40 Minutes Nap Monster is Back!

[becky1969]

At 5 months 2.5 hours is a bit long for A time.  Usually at 5 months we're looking at right at 2 hours or so (and then 2.25 by the end of the month).  I think you might have an OT bub since she's jolting and then falling back to sleep when you hold her down.

try shortening A time to 2.25 and then 2h and see if that helps.  Also, if she's teething she can get extra tired so even if this A time was working before, teeth can make it too much A.

[Padicindy]

Hi Becky thanks for your suggestion. I thought the same way about A time being only about 2 hrs but I tried shorter A times in the past but she wouldn't sleep much for her naps. In fact, she was doing A time of 2 hrs when she was 16 weeks (she will be 23 weeks tomorrow) and was pretty happy about it (and slept well for her naps generally). I've been monitoring her naps and tried to HTTJ but because she doesn't jolt at the 40th minute, HTTJ doesn't work. In fact, it seemed like a natural awakening. Hmm..What then should I do? At the moment I am using shh pat to extend her nap and usually am able to do it if I catch her at the right time quite quickly. I do look forward to her being able to sleep through the transitions herself though!

All4Finn: Can I ask what is your modified shh/pat for Finn??

[Padicindy]

Becky: I tried your suggestion and shortened her A time by 10 mins today before her lunch time nap. I tried W2S at the 35th minute, and she woke again (seemed like natural awakening I can't tell anymore!) at 45th min. Altho I could get her back to sleep rather quickly, like in a matter of less than 5 mins.

I will keep trying a shorter A time to see if it works.

[becky1969]

If you shorten A time I would NOT do W2S.  Honestly, I haven't seen W2S work much for naps -- mostly for nighttime sleep.  I think that you've got an OT bub and if you try W2S it will have the opposite effect.  Not saying it doesn't work for some! But I think I'd do one method at a time.  In other words, try shortening A time for 3 days and THEN if that doesn't work try W2S.  Otherwise you don't know which method is failing, if you see what I mean.


And even if your kid prefers longer A times teething and developmental milestones can throw that off and make your LO require a bit more sleep than normal.

[Padicindy]

I get what you mean. Alright will try again! Thanks a bundle Becky!

[Padicindy]

Alright I feel rather discouraged now. I have tried shortening her A time to about 2hr 15 mins on some days but she continues to wake. There were a couple of times in which she slept through till 1.5hr but those times, it was usually because she was overtired (we were not home yet as we were in church).

This morning, I was determined to find means and ways to extend her nap cos I am suspecting she has gotten used to waking up at 35th to 40th minute. Took me 45 mins of shh pat to coax her to sleep for another 30 mins!

The other problem I have is, I can't tell what time she wakes up in the morning. I go to her only at 7am but I suspect she wakes up much earlier to play. She is a rather quiet baby in the morning and plays on her own a lot. So I don't know what time she wakes! That really complicates matters so I don't know when exactly to put her down. But when in doubt, I still put her down for her nap at about 9.15am or 9.30am or whenver she seems tired.

Sigh.

I think I will try W2S again later.

Rather discouraged.

[Padicindy]

Ok I think my bud is still OT. Just read this: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=153563.0

I will try to shorten her A time somemore.

[lilac83]

When your putting her down for naps, is she dropping off fairly quickly or is it taking her awhile?

[becky1969]

2h15 is still too long.  It needs to be right at 2 h.  15 minutes makes a HUGE difference when they are this young.  Wind down should start around 1h45 or so.

[Padicindy]

When I put her down to nap, she dropped off fairly quickly. Abt 10 mins max.

I guess I am trying to keep her A time shorter slowly. Cos she was doing more than 2hrs of A time previously afterall. She is nearing her 6 month and I was under the impression that she was doing well with 2 hr 15 mins to 2.5hr of A time. Will shorten to see if it works.

[lilac83]

Usually at 6mos LO's are doing a bit over 2hrs. What you may find though, is after a few days of the shorter A time, she'll catch up on any accumulated OT and then start extending her A time again. Or she could be a high sleep needs babe and need lower A times than average. Around 7mos is when the A time starts lengthening towards 3hrs and the catnap is dropped.

[Padicindy]

I've always thought my LO needs more A time than average, since she has done 2hrs at 16 weeks comfortably! I guess you might be right about accumulated OT. Will keep it short for a few days and hope things get better! Its just hard when I need to run around with her too but I always try to bear her naps in mind as well. Thanks for your help! This website is great.

[lilac83]

Good luck! I hope the shorter A time does the trick.

[Padicindy]

Hi I tried the shorter A with some success yesterday, but today is a tad bit all over the place again.

LO still wakes up at 40th or 45th minute yesterday, but I was able to put her back to nap easily by shh pat. She slept 1.5hr for each nap for all her 3 naps yesterday! She was one happy bud.

But today, she did a 30th minute awakening and refused to go back to sleep after 45 mins of shh pat for her first nap. Subsequently, her naps went haywire. I suspect she may had woken up earlier than I thought and thus, I put her down for her first nap too late.

Will try again. Am really hoping for more success! I miss the times when she was able nap through for a solid 2 hrs!

[becky1969]

since you had success that first day with shorter As sounds like that's the way to go, at least until you get the OT monster beat.  And sounds like you know what when wrong Day 2 -- she woke earlier than you realized.

Keep at it! It can take up to a week for things to really get cookin', so don't get too frustrated by a day that doesn't go well.