Perfect nights, happy mornings but cranky afternoons

[UlrikaandOlle]

Hi, my 16-week-old baby sleeps from 7 to 7 (I know I am extremely grateful - wake to sleep did the trick), and he is super-content in the morning and usually goes down by himself sleeping for 1.5 hours from 9 to 10.30). After that, everything changes. He doesn't sleep for more than 30-45 minutes for his midday and afternoon naps (have tried everything to extend them...), and he is often extremely cranky (even directly after a nap) and has recently started to cry A LOT in the afternoon, for no apparent reason. I try to keep activities calmer, to avoid OT - but I can't find a way to keep him content after say 2pm...

Any ideas what's going on here? How can I keep him happy throughout the day?

His routine is (give or take 15-30 mins):

E followed by A: 7.15am
S: 9-10.30am
E & A: 11.00am
S: 12.30 (45 mins, sometimes manage to get another 20-30 mins after some hard work)
E & A: 2.30pm
S: 4.00pm
A incl bath: 4.45-6.00pm
E: 6.00pm
S: 6.45pm
E (dreamfeed): 10.30pm

Many thanks!
Ulrika

[brenda2]

hi.  wow!! what great nights!

i'd say he's OT in the afternoons...seems to be working for him though with those great nights!

what i'd do is shorten up his A time.  instead of watching the clock for nap time count his A time or go by sleep cues.  if he does a short nap shorten the next A time to 1 hour 15 min  from when he wakes up.  if a 2 hour A time gives you a short nap consistently this may be too long for him and he may do better with just 1 hour 45 min.

does that make sense?

[UlrikaandOlle]

Thanks Brenda, I am also pretty sure he easily gets overtired (especially since I spend the summer at my parents with them not leaving him for a second: "Is he going to sleep AGAIN"...) I will try shorten his A time  and see whether that helps. He doesn't always wake up cranky though, quite often there's the big blue eyes and a big smile - can he still be tired? (hard to convince the parents that he is OT when he is all happy and playful).

[brenda2]

oh i had so many of the same conversations with my inlaws "she's going for another nap?  she just woke up!"...

usually if OT they will wake up crying, but my DD would just go and go and go even if she was really tired and then start the screaming when it was way too late. also, she gets hyper before she shows sleepy cues, so really difficult to convince others she actually needs a nap. 

has he ever done a long nap on his own?  some bubs are just wired for short naps.

[domabi2]

I'm not an expert, but in our case an extra feed made wonders. Now I'm working on reducing feeds because of change into 4hrs EASy, but I know, that my lo sleeps more easy and is more calm if I give her eat more often in the evening.

Hugs

Agnieszka