Wake to sleep for extending 30 minute naps?

[bongabees]

Hi all,

I have been struggling for weeks with short naps (see my other posts!) and no matter what I try I cannot extend them...

LO is 13 weeks old now and is very much set in his ways when it comes to his naps now. He has 30 minute nap nap#1, longer 2-2.5hr nap#2 and 30 minute naps#3+4.

I have experimented with A times, etc etc, but now wondering about using Wake to sleep for extending the naps.

Does anyone have any experience with using WTS for 30 minute naps? Any hints/tips?

Do I have to do it at all naps, or just try to extend one nap at a time?

Also, I use sh/p to get him to sleep in the first place, so when I rouse him in WTS, do I then help him get back to sleep with sh/p?

Thanks!

[Spandanna]

Hi there

I would start with just the first nap ofthe day because if you extend that and then he does a second long nap he'll only need a catnap in te late afternoon

So my ds used to do only 30min naps for a long time until I really pushed his A time for a weeknor so but w2s worked on an off with limited success.

When you rouse him be careful not to wake him too much. The aim is literally just to make him stir anlittle like to sigh ir move a hand or leg very slightly. Not move too much

Somewhere around 22-25 mins is the time to do it so yousjouldnt need to use shhpay to resettle I don't think

Hyj

[Spandanna]

Sorry that wasn't meant to say huh at the end!!! I meant to put hth!!!

[bongabees]

Thanks! I have just tried it on this nap (#3) cos this is the one he wakes crying from as though he needs more sleep but can't transition and is the most habitual 30 minute nap. I did as you said, and he has been napping for 45 minutes now! Wow! I can't believe something so simple could work! I hope it's not a fluke!

[bongabees]

Another question...

How many times do I need to do it until I just leave him without doing WTS?

[Spandanna]

That's great news! I hope he does a long one for you!

Hmm, that's the question really. It varies and depends on many factors. If you can use it to get him into the habit of doing 2 long naps + a catnap then I would give it a week and then take a look at your EASY (or post it on here if he still can't transition past the 30 mins so someone on here can take a look and maybe suggest alternatives)

Like I said for us it worked sometimes and not others and I never did work out why that was. It was only a routine overhaul that got rid of the 30 min nap monster once and for all (at 16 months when we dropped to one nap!!!) I think for us 30mins was always always under tired

[bongabees]

It was an hour and 5 mins! Best yet for weeks!

Another question... He still woke up crying hard (even when picked up) as usual. Should I try WTS for a second time during the same nap? If so, when?

Thanks!

[Spandanna]

That's a much better nap!! Yay

What was the earlier part if your day like sleeping wise? It could he difficult to time the w2s right for a second time. Maybe wait a couple of days see if you can get two decent naps and a catnap by doing w2s for first nap. Not sure why he would have woken crying but he might not have been ready to wake up yet. I never had success extending naps that were already longer than an hour I'm afraid but every baby is different

[*niki*]

hi,
i've had great success extending naps by putting gentle pressure / holding hands on chest through the light sleep phase of my 5-month LO.  She used to wake up 45 min into each nap and i had no success at putting her back down with shh/pat or pu/pd.  Now, i go in her roon 35 min into her nap, place my hands on her until she seems back in a deep sleep, usually 10-15 min.  She'll then sleep for a total of 2hrs every nap ! Most times, she doesn't really wake at the 45 min, but if she does, i'll go back again 45 min later and help her again through her next light sleep phase.  I saw results so quickly... happier baby, less OT and better A times ! good luck !

[bongabees]

Thanks for the advice! I tried W2S 3 times again and it didn't work! Weird how it worked the first time but not again. Maybe I am doing something differently. How much do you have to wake them?

I just tried your approach niki and it seemed to work! He is now asleep after almost an hour since putting him down with me holding him for 20 mins. Thank you for the tip!

[*niki*]

Good news !
one week into trying this technique, i was able to extend all naps but 3.. !
good luck !

[Kta400]

Niki- when you hold your LO arms and legs - is she swaddled? I use to do that with my LO and it worked great when he was swaddled. But not he sleeps on his side or back and haven't tried it. Does it work when not swaddled?

[*niki*]

Kta-400 :
We never swaddled LO really tight because she was born with congenital hip dysplasia.  We were able to swaddle her upper body, but she had to wear a brace to hold her legs in a frog-like position 24/7 for the first 3.5 months of her life.  When she was 3mo, she started being strong enough to undo her "swaddle" and the blanket would then get on her head and she'd get scared, so we stopped it right away.  Since then she sleeps with no blanket at all.. it is also very hot here these days...
so for us, it works, but then she was never used to being properly swaddled and so weaning wasn't that hard.
good luck to you !
Also, after a week of doing this, i now just sit in her room and hold her just when i see a lot of movement.  Most times, i only need to stay in 5-7 min and there's been a few naps where she didn't need any holding.. so i guess it's gradually improving !
I also use the same holding position when i put her to sleep, just for 30sec-1min, to calm her down as she has a lot of jerky mvt otherwise (spirited baby).. falling asleep time had gone from 60min to 30 to 15 to now 5 min... life is a lot easier !!

[*niki*]

One more thing,
I put rolled up towels under her contour sheet on either side of her to keep her on her back.  It did this when she started being able to roll back to front (but unable to come back) because she'd just roll to her front and get upset.

[Kta400]

How is her hip down? Hopefully it is doing well! Jude is out of the swaddle (thankfully..that was a hard transition!) and I haven't tried HTTJ's yet. Maybe I will give it a go today. He is a spirited and touchy baby so sometimes the slightest touch wakes him up and then there is no turning back! How is W2S working out for you? Tried it today and yesterday at the 23 minute mark and didn't have any luck.