Help- always had 45 min naps

[OJ30]

In need of some help.  Our spirited LO is now 14 weeks old and has always taken 45 min naps since he was born.  Most of the time he wakes up happy, chatting and smiling and we end up getting him up for some more A time before the next feed.  We have tried everything to extend his naps but to no avail.  We have tried w2s, shush/pat but he never ends up going back to sleep.  We have tried shortening his A times (takes forever to get him to settle), lengthening it (results in a 30 min nap as he is then OT).  We have learned his sleepy cues and always act on them and have a well used wind down and bedtime routine.  He naps in his cot and is swaddled.  Even when he naps with us in our arms, he only sleeps 45 mins.  The only exception is the last nap of the day where he sleeps for 1 1/2 hours before his bathtime (we can't do the catnap and cluster feeds- another issue entirely) without any fuss or the need for intervention.
Could this just be how our little boy is?  Could this be all the sleep he needs?
He sleeps ok at night and is able to resettle himself when he wakes during the night.  Why can't he do this during the day?

Any help/advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Jo (and Alex)

[oilerbaby]

My ds (who just turned one) also went througha  45 min. nap phase aroud that age - looking back on it now I was way too worried about it and almost obsessed with trying to extend them.  I went to the support thread for 45 min. nappers and found it was nice to talk with others who were struggling with the same problem and a lot of people said it might just resolve itself when he was around 6 months... and guess what?  It did... and by the time I stopped fretting over that stage I was fretting over something else.  Now when I look back on it I think I was a wing nut and should have just went with the flow and taken things as they were.  That first year went by so quick!  Anyhow - you are totally not alone and you should check out the 45 min. support thread - it's great.   I also have to say that it he is sleeping good at night that's great!  My ds has always slept through the night like a freaking log and nothing can wake him up but he is such a light napper I just don't get the contradiction??  Sorry I don't have much more "solid" advice but really just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

[Aly Mac]

Jo I second what Shauna says. If he is waking happy most of the time and sleeping thru the night, I wouldn't worry too much. It sounds like you've tried lots of things, and he will grow out of it, esp when he drops a catnap later on down the track. Try to go with it.  I know it's hard as they seem to have one more nap and it's hard to to do too much, but if he sleeps in a pram or car while you are out, it might not be too bad.

let us know if you have any questions.

take care, and welcome to the site.