Cat naps- how long and where?

[lhurley168]

I'm having trouble with cat naps in the evening with my lo. He's 7 weeks and is taking ranitidine for reflux. Its just me and my lo as my husband isn't home till 8pm each evening. Here is what our routine looks like on a day to day basis with some variance depending on the day:

7am - Feeding (this reminds me of night feeds or a dream feed. He's not awake but eats just fine). Diaper. Re-swaddle.
8am- Nap #1
9am or 10am- Depends on when he starts to stir around. Feeding, Activity- I keep him in an upright position for 20 mins before diapering due to reflux, Diapering, Re-swaddle.
11am- Nap#2
1:00pm- Feeding, Activity, Diapering, Re-swaddle
2 or 2:30- Nap #3
4pm- Feeding, Activity, Diapering
5pm- Catnap in swing or Rock n Play sleeper
6pm- Cluster Feed, Bed time routine includes bath every other night
7pm- Top off with 2nd Cluster Feed
7:30pm- Bedtime

I can tell he's sleepy around 5 and 6 and is ready for a nap but I'm not sure what makes a cat nap and where he should be taking one? Do I swaddle him and put him in his crib or do I leave him in the living room in a little sleeper? Some times he falls asleep in the swing and I leave him there for his cat naps. This doesn't seem to affect his ability to fall asleep when not in the swing. For all of his other naps he does need to be swaddled or he will not sleep. I do notice that if he's not had a good sleep in the evening before bed he doesn't go to sleep very well. Sometimes he gets worked up 45 mins after sleeping in bed in the evening around 8:15 or 8:30. Usually if he wakes up then he's very upset and is up for another hour and a half to two hours.

My hunch is that it's due to the 4pm-7pm hour routine. Sometimes he's awake the entire time from 4-7pm and I don't know what to do for him. Our bed time routine is pretty simple. Every other night is a bath then I diaper and change his clothes, lotion, and swaddle. We haven't done a story or singing because I really feel by then he's already over stimulated. There's also much more time to fill during that time frame if he's not getting a bath that evening. I'm thinking our problem is the cat napping because on the days he does nap well after 4pm he goes to sleep easily at bedtime. If anyone can detect any other problems please let me know! At this point I'm just feeling lost as to what to do from the 4pm (really around 5pm) to 7pm time frame.

[weaver]

Do I swaddle him and put him in his crib or do I leave him in the living room in a little sleeper? Some times he falls asleep in the swing and I leave him there for his cat naps.

I think if you're at home, you might as well pop him in his crib.  There's no harm in him sleeping in the swing, or even in the buggy, for his catnap as you'll be dropping that nap around 5/6 mos.  My LO2 basically did all her CNs from about 2 mos in the buggy or a sling as we used the time to either take a walk or make dinner. 

You're right to say that the CN is key to night-time sleep and avoiding OT (overtiredness) at bedtime.  At his age, maybe an hour would be a good length of nap.  It will reduce over time, til it's only 30 minutes or so before you drop it. 

I think the usual routine between 4-7 is:
4 feed and activity
5-6 CN
6 Feed and bedtime routine
7 or so, bed

[lhurley168]

Thank you for your reply! That reassures me as to what to do. What do I do if he's not settling down for the evening cat nap? Do I take the time to shh-pat? Also, I know this touches on feeding, but should I cluster feed as part of our routine at his age?

[weaver]

I'd do whatever feed you think he needs: they're all individuals particularly when it comes to BFing. For my LOs, cluster feeding (and I mean something like 4 feeds in the space of two hours, or just feeding for hours on end for LO1!) tended to be associated with growth spurts, it's perhaps a good idea to keep something for those occasions. Mind you, he will definitely let you know what he wants when he wants it!  You may mean something different by cluster feeding - some people do a 'split feed', so half more or less either side of bath, or a feed around 6 and then another at bedtime, which is pretty much the same thing.  It's normal to have extra feeds around bedtime. But have a look on the BFing thread for more info.  Here's a link on growth spurts which is sort of relevant:
"Is this a Growth Spurt?  How can I meet my Baby's needs?"

Difficulty in settling for the CN might be to do with OT or OS (overstimulation).  It seems a bit crazy but even with tons of sleep during the day, they're still tired by 5pm, poor little babies.  That being the case, yes, I would make time for a wind-down and a sh-pat.  As I said above I didn't have a problem with APOPing CNs with either LO, as they were heading to drop the nap, so do try for the crib, but don't worry if it's easier in the swing or a sling or the buggy.