Author Topic: Naps for 1 month old  (Read 627 times)

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Offline Berlinbaby

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Naps for 1 month old
« on: January 09, 2012, 15:21:38 pm »
Hi,
This is my first post. I've a 1 month old baby boy, who I'm pretty sure is a textbook baby.
My issue is with day time naps. Up until a week ago he had been pretty good about sleeping in his own cot during the day, even if I hadn't yet managed to do EASY completely yet (I.e. I hadn't got to the stage of beng able to put him down awake / drowsy and he'd go to sleep independently. But he would go Into cot in a light sleep and get himself into a deeper sleep and nap for anything from 1-3 hours.

 But the last week he had terrible wind and been screaming all day and he would only sleep on me / my husband. Which we allowed as we were so glad he was quiet and he really needed some rest - he'd cried himself hoarse the poor thing.

Thankfully he's through the worst of the wind now and I've started to try and put him down again, but to no avail - I put him down while he's drowsy / stage 2 and he wakes back up and the starts wailing. He'll stop if I pick him up if he's not too OT. But this morning he got so OT it took until nearly 3 pm for him to get any proper sleep (on me), which isn't good for anyone. Shhhhing / patting works for a few minutes but not to get him to sleep.

Nighttime he's great - he wakes for a 12-15 min feed at 12, 3.30, 6.30, 8.30/9. He sleeps in a co-sleeper cot beside our bed, no problem.

His rough routine is:
E: 8.30am-8.45
A: 8.45-10
S: (but not independently) 10-10.45/11
E:11-11.15
A: 11.15-12
S: 12-1pm / 1.30
E: 1.30-1.45
A:1.45-2.30/3
S: 3-5.30
E: 5.30-5.45
A: 5.45-6.30
S: 6.30-8pm
E: 8-8.15
A: 8.15-9.15
S: 9.15-11.30pm
E: 11.30-11.45
A: 11.45-12.30
S: 12.30-3.30am ( on own in co sleeper)
E: 3.30-3.40am
A: none, he just eats and goes back to sleep
S: 3.40-6.30 ( on own)
E: 6.30-6.40
A: none
S: 6.40-8.30am ( on own)

So he's pretty good I think (!!!) except that he will only sleep ON someone  during day... Any advice much appreciated, especially about how to do this without him getting so upset / OT.

Offline Erin M

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Re: Naps for 1 month old
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2012, 14:24:59 pm »
Hi there!  Welcome to the boards and congrats on your baby!
At first glance, I might think that your A time is a touch too long for a one month old.  We were hard pressed at that age to stretch much past an hour so it's possible that he's getting OT and having trouble settling.  Every baby is different, but I know that 1.5 hours was too long for my babies at that age.
How does he sleep?  Is he swaddled?  White noise?  I found at that age, especially with my dd1 that once she got past those first few weeks, she was constantly hitting herself in the face and waking herself up.  Some babies also do really well with white noise.  As for shh/pat, you can try adjusting your technique and see if it helps, sometimes more of a jiggle or a rub will do the trick as opposed to patting.  I'd often start out of the crib at that point and transfer him as I patted. 
And honestly, don't be afraid to do what you have to at that age in order to get some good sleep in him.  At one month, we would aim (but not always get) one decent nap in the crib and the rest in a swing, car seat, etc.  You can plan to get him to settle in his crib for his first nap and then not worry about him sleeping there for the rest of his naps.  That is actually what I did for #2 and #3 and they learned independent sleep quite well.  Sometimes it helps to get a nap somewhere else so he won't become too OT.  Will he sleep anywhere else other than on you?  It gets tiresome to hold them for all their naps (though I've BTDT too).  They're only this little for so long, so you have to enjoy the newborn snuggles while they last!
HTH!