Napping for 5 month old - would welcome advice

[SueE]

I’d welcome a bit of help / advice……

My lo has for the most part is a good sleeper.  He found his thumb at about 2 ½ months and so is very good at self calming.  He doesn’t have any props to get to sleep as he’s remarkably happy to go to sleep and I know I’m really lucky.  He’s been on a 4 hour feed schedule since he was about 3 ½ months and used to take relatively long naps.

He’s now 5 months old and I don’t think is getting as much sleep in the day as he needs.   The first nap is about 9.00am as per EASY but he only sleeps for 45 mins and wakes up all chatty and happy so trying pu/pd doesn’t seem appropriate. He used to sleep for longer – about 1 ½ hours.

This means he is awake from 9.45 to 13.00 which seems an awfully long time and he can get a bit cranky.  The feed at 11 gives him a bit of a boost but it seems too long to expect him to keep going.  He’s also now only sleeping 45 mins at his 13.00 nap which I suspect is down to being over tired.

The pu/pd hasn’t worked so far.  He wakes at 45 mins and tries really hard to put himself back to sleep – sucking his thumb etc.  I do what I do when he wakes at night – hand on chest and ssshing (he flails around if I try and roll him on side to pat his back) but in the daytime this doesn’t work.

He sleeps 7 to 7 at night (with the odd waking depending on teething).

So he’s doing really well but I’m worried he’s not getting enough sleep in the day.  Any suggestions please?

P.S  Hope I've done this right - first time posting!

[marensmama]

Hi there and welcome to the BW community!  It sounds like he might be ready for a bit more A time first thing.  45 minute naps with a happy waking usually indicate that the LO is UT.  Short naps are not restorative and the next A time needs to be shortened to compensate so the LO won't get OT.  You are exactly right that he is sleeping 45 minutes for his second nap because he's OT.  LOs his age can usually handle 2.25-2.5 hours of A time.  I'd try his first nap at 9:15 and hopefully he'll sleep a bit longer.  Let me know how you get on!

[SueE]

Hven't had much luck.

First day kept awake until 9.15 and didn't make any difference.  Slept for 45 mins.  Then in the afternoon we went swimming and that usually means he will sleep for at least 1.5 but instead only did 45 mins!  Tried to do pu/pd to encourage to sleep more but became very upset very quickly.  Meant it took me 10 mins to calm him before I could put him back down again!  So after three attempts stopped.

Day two kept up until 9.30 and slept 45 mins.  Then in the afternoon had 45 mins sleep.  Did pu/pd but again calming took along time.  Usually he will then go for a 45 mins nap at 5.00 ish.  Today didn't have that either.  He didn't seem tired but did wind down and put in cot anyway.  He just happily played with his sheets and after 30 mins showed no signs of sleeping so got him up. He then lasted relatively happily until bath and bed.

Should I just assume he doesn't need that much daytime sleep?  He has slept through the night on all occassions.

Thanks for any advice.

[marensmama]

Is he happy when he wakes at the 45 minute mark?  What temperament is he?  Is his room dark?

[SueE]

It depends. I've been trying to see a pattern but haven't found one yet.  for the morning nap after 45 mins he's making `come and find me' noises.  After the early afternoon nap its more upset noises.  That's when he's more likley to suck his thumb and try hard to go back to sleep.  After trying for about 5 mins and he can't do it he then changes register and sounds more 'come and get me'!  But once he's not gone back to sleep and I get him up he just gets on with the afternoon.     

the room is dark so I don't think that's stopping him.

In terms of temperament he's pretty contented - a textbook baby.  Pretty adaptable, alert, and happy.

Any suggestions?

[marensmama]

What happens if you leave him for 15 minutes?  Has he ever fallen back to sleep at this point?  Does he have a paci?  Is he swaddled?  Could you try white noise in his room?  Is there anything that's waking him up and stimulating him, like noises or even toys in his crib?  Can you extend his nap using pat/shh?

Sorry for all the questions, just throwing ideas out there.  The other thing to keep in mind is that babies brains develop the day sleep part between 3 and 6 months, so this might just be a developmental thing.  Don't stress too much about it, just keep his A time shorter following a short nap, and roll with it.  Easier said than done, but honestly this will pass.