6 week old - short naps

[katelc]

I've read many posts on this topic, but thought I'd share my experience in the hope of some advice. I started EASY 3 days ago and have realized that my 6 week old daughter is only sleeping for 45 minute stretches for naps. She is sleeping pretty well at night (7 hour stretch, then 2 - 2.5 hrs). Here is today's log so far:

E 7:30
A 8:00
S 8:30 (45 m)
E 10:30
A 10:45
S 11:30 (45m)

(Yesterday was similar, some feedings are every 2.5 hrs)

When she wakes from a nap I try to keep her sleepy (rocking or in swing) until it's time to eat again. I have tried giving her more in her bottle, and extending A time, but she gets tired quickly and I don't want her to get over tired.

I recently started putting her down for naps in her crib. Prior to that she has slept in an inclined rocker or swing. She was waking herself up by kicking, but I've tightened her swaddle which is helping. I thought part of the problem was getting used to sleeping flat on her back, but even naps in her rocker have been short.

Any advice is appreciated!

[katelc]

*Also - for second nap today, when she woke at 45 mins in her crib, I put her back to sleep in her rocker and she dozed on and off for about 40 mins more. She will not doze back off if I put her back in the crib.

[*Kara*]

*Also - for second nap today, when she woke at 45 mins in her crib, I put her back to sleep in her rocker and she dozed on and off for about 40 mins more. She will not doze back off if I put her back in the crib.

Not uncommon for babies this young to sleep better when in motion She just spent 9 months being rocked to sleep all day in your tummy   It will take a few months for that to fade...

I suspect that your short naps are because she is undertired... at 6 weeks, her A time should be approaching 1 hr 15 mins.

I would keep her awake a touch longer in the morning and see if her nap is a bit longer

[katelc]

Thanks for your response! Should the activity time start 1.15 from the time she wakes? Or starts feeding? Or after feeding ends?

[creations]

Anything that is not S is counted as A.  so count from as soon as baby wakes all the way to sleep.  The wind down time is also counted as A so you need to try to factor this in when putting her down for a nap. hth

[*Kara*]

^^ This.

A = eyes open to eyes closed