Five-month old has short waking periods

[QTchloe]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and have learned a lot just reading other posts, but I was wondering if anyone has had a similar situation. My 5-month old daughter gets very cranky and fussy after about 1.5 hours. I usually try to extend her activity periods to two hours, but this is hit and miss. It usually leads to a huge meltdown. It's hard to go out with her since she has become very dependant on the sleep routine (swaddle, pacifier, her dark, quiet bedroom). If we deviate from this in any way, she will not fall asleep and will get very very upset. I can sometimes get her to nap at my mother's house, but nowhere else.

So I guess I actually have two problems:
1. The short awake-time. Is this normal? Will it get longer?
2. The over-dependence on the sleep routine. I see other babies sleeping peacefully in strollers at the mall while their mothers shop. Mine gets sleepy and the mall and we have to leave in a hurry before she begins to scream bloody murder! What can I do to help her sleep away from home?

Thanks in advance,
Adele

[Mom to M&M]

Does your DD take long naps even with these short wakeful periods or only short naps? That will help determine whether you need to extend her awake times and how.

As for sleeping when out, it's tough - some babies just don't do it (but often those babies are better crib sleepers). My DD used to sleep very well in her stroller but that stopped around 5-6 months. Now she'll catnap in there SOMETIMES and also catnap in the car but her best naps are by far at home. You can try swaddling and covering the stroller with a sheet to replicate home feel for her when out - that might help - but her best naps may always be at home.

[QTchloe]

She usually has two longer naps (about 2 hours, sometimes 3) earlier in the day and a short nap (30-45 minutes) later in the evening. Overall, she's sleeping about 15-16 hours a day, but it seems like she gets tired and cranky so quickly! After about an hour and change, I have to work really hard to entertain her or she gets fussy and rubs her eyes a lot.

[Mom to M&M]

IF she's sleeping well day and night, eating well and seems overall happy, you may just have a sleepy baby!

[QTchloe]

Thanks! I guess she'll grow out of it eventually. I always feel bad for putting her to bed so soon, but I'm just following her cues.

Thanks again!

[Mom to M&M]

No problem. Enjoy your little sleeper for now - she'll be raring to go before you know it!

[Cohensmom]

Hi there,
I just saw your post and thought I'd respond.  My lo who is almost 5 months, usually cannot stay awake past an hour to an hour and a half.  He usually naps for about an hour twice in the morning and then an hour in the early evening.  He goes to bed from 6pm - 5:30am, feeds, and then sleeps until 8am.  I think my lo, like yours, just is a really sleepy baby.  He doesn't fuss when I put him down for a nap or bedtime, but will fuss if we are out somewhere and he wants to sleep.  I worked so hard at the beginning to get him to sleep in his crib that I think now he just doesn't like sleeping anywhere else.  I guess I can't complain though since I could have it way worse.

Just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone with having a sleepy baby.   

Michelle

[Jodi and her boys]

I thought I would respond, too.  Like you, QTChloe, my lo would take two 2 1/2 hr naps and a catnap of 45min-1hr at night.  I thought he may be getting too much sleep, but he would sleep through the night, so I wasn't concerned.  Well, 3 days ago, he decided to change everything!  Now he only naps for 1 1/2 hrs, but can't handle being awake over 1 1/2 hrs.  I don't know what to do... not your concern, I just thought I would tell you guys, enjoy it while it lasts!  The last three days have been very unproductive with housework & such!

Jodi

[Jodi and her boys]

Oh, also, Cohen's mom--you should join our March/ April babies group---located in the activity forum!