i have spent the past week assisting my dd (almost 4 months old) extend her morning nap and it appears that i might have cracked it (i say appears as it's very early days and it could well backfire on me now that i've said it outloud!!)
i've already mentioned my methods in a response to another mum, but incase you didn't see it here's what i did...
-i put her down for her nap and then stay in the room until i'm sure she is asleep. then i take a note of the time.
-30 minutes after she falls asleep i go back in (the first 2 days i went in after only 25 minutes as i wasn't sure of the exact timings and didn't want her to stir beore i got the chance to start my 'routine'.....'Operation extend-a-nap'!! haha)
-i start off her 'white noise box' which plays utero noises for 5 minutes. the first 2 days i also set off her starman which plays a lullaby. these are the 2 things i use when she goes to bed in the evening too.
-i gently tug on her blanket (she is a swaddler!) until she grumbles and moves around then i hide at the bottom of her cot!
-i watch her as she drifts back off to sleep (all the while setting off the white noise box)
-i stay in the room, as i found for the first few days the wake to sleep didn't work in it's own right. she would always wake up around the 45 minute mark. she'd cry a little but i could see her eyes were still shut so i'd keep the white noise going and i'd lay my hands on her legs to stop them flailing and waking her properly (although she is swaddled her legs are not wrapped tightly and she can raise them)
-even when it looked like she'd drifted back off to sleep i'd stay put (ignoring the cramps and the pins and needles in my legs!! lol). i'd keed some pressure on her legs as she tends to jolt after about 10 minutes of stirring.
-because i was so paranoid it wouldn't work i stayed in her room for almost an hour the first couple of days with my hands placed gently on her legs. it was agony and i was exhausted!
she did sleep for about 2 hours in total (with bouts of crying during that time), but obviously that was with a lot of help from me!
- yesterday (day 6) i did 'wake to sleep' but decided just to set off the white noise and only place my hands on her legs when she stirred. she hardly stirred at all and slept for 1 hour 40minutes!
-today (day 7) i didn't do 'wake to sleep' at all. i just sat and observed her. i still set off the white noise box (still a bit paranoid it wouldn't work!) but didn't use my hands or touch her at all. i spent about 45 minutes in the room (sitting on the bed rather than the floor - luxury!!) and she hardly moved the whole time (even around the 45 minute mark). she slept for 1 hour 45 again!!!
i know it's not conclusive proof of success, but can i just add that she's just gone down for her afternoon nap and has been asleep now for over 1hr15 and i haven't even been in the room and haven't heard more than a little grumble!!
i am really hoping all my hard work has paid off. it hasn't been easy and at times i wanted to give up.
i will keep you informed of our progress...wish me luck!!
