How much A time? Help

[Ima shel Alon]

 
Crying mama here.

My Lo has stopped napping. I read this kind of post so many times, now it's my life 

My LO does nap, but only 45 minutes, and I am certain it's because I don't know how much A time he should have. I used to be so good in reading his cues, but then we went to holiday, moved a house and it went out the window.
He is now on 3.45h EASY, going in 4h in a couple of day.
What can I do if I don't see tired signs anymore? If lets say A time should be 2h, do I put him down before the 2h because he takes time to fall asleep?
He is going from being OT one day to be UT the next day and his night sleep that was great, with one NW after DF, is now so messed up. Yesterday night he woke up 6 times and I am sure it has something to do with his day sleep.

Please help me, I am in despair. I don't want to leave him to cry but I have a crying baby ALL DAY TIME, don't know how much I can still take it.
Thank you.

[ZacsMumme]

Big big ((HUGS)) It is so hard when they are unsettled. My DS developed reflux at 6 weeks and my lovely happy sleepy baby became miserable and OT all day. Can you post your EASY? I am sure some of the more experienced mums can give you some amazing advice to get back on track

If you are feeling really stressed or low or frustrated and anxious (as I get) then if there is someone who can help out for a few hours take some time for you...and some fresh air. Even an hour will work wonders. xxx

[Shiv52]

{{{hugs}}}

Is he managing those feed times ok?  It can take BF babies (am i right in thinking you are BFing?) much much longer to stretch to 4 hour feeds and often stay at 3/3.5 hour feeds for much longer.  Am wondering is he hungry sooner than 3.45 hours? 

There is a HUGE growth spurt at 4 months.  HUGE!  Do you think he's hit that?  THat would explain all those NWs last night?   

[Ima shel Alon]

Thank you both.

Shiv - I am not sure if we are passed the GS or before, but he is for sure not hungry. He is only on formula and often doesn't finish his bottle, he takes around 150ml each feed. I also though he might be waking up hungry at night, but he doesn't - he settles again, sometimes for a couple of hours.

We don't really have an EASY right now, as I really don't know when to put him for naps. I feed him 7:00, 10:45, 14:30, 18:15 and top up at 19:30, 23:00apx - DF.
My biggest problem is that I don't know how long his A time should be, what is suitable for a baby his age.
Today I have managed to extend both naps but with AP. He will only sleep longer than 40 minutes in his pram, the bed is hopeless and if he is outside he will sleep longer. So as soon as he woke up today from his 40min nap I took him outside and then he has a proper nap - no problem to fall asleep and sleeps long. I want to stop with AP, but don't know how.







 

[Shiv52]

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.msg476652

3 months 1 hour and 20 - 30 mins
4 months 1 hour and 45 - 2 hours
5 months 2 hours - 2.25 hours
Late 5 months/early 6 months 2.25-2.5 hours

 Ok so for a FF baby at 4 months you are looking at a 4 hour EASY so while you don't have an EASY in place as such you may aswell stretch to 4 hourly feeds now.   It may help him take better feed if they are slightly more spaced out. 

Have you read this:
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=69369.0

I do think it would be worth while preservering with extending naps in the cot for a few days so he's not learning that he has a quick nap and then he'll be put in the pram.   He is obviously still tired if he then has a good sleep in the pram.  Even stick to the cot for the first 2 naps and then use the pram for the CN to get through to bedtime.

At this age you are looking at 2 long naps and a CN. 

A time is all time from eyes open to eyes shut.  So if A time is 2 hours you'd do winddown and aim to get them in the cot after 1 hour 50 so that they are asleep for 2 hours A time if that makes sense. 

{{{{hugs}}}} This is a TOUGH age for naps xx

[Ima shel Alon]

Thanks Shiv, the link to starting EASY at four months is just what I was looking for! I only have the first book, you see.
Thanks a million, will memorize and do!

[Shiv52]

Good luck hun xxx

Am here to support you when you get started so keep me posted xx