing by rubbing head. 
9:15-9:20 starting to drop off
9:20-9:40 some mantra crying, crying, shuh pat etc until finally falls asleep
10:00am wake and feed
10:15-11:00am activity - includes dressing etc, earlier if tired sometimes 10:30/10:45... wind down and then in cot awake, usually drops off around 11:00-11:15.  Sometimes cries a little here.
11:30 or so (25mins after fallen to sleep) try to stir, eyes pop open and starts to yell.  Settle takes 20-30mins before off to sleep again.
13:00 wake and feed,
13:15-14:00 Activity
14:00-14:30 wind down (cry always), awake in cot.. bed
15:00 - awake screaming
15:20-15:30 Asleep
16:00 - feed
16:15-17:00 activity
17:00-17:30/45 sleep
17:45-18:30 Activity
18:30 bath/ wind down
19:00 feed/ story
19:15-30 bed
22:00 dreamfeed, usually around 20z only
01:00ish sometimes wakes hungry... not always
05:00ish wakes for feed
then it all starts again!

in cot... can self soothe, no paci but sucks fists
swaddled until recently (one week) and now in sleeping bag
no blackout curtains?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Hema