AARGH! Suddenly resisting naps and short napping!

[beckygatt]

DD2 is nearly 10 months. Until recently she was taking a morning nap of 1,5-2hrs and an afternoon one of about an hour. She recently became much more mobile suddenly and since then has been having problems with naps. I put her down usually after about 3hrs A time; I know this seems a bit short but she's usually quite cranky by then and showing tired signs. I lay her down and she starts to suck her thumb like she's going to sleep, but then will suddenly start crawling around and stand up in cot. I'll generally leave her to it till she starts crying and then go and lay her down again. This process usually repeats a few times till she tires herself out and eventually sleeps. However she never sleeps for more than an hour and often its only 45mins or even less. What is going on??! She wakes up crying and not too happy; normally she'll wake up cooing and smiling... 

[*Kara*]

She needs a push in A times hun... she is being put down UT and then ends up OT by the time she does sleep

Oh I have been there!

Remember that tired signs are not reliable after 4/5 months of age... baby will seem tired at whatever time they normally nap even if not tired enough for a good nap, KWIM?

I would give her an extra 15 mins in the AM and see what happens

[beckygatt]

Thanks Kara, I'll try!

[*Kara*]

Good luck  

[*Becky*]

how are you getting on Becky?

[beckygatt]

Not too good I'm afraid I have tried extending A but nothing is working! She still takes long to settle and naps 45mins max most of the time. Wakes up unhappy too. She was never that sensitive to A times before. Don't know what's going on

[*Kara*]

How far have you pushed her A time first thing hun?  I would bet you need to get to 3.5 hrs at least to see a good change... possibly longer.

[beckygatt]

Yes I did try 3.5hrs for sure... She gets so cranky though! I guess I'll try even longer. Though I'm not sure how I'll fit it all in the day, iykwim. To get her to sleep I have had to keep my hand on her back till she sleeps

[*Kara*]

Just checked my "baby timer"... DD was doing 3 hrs 50 mins at 10 months

[beckygatt]

Yesterday we went out in the morning and her A time ended up being 4.5hrs (I know, too long ), and of course she only slept 30mins. Today I will try for 3.45-4. 2 questions. This morning she woke up at 6, lay in bed next to me for 20-30mins and then dozed off for another 30mins... So should I calculate her wake up time as 6 or 7? Also if her first nap is 30-45mins what 2nd A time should I go for? I worry I won't fit a second A time, nap and 3rd A time in before a reasonable BT...

Thanks!

[beckygatt]

So strange! This morning she fell asleep on my lap at about 9, so under 3hrs A time, and she slept for about 1hr 20mins! Then I tried putting her down for 2nd nap after 4hrs (she was perfectly happy; no carnkiness or anything). When I put her in cot she just kept wiggling and trying to crawl around in a very happy playful way - not really crying. After 25mins I finally got her to sleep by keeping my hand on her back. We'll see how long it lasts! There just doesn't seem to be a pattern at all

[*Kara*]

Sounds like a developmental blip

This morning she fell asleep on my lap at about 9, so under 3hrs A time, and she slept for about 1hr 20mins!

Aww - bless her little heart   Nothing sweeter than a baby sleeping in momma's arms... although, they get heavy now

This morning she woke up at 6, lay in bed next to me for 20-30mins and then dozed off for another 30mins... So should I calculate her wake up time as 6 or 7?

This is a tough one.. I find that DD will have nap refusals etc when this happens so we start our day anytime after 6am.  If she wakes before that, I stay in her room in the dark until 6am and sit with her in a chair if she refuses to resettle in the crib.  Babies will treat that first little bit of sleep like a nap often... it will perpetuate an early start to the day as well.