7.5 mo still having short naps :(

[mrsfabmoretti]

Hi,

I posted on here a few weeks ago for some help with my LO, who was 7 months and only having two 30 min naps per day. I was advised to try and tweak A times, which I have, and we're still having the same problem.

I have tried A times from 2hr45 right up until 4hrs and we're still getting these short naps. The best I have ever had was a 45min nap after a shorter second A time of 2hr30, following a short nap.

Our day looks a bit like this:

Wake 7.15am
S 10.30-11am
S 2-2.30pm
Bed between 6.15-6.30pm

I understand that final A time is far too long, but he refused to CN, even when I APOP. I also know that second A time is a little on the long side, but he won't go do any earlier. W2S and HTTJ aren't really options as I work part-time and my mum has him for three days. She is very cynical about all of the BW strategies ("They'll sleep when they're tired" sort of attiude) so can't ask her to follow it through.

My question is: should I just give up and accept these short naps? Am I expecting too much, considering his long night-time sleep? I feel myself getting really stressed out about it all, and wonder if it's really worth it.

Should also mention that LO has just got his first tooth through.

Thanks in advance for any help or words of wisdom. x

[mrsfabmoretti]

Sorry- just read the post back and hope I don't sound too cocky about what I have tried so far. I spend quite a bit of time reading past posts on here, trying to find advice. Just wish there was a miracle cure!!

[Noriko378]

just tagging along since I'm having the same issues.

[mrsfabmoretti]

What is your baby sleeping like, Noriko?

[runwaymom]

Hi mrsfab~i tag along a lot on these nap topics too, as i am having issues with my son taking short naps. i wish i had some words of help to offer you, but i can't think of what to tell you. sounds like you are trying to follow things you've read other people suggest or try on the boards, same as me. you definitely have a tough and unique situation though, since you work PT and your mom doesn't really agree with BW methods. do you have anyone else that could watch your baby for a little bit, someone who would support what you are doing and help carry it on while you are at work? just until you get through this tough time?
i know this is so discouraging, and you feel stressed. i hope you find what works for you and your little one. i am still in the process of 'tweaking' things to see if something works with my almost 7 month old. good luck to you!

[Noriko378]

Mrsfab, my son is also taking 30 minute naps and has been since he was 3 months old. I managed to get him to nap longer 2 weeks ago but now we're back to 30 minute naps. I've been trying to tweak his schedule but am really struggling with trying to find the "magic A time". I'll let you know if I run across something that works for my LO. In the meantime, I echo what runwaymom says. It would be better if you can get someone to help you that is willing to continue with working on your LO's routine. It's hard to see any progress if there is no consistency, IYKWIM. Hang in there..I'm sure there is an answer out there.

[mrsfabmoretti]

Hi again.

Thanks to Norkio and runwaymom for your support. It is nice to speak with people 'in the same boat'.

I think it came across as worse than it is when I was saying about my mum. She consistently puts him down for two naps a day, in the same way I do and follows his sleepy cues, etc. However, she is a bit sceptical about the dream feed, for example, and doesn't seem to understand why I worry about short naps when LO seems happy as larry during the day and sleeps well at night. I very much doubt she would be keen on trying W2S or HTTJ. The only other option would be to put LO in childcare, but financing that would be a problem, and I'd much rather he be with my mum.

It would be lovely if you could both keep me posted as to how you are getting in with your short nap situations. I think I am going to keep trying for another few weeks to see if I can find that 'magic A time' (as Noriko calls it) and if not, then I'm going to try and stop worrying about it so much. The only reason I worry so much is because I read in the BW's books and on here about how long he should be sleeping through the day. But I guess babies don't read textbooks, do they???


I will keep you posted! x

[Noriko378]

Perhaps your LO doesn't need as much sleep as you think. How much sleep does he get at night?? Do you have any NW? My son usually sleeps around 11-11.5 hrs/night and he's very much like the way you described your LO. He wakes up from most of his nap, happy as a clam and ready to go. But I do notice that if he doesn't get at least 2.5-2.45 hrs of nap a day, it's harder for him to settle at night and we get NW where he cries out then falls back asleep again. What is his current A time now?

[Chui]

Hi ladies,

My LO is 7 months ( DOB 21/2/10 if you are counting in weeks ) now and I was battling short naps too since 3-4 months, then it got better about 6 months ( as lots of LOs do it seems becos its like a developemental milestone ) I used the W2s method and then shh/pat but then I discovered that he needed a longer A time ! For me, LOs "A" time is 3hr 30mins. It seems long to me, but that gave me good naps! ( so far this is Day 3 that this "magic" A time has worked ).
So, really he didn't need my shh/patt and to think that I spent a lot of his nap time in the dark room with him.

I just increased his A time by 15mins until I got that nap. However its quite hard to keep him awake cos I think he's just not used to that long A time.

Anything less than that A time he wakes up happy as larry.
However past 3 weeks have been getting early NWs. So perhaps he is OT from the overall day.. don't know.. maybe it's teeth too. He already has one... I can see another one coming out..

[mrsfabmoretti]

Hi again everyone.

LO usually sleeps on a night from 6.15-6.30pm ish to 7.15am ish. So he pulls a long night! We have recently had some NWs, but put that down to teething. Perhaps it is OT, though.

This morning he was up and ready for that day at 5.30am!! Not bad as still an 11hr night, but nearly two hours early. We had a really bad day of naps yesterday- only managed 2 x 20 mins, so I am putting it down to that.

His first nap (with 3hr15 A time) was 1hr05!! I was over the moon. Tried same A time and have put him down just now, so we'll see how it goes. I wonder if less night time sleep= better naps and more night time sleep= short naps. Would be nice to have both!

Hope it keeps going well with his naps, Chui. My LO has just had his first tooth, too.

Out of interest, Norkio, what is your LO's A time like? My LO is a few weeks older- his birthday is 2nd Feb. How are you getting on?

Thanks again for your replies. So I see that 7 months can be a problem age then!

[mrsfabmoretti]

Well, LO slept for another hour on 3hr15 shortly after I posted my last response. He has been napping longer on 3hr15 (anything from 40 mins- 1 hr10) but has been getting up earlier for the day. This morning it was 6am- but he is sleeping 12hrs at night so can't complain really.

How is everyone else getting on?x

[Chui]

Sorry been away for a shorttrip past 2 days. so finally back and had a really bayd night last nigth with NWs alsmot every 1.5 hrs! arghghggh!!

Anyway...

Mrsfab - great that LO is napping a better! I am going through the same problem  of LO getting up earlier in the day.. past 3 days has been 5:40am -ish. But we were also on holiday so I don't know if LO is a little messed up. oh dear! wake up time used to be 6:30am.

Today had probably and UT nap of 40mins.. with 3.15 A time... looks like I will still need to stick to my A time of 3.5 hr to get a decent nap.

having his 2nd nap now.. has been 50mins so hopefully its  a longer on to make up.

LO has sprouted his 2nd tooth now..

[mrsfabmoretti]

Hope you enjoyed your time away, Chui. We are taking LO away for three nights at the weekend so hopefully it won't mess his routine up too much.

I am still experimenting with A time. 3hr15 still seems to be the best time so far, but thinking he might need a little longer now that he is getting closer to 8 months. The other day we got a 2hr nap from 3hr15 but then he refused a PM nap!

[Chui]

Enjoy your time away and try not to stress I guess! Our LO did fine on our short trip. We did have a night when he did 7pm till 3:30am without any wakings! But he put himself back to sleep then too until 5:30am..
Then of course the following night we had NWs so often.

I am now trying to cut down his nightwakings. Since he can sleep 2 hrs for his 1st nap I've capped it at 1.5 hrs. 2nd nap 1hr. and BT at 6:30-6:45. He still had NWs last night but not as bad and could settle himself back without my help. So hopefully this routine tweak might help I hope!

I'm wondering if your LO was so rested from his 2 hr nap that he resisted his afternoon nap?? maybe you might try capping it ( although its soooo lovely to have them sleep 2hrs!! ).

Well enjoy your trip first !!

[mrsfabmoretti]

I think the 2hr nap was definitely a one off....

It's weird as before he was doing a 13hr night and two short naps, now doing an 11hr-12hr night with one NW and two medium-ish naps. Can't win, really! Your LO sounds great, having two good naps. Do you think teething or something like that could be causing the NW?

I do wonder if anyone out there ever achieves the perfect BW day- a 12hr night and two 1.5hr naps.