Short naps

[mymay1]

Hi everyone,
DD is 7 weeks old. For the last few days she wakes up after 40-45 mins. during day naps. I can put her back to sleep but it takes time and usually also picking her up and holding her (which I don't like doing - I mean, I love the feeling but I don't want her getting used to it).

What is the recommended way for making her nap longer?
Thanks!

[Aishi]

Can you post your easy in EAS format so we can see where you need a routine tweak? 45 min naps are usually UT but can also be developmental. 40 min naps can be either UT or OT . Average a times at this age are 1h15-20 min and that's from eyes open to shut including wind down and time it takes lo to fall asleep!

Have a read of these

Is my baby ready to increase his ‘A’ time? (incl. 'A' times for younger babies)



It's fine to hold her to sleep at this age as she's so tiny. It's more important to get her to sleep as sleep is so important for development at this age so enjoy the cuddles guilt free! Having said that there are techniques u can use. Here are the links

Teaching Sleep to Newborns and Young Infants

Teaching Sleep to Babies of 3-5 months (and the 45 min nap)

How do I address habitual wakings? (wake-to-sleep and other methods)

Hth!

[mymay1]

While I read all the links (thanks!) here is our easy:
6:20 - wake-up and E
6:50 - A icluding short sink bath to let her know the day has started
7:45 - S
8:30 - wakes up - I try to put her back to sleep. Sometimes she'll fall asleep. at other times not
9:30 - E
9:50 - A
10:45 - S (the early wakes appear during all the day naps a lot but always at the first sleep of the day)
12:30 - E
12:50 - A
13:34 - S
15:30 - E
16:00 - A
17:00 - S
17:50 - E
18:00 - A
18:45 - Bath
19:10 - E
19:30 - S for the night
23:00 - Dream feed (bottle, all the rest are breastfeeding)
+ usually 2 eating sessions during the night

Obviously there are some changes but I try to keep bath time steady and she tends to wake up at the same hour (even if she ate at 4:45, for example).

Any ideas?

[Aishi]

Looking at your first a time it's 1h20 which is average for Los age. Does he wake happy from this nap as that would indicate ut and Maybe you could increase that first a by 5min hold for a few days and see if it improves. If you get a short OT 30 min nap then keep second a short 1h05-10 to prevent OT building up. I've noticed your other a times vary Quite a bit too. Are you following tired cues? I would keep the other a times at 1h15 until you sort that first nap out...2hr is too long for a 7wo....and OT accumulates over time so u need to be really careful not to let lo gt OT which is also why I think your day is too long. At this most Los do best on a 12h day. Would that be an option for u as night sleep is more restorative...

Also keep in mind that a times include eyes open to eyes shut, wind down and time it takes lo to fall asleep. Are u teaching independant sleep? Ssh pat is a really good way to teach lo and easily weaned if it becomes a prop )'(just use less over time).

Another thing pops into my head is overstimulation? Make sure lo isn't overstimulated before sleep times as that can cause short naps that are difficult to settle.

Finally if its developmental then the techniques in the link I sent u may help to extend naps...