So depressed trying to extend naps:( ready to quit on day 5

[wulfin8]

Hi all,

I know this is about the most common post but I am just so depressed about trying to get LO onto EASY with her not being able to get past a 45 min nap

Shes almost 4 months, I did EASY without knowing about it for the first few months (separated eating and sleeping) but I didn't know about feed times etc.  I have now read the book and realise that I was feeding WAY too often (approx every 2 hours) and was probably confusing hunger and tiredness cries - her naps had slowly shrunk until I had about 6 45 min naps per day.

Anyway, I started pu/pd and shush/pat 4 days ago..previously LO would go to sleep with a little rocking of moses basket - I think I had only ever heard her cry properly when she had her jabs...since then I had two days of her constant crying:((( 

She sucks her thumb and sleeps on her side and has never been swaddled - i tried it a few times yesterday but she wriggles her arm out and I don't want to swaddle her thumb arm (plus she screams if I do).  Therefore I am not doing pu/pd with me out of the room as she needs her arm and leg holding otherwise she is still awake 2 hours later desperately trying to get her self to sleep (I tried that tonight - she didn't cry but was so obviously absolutely exhausted).  So I am doing pu/pd with a bit of shushing and lots of me having my hands on her.

For the first 45 mins of a nap she seems to go down ok now (I am working on getting her on 3 hour easy to start with 1.45 activity and 1.45 naps as ni chapter 6 in the book), but then every time I try to extend with shush pat she wont go back to sleep - I have tried so many times to do pu'pd to extend and she just cries for the whole 45 minutes:( A really frustrated/angry cry.

One day I managed to get 1.45 naps by doing w2s but every time I have tried that since it hasn't worked.  I'm losing heart as I dont know what to do when she has only slept for 45 mins - in the book it says you should keep her up to keep the E times the same....

This results in her being awake for 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours and being constantly shattered (not to mention me).  I just don't know what to do tomorrow, I don't think I can face another day of making her scream for an hour after she gets up after 45 mins:( followed by a day of doing it another 4 times.

[Khalam's Mama]

45mins is classic UT. Have you tried keeping her up a bit longer before her 1st nap?
personally I found extending naps too soul destroying and just shortened the next A time to prevent OT. I did w2s and it takes a week or so to really say if it is helping or not. A lot of people get 45min naps between 4-6m and they are sorting their day sleep and often start napping longer at 6 or 7mo without any intervebtion so please don't drive yourself cray.
Can you write out your whole easy for yesterday?

[babymunkey]

Big big hugs, pls don't drive yourself crazy over this. My 1st piece of advice would be give yourself the day off from it tomorrow. She'll survive another day of lots of 45 min naps. Some others will be able to give you specific advice but also remember the books ate just a guide not an instruction manual.

Hope this helps, seriously have a break tomorrow,


Xx

[FPT23]

Hi! Just to chime in!m

I went nuts on those short naps. And honestly, I think it's normal and developmental at this age to have short naps.

Bbys organize their days between 3-6mths. My son didn't start lengthening his naps, more "consistently" until 5mths. By 6mths he had the length down

So try not to stress it too much. Also at the 4mth mark, most bbys go thru a slight regression. A lot changes for them at this age.

I know short naps stink! (totally been there and stressed myself out over them!) but the best you can do is if you can't extend, then don't! Just shorten the next AT and go from there!

Tht wrkd for me. I lost the patience to try and extend the naps- patting, shh'ing and other non cry it out solutions. Just know its developmental too...and sometimes NOTHING we do will extend the naps. It's a common phase! I learned the hard way

If I were you I'd continue to try to teach independent sleep thru the short naps. And one day, ur baby will surprise you! And start sleeping through.

My son was addicited to being rocked to sleep...I weaned tht first and then long naps came soon after when the time was right for him.

I'm currently working on 3-2 nap transition, I'm back to short naps, Blimmey! :-/

Cheer up, if you get short naps....then shorten the AT's and add extra naps if u have to to avoid ot. Hope this helps.

[caoimhe mum]

hi just wanted to offer a hug i've been there got the t-shirt and i'm actually still there.  i don't think i'll ever get these nap things sorted.  my little bit of advice is don't worry about trying to extend the nap its stressfull enough trying to get them to sleep and then when they wake up your stressing again.  its not good for you or your little one all the stress.  so i would say concentrate on the going to sleep independantly, and when your lo wakes up going in and praise her for her sleep and be all happy and smiles and enjoy the next A time together.  she probably could do with a push in A times if its constantly 45min naps.  do this gradually 10/15mins at a time but only do one A time at a time ie start with the first A time of the day.  hope it gets a little easier for you soon