Is extending her naps turning into a prop?

[bethanys mummy]

Hi all

my lo is 11 weeks old and has been short napping for a couple of weeks now. She has her naps in the pushchair. Not ideal I know but I found that I was always waking her up because we had to go out and about for older sister's activities

I have re enforced watching her cues recently and try wind down, set scene etc as possible, (although swaddling is more difficult in the pushchair because of the straps - any tips here appreciated) When she goes off its a mix of doing it by herself, a little pushchair rocking (esp is we are out and about anyway) and dummy use if things go pear shaped

Anyway she nearly always wakes up after 40 - 45 mins (she used to wake at jolts but this is less often since cue watching). Most of the time I can get her to go back off by pushing pushchair, use of dummy etc. But is doing this a prop in itself??? Should I revert to W2S - I have tried this a couple of times without success but if this method is more likely to lead to her having longer naps by herself then its the way to go?

Is her age relevant in any way?

All advice gratefully received

[bethanys mummy]

Any thoughts out there, please, going mad!

[malialeanne]

Hi bethany's mummy. Yes, short naps can be developmental. The a.m. nap develops around 3-4 months and the p.m. nap later at 5-8 months. Most babies outgrow the short naps.

I personally do not believe that nap extension techniques become props very often. Getting a baby to *return* to sleep is much different from getting them to go to sleep in the first place. Short naps are more related to A-times and developmental age, rather than independent sleep/props.

However, Tracy's techniques are designed for crib sleep, not motion sleep. I know you don't want to hear this, but it may do no good to extend naps in the stroller because you're creating a prop right there. You'll have to start nap training/extension all over when you move to crib sleep, which I suspect you will want to do for at least some of her naps in the future.

If you want to post your routine we can see if A times need adjusting.

[bethanys mummy]

I know...............

It just got so crazy to get her asleep in the cot, get her to carry on sleeping after 40 mins then get the poor thing up to get sister from play group etc. so I thought it was more consistent to put her in the pushchair. In reality about 1/2 of her naps start in the house, in the same place - in the dark etc. And I am going to try to work on not pushing the push chair / using the dummy to get her to sleep in the first place

If it really came to it she could always nap in there until she outgrows naps as its quite flexible! but not ideal I know

In terms of routine - her A time if she has had 1 1/2 hours nap is about 1 hr 20 - 1 hr 30 now, obviously less if I have not been able to extend her nap, more like an hour. Each day does vary though because I can't always get her to extend.

Thanks

[malialeanne]

Hi there. 1.5 hours A time (including winddown) is average for 3 months old, but your dd could need a bit less, especially with the short naps. Also, as motion sleep is not the most restorative sleep, she is probably less rested when she wakes.

It's challenging with an older sibling--does the sibling still nap? Some moms have altered the "standard" routine to sync their two lo's naps, so the a.m. nap is puposefully shorter and on the go, and then both the toddler and the baby nap in the afternoon at home. It would be good if she could get at least one crib nap per day. Many moms  also do the catnap on the go, as this nap is supposed to be short and will be dropped at some point.

Just FYI, if you plan on staying with the on-the-go naps you might want to plan for shorter 40 minute naps and adjust your routine for shorter A times (you may need an additional nap during the day too). 40 mins isn't really considered "short" for a stroller nap--many lo's don't nap beyond this on this go.

HTH,
Malia

[bethanys mummy]

Sadly naps for the older sibling are few and far between as she is nearly 4

Did take note of things, I am going to make a conscious effort to start as many of her naps as possible when we are not on the go and without pushing / dummy etc. That way hopefully she will keep the idea of independent sleep and maybe extend it naturally when she is ready?? Only a month before the am nap develops.. ??!!

I will continue to (try to...) extend naps with dummy / pushchair

Do you think its worth trying W2S?

[malialeanne]

Ummm, you could try! I've never heard of it working in a pushchair, but it might! Let me know if it does!