4 month old jolts throughout entire nap and can't sleep...help!

[uathena]

My 4 mo LO always wakes up between 20-45 minutes into his naps as he always jolts. I have been trying to extend his naps with wake to sleep with little success. I am also using PU/PD and Shush Pat, which usually gets him back to sleep, however he continues jolting throughout his entire nap and I usually have to stand over him putting my hands on him when he jolts just to keep him asleep. It's as though he can't quite get into a deeper sleep and the jolts keep rousing him. Please help! I am trying to stay on a 4 hour EASY, but the short naps are making it difficult and he is really cranky cause he's tired.

[NicolleD]

Have you tried httj as a nap extender? I find my DD jolts are worse when she is overtired, could that be a possibility?

[uathena]

I do try and httj but sometimes I am doing it for the entirety of his nap. It could be that he is overtired, but I am trying to put him to bed as soon as I see the first signs that he is getting tired.

[NicolleD]

What are his A times? I'm just wondering because for us as well 30 mins is an OT nap and you mentioned between 20 & 40 min naps!

[uathena]

His first A time is usually about an hour to an hour 15, but later in the day he can stay up for about 2 hours. Do you think that is too long...even if he isn't showing signs of being tired?

[NicolleD]

I'd say the 1st A time was too short 4 months average is about 1.45-2hrs, so maybe what's happening is that he's UT for that nap so it's short but that means he gets OT following it. I'm not an expert though & I constantly have to tweak DD's routine, there is also quite a lot of developmental stuff going on at this age which seems to really effect naps no matter what you do!