What should I do in this catnap situation?

[Peps1234]

Dear all

I'm hoping for some advice on what to do regarding my 3.5mo's catnaps.

He will only ever sleep for exactly 30 minutes in his cot in the day (he's great at night and sleeps right through at the moment). When he wakes up from these catnaps he is smiling at me, gooing and kicking etc. so I've been falling into the trap of getting him up thinking he's no longer tired. Instead about 30-40 minutes later he has a full blown meltdown because he's overtired, so he obviously didn't need any more sleep.

What would you do? I've tried leaving him when he wakes up but he never falls back asleep by himself and it always ends up with him crying. Should I leave him and then intervene when he starts to cry? Or should I get him up for 20 mins or so for a play and then try to put him down again before he starts to lose it?

Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks, Charlotte

[Peps1234]

Sorry that meant to say he obviously did need more sleep!

[newkidontheblock]

It seems like he might need more A time, hun. Could you post your routine?

[Peps1234]

Yeah sure, this is what happened yesterday...

6.20 - woke up
6.50 - E
7.10 - A
8.05-8.35 - S
9.30 - E
9.50 - A
10.20-10.55 - S
12.20-12.50 - S
1.00 - E
1.20 - A
2.15 - 2.30 - S
4.15 - E
4.45 - 5.10 - S
6.10 - start bedtime routine
6.45 - E
7.15 - Fell asleep until 6.45am this morning, I don't do a dream feed

My routine is a bit all over the place. I have tried to keep him awake a little longer but he loses it very quickly without a great deal of warning and once that happens it's extremely difficult to calm him down and get him to sleep, I end up allowing him to sleep on me in this situation which I don't mind (I love the cuddles!) but I'm aware I'm teaching him bad habits by doing this so I'm trying to address it now.

Thanks, Charlotte

[*Ali*]

This is a classic time for short naps so it could just be developmental.

If anything though I would suspect he is OT. 1hr45 is on the longer side for a 3.5mo, especially after a very short nap like 30 mins.

If his naps are always 30 mins then he would be a perfect candidate for wake to sleep. So I'd disturb him slightly at 20 mins and then resettle him into a deep sleep.

How does he go to sleep? Is he an independent sleeper or are you shh patting or rocking etc.?

[Peps1234]

Thank you for your reply. When he's not overtired he goes to sleep without my help, for example this morning I put him down at 10am and he lay chatting to himself for 25 mins before falling asleep. He woke up 35 mins later and was chatting and gooing. He then starts to get frustrated if I don't go into get him, which is where I'm stuck.

If he's overtired when I try to put him down its a different story, I usually have to give him a dummy and keep popping it back in his mouth when he loses it. It drops out his mouth when he falls asleep and he doesn't notice though, he just stays asleep.

In extreme tiredness (usually by the afternoon) I don't stand a chance at getting him to sleep in his cot and instead I have to rock him to sleep in my arms, where he screams himself to sleep, the whole process takes around 30 mins and I don't try and put him down once he's asleep because it was such an effort to get him to sleep in the first place I'm scared I'll have to start all over again! Lol.

[*Ali*]

I'd definitely consider wake to sleep then as sounds habitual. How do I address habitual wakings? (wake-to-sleep and other methods)

[Peps1234]

Thank you, I'll give it a try. Appreciate your advice.

[*Ali*]

Let us know how it goes. I used it when my ds1 was 4.5mo to get past 45 min naps and it worked really well.

Good luck!

[Peps1234]

I tried it this afternoon and he still woke up after 35 mins. I will definitely persevere though! Which method did you use with your lo? In the past I've tried shush pat when he starts to stir but it doesn't work for me, as soon as he starts to stir awake it's too late, there's no getting him to stay asleep. So I went in at 20 mins today and gently stroked his face until he moved then I crept out, unfortunately didn't do the trick but I'll give it another go tomorrow.

Thanks again, Charlotte

[*Ali*]

I did the face stroke and then placed my hand on his chest and shushed for a while u til he was back into a deep sleep. I usually stayed with him for about 15-20 mins after stirring him.