4 months old won't finish naps unless in our arms

[Little Mo]

Hi! I am an Eastern European mother of a 4 months old baby boy.

For the last 2 months or so we have been facing the 45 minute naps problem. In my country nobody thinks this is a problem, but I can clearly see my son is tired after only 45 mins of sleep.

If I catch him by the first yawn, he goes down for his naps easily. He has his pacifier, he holds my finger in his hand and he drifts off peacefully in his crib. But after 45 minutes he is wide awake and nothing I do helps him get back to sleep. Except if I hold him in my arms. He will then sleep for at least another 45 mins, if not more.

I am afraid I am encouraging a bad habit, but on the other hand I do want him to be well rested. Also, this short naps things is preventing us from having a structure routine.

He usualy shows signs of tiredness after 60-75 minutes and goes down within 15-20 mins.

Any advice is more than welcome.

Monica 

[Little Mo]

He wants his paci for every nap, but does not need it for the night at all.

He usually spits it up after about 10 minutes. Replacing it after 45 mins does not help though. Neither does my holding his hand, even if I am there with him and react at his first movements. He just pops his eyes opened. Swaddling and shushing helps to get him to sleep but not to keep him asleep.

As for his awake times, how should I do? If I wait even 15 minutes more, he gets so overtired that getting him to sleep is a nightmare and I usually end up holding him in my arms ... which I do not want to do as I am afraid it is going to turn into a major prop.

[Little Mo]

He always wakes after 45 mins. He will rarely go back to sleep after that in his crib, but if I pick him up and hold him he always goes back to sleep. I am afraid he is getting used to getting up after 45 mins and finishing his sleep in my arms. Also, the reason I strated holding his hand is because he is getting his hands into his eyes and getting his paci out of the mouth (he is not able to suck his finger as he can not make a vacuum strong enough to keep it in his mouth ).

If I get him up after the 45 mins he is clearly tired, he starts yawning, rubs his eyes and is very fussy.

About extending his awake time, how should I do: 5 mins every 3 days? Up to how much awake time?

I will also look into the FAQs.

 

[Little Mo]

Thank you very much. I will try W2S and let you know in a few days how we do.
Should I also try to lose the paci or is it too much to try at once?

[Little Mo]

Just wanted to let you know that I am sure now that his finishing the nap in my arms is  a habit, and very bad one. This morning he went down for his first nap with his paci, alone in the crib. He got up after 45 mins and I tried to shush him back to sleep with no succes. But the second I picked him up he went right back to sleep. I tried putting him back in the crib and the screaming started immediately. I picked him up again, went to sleep instantaneously, put him back in teh crib ... screaming started. I decided I will not do it his way and took him in the living room and put him in his bouncy seat. He was soooo sleepy and unhappy...

I think that before fixing his 45 min nap I must fix this sleeping in my arms thing. Can you advise on a strategy? Is PU/PD ok for his age?

 

[Little Mo]

Thank God for the internet, this site and you expert Ladies !

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next days / weeks !

[Little Mo]

Stacy, just wanted to let you know we are doing great. W2S worked veeery well. Now almost all his naps are of 1hr 30 mins. He doesn't even open his eyes any more when I go in and stir him, he just moves his fingers a little bit and then goes back to sleep.

It's great to see him so well rested.

Thank you for all the help!

Monica