Attack of the 45 min naps AGAIN?!? HELP ME!

[momtoaiden]

I thought I had already solved this problem a month ago.  A month ago my now 15 week old DS was taking 45 minute naps.  I began swaddling again and problem solved.  Now, for the past 3 days, the 45 min naps are back.  I haven't changed a single thing and have followed every cue perfectly.  He's on a 3 hour EASY with A times of 1 hr 30 min which includes a 15 minute wind down time.

I've heard that 45 min naps generally mean UT, but I'm nervous to extend the A time.  I tried that yesterday and he ended up with a 30 min nap.  Please tell me this will pass soon.

[momtoaiden]

P.S. I have tried the ssh/pat thing and it only makes him start to cry.  When he does wake up at the 45 min mark he's not crying, but wide awake yawning and then just starts to go nuts squirming until fully wide, wide awake.  I then go in and rock him back to sleep, which usually works most times. 

If I'm not mistaken, he's waking the first time he goes to move or adjust himself and then cannot get back to sleep on his own.  He used to though.

[brenda2]

hi
most Los transition to a 4 hour EASY between 4 and 5 months.  so he's probably moving towards this which means a bit longer time between feeds, a bit longer A times and dropping a nap (moving to only 3 naps).  he may not be ready for a true 4 hour EASy right now so you may need to stretch a bit at a time and try a 3.5 hour EASY until his A times are a bit longer.

the other thing i would avoid is the rocking to sleep.  LOs can get addicted to this kind of AP and before you know it the only way they'll go down is by rocking.  he may cry when you do  shh pat because he wants the rocking, hold out and stick with it and he'll catch on.  does he ever put himself to sleep?  any other props?

this is what you're working towards, you just have to do it slowly to avoid OT.
4 hour EASY:
7 E
9-11 S
11 E
1-3 S
3 E
5-5:45 S
6:30 E
7 to 7:15 bed
10 DF

[momtoaiden]

Thanks sooo much for your reply.  Yeah, I had a feeling he might need to be extended soon.  It is tough though because he shows signs (yawns and fussy) of being tired at about 1 hour 15 minutes so I take him in and wind him down and then by 1 hr 30 min he's asleep.  The rocking is definitely something that I need to get rid of, I'm just scared.  That's not the only prop though...he uses a swing for naps (not night time) and swaddle (cringe).

I used to put him in his swing drowsy/awake and then eventually he'd nod off...but not nowadays.  I know I'm creating a monster.  It's just that when he begins to cry it turns into an all out scream fest and then he gets way too mad for even consoling.  How do I survive getting him to sleep on his own without killing both of us in the interim.  (half kidding). 

Also, could he be going through the 4 month growth spurt?  I also am nearly 100% sure he's starting to teeth which is another nightmare in itself.  Whew, when does THAT get better...

[brenda2]

hugs
i'd get rid of the rocking to sleep and the swing - you have to do it sooner or later and the sooner you do it the easier it'll be on both of you.  he sleeps in the crib for night so it won't be that hard (still hard don't get me wrong).  the more ingrained and the longer the prop is around the harder it is.  keep the swaddle as long as it's not too hot where you are.

he could be having a gs - this shouldn't cause short naps though, maybe just more frequent feeds.  and it should only be a few days to a week at most.

with my DD i said "it must be teeth"  for 4 months before she got her first tooth.  teething is painful, and for us it lasted a few weeks, but never caused short naps either - had a few NWs with screaming (totally unlike her) but was somewhat calmed with tylenol.

to stretch him you're only going to do 5 min every few days, and if the first a time is shorter that's ok.  it may be easier to stretch the other A times right now.

to get rid of the props you can do gentle removal or cold turkey and just do pu/pd and shh pat until he goes to sleep.  take a break after 45 min if he's still crying but don't give up and rock again.  start with naps and dedicate a week to it.  when i did this is saw results in just a couple days.  so it's worth all the crying i think to have a bub who can put themself to sleep and stay asleep independently.

[momtoaiden]

Brenda...I think maybe you should just come over and do it because it sounds like you're very good at it.  I'll cook you a great meal and dessert for your trouble though 

No, I hear every word you're saying and I will do it.  I have all next week off (imagine that). Boy and I scared. I think I'll try gentle removal and peruse the props board for tips daily and for support because I'm sure I'll need it. 

I can do this, right?  I keep thinking how great I'll feel when it has been conquered.

You're great support for me!

[brenda2]

sure!!  where do you live!  ha ha

i was scared too but i just kept saying "what i'm doing now is not working for me" and that gave me strength to keep at it.  it really was not that tough if you can handle the crying.  they will cry, it's just their voice.  they're trying to learn something new and it's hard.  but yes you can do it!!  i started this at 3 mo to teach her to fall asleep independently and it worked pretty quickly.  i then did it again at about 5 mo when the paci became a prop and again it worked in a few days.  and i've done it now and then to get back on track after holiday, teething etc.  so it really really works!!  but you really have to be consistent.  i did cold turkey both times and i think that's why i got results so quick which motivated me to continue with this method.  i hear gradual removal works as well, just slower, so don't get discouraged.  and when you do get results be prepared for a setback on day 5 or so, but that works itself out quickly too.

you can do it!!!

keep us posted, and feel free to ask any other questions!

good l uck