Nap lengths and up every 45 mins at night

[annabelles.mom]

Hi, I'm new here and don't know if I'm posing in the right spot as I have a couple different questions (about naps and night time sleep). I'm a new mom to a 3 month old girl and we are recovering from a bad case of accidental parenting. I had absolutely no routine, I rocked her to sleep every time, and we co-slept. It was getting to the point where she wasn't sleeping anymore through the day, She was restless most of the night and I had no idea what she wanted. We started the EASY routine last Monday (6 days now) with her sleeping in her crib for every sleep. Things are going ok with some meltdowns here and there (mine), but it's definitely not as easy as I thought. So now for my questions:

1)Annabelle is not doing the 3 hour routine as her nap lengths are all over the place. Is this normal and does it usually last like this? I'm ok with it, but I'm a schedule kind of girl and so I just need to know if others have varying lengths to the EASY routine.

2) I'm finding that in a day 2-3 of her naps only last 45 mins (her first, and last for sure) and then she'll have a monster nap somewhere in the middle of the day that can last 2-2.5 hours. Some days I actually wake her up b/c she is still sleeping after 2.5 hours. Is this normal and should I be waking her from the long nap? How long is too long?

3) She is sleeping a 5 hour stretch at night (usually 7:30-12:30) and then will wake for her second feeding around 4. Sometimes she will wake up every 45 mins after her first feeding until 7am when she wakes up for the day. She is easy to settle back to sleep but I am exhausted. Is this just a developmental thing that will pass over time or do i need to be doing something about this?


I have read the BW book and through this forum which has been so helpful and supportive through this tough time, but I couldn't find anything to answer these specific things I am struggling with. Sorry this is so long winded. Thanks for any advice!

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs, and welcome!
I don't have much time but I wanted to say your doing great! 3-6 months is hard. Short napping is common, and getting LOs into the cot etc can be a big achievement

I wouldn't wake at this age unless the nap exceeds 3 hrs, especially if its in the middle of the day. But I do think maybe you just need som A tweaks to encourage a more balanced day with regards to naps.

Can you post today's nap times and night?

Any history of colic, reflux or intolerances? X

[annabelles.mom]

Hi! Thanks for replying! No history of reflux, colic, or intolerances.

Yesterday was a bit messed up, I guess most days are as we try to find our rhythm.

7am wake up

8:15 wind down
8:30 sleeping

9:00 wake up (tried to keep sleeping but was wide awake)

10:15 wind down
10:30 sleeping

11:15 wake up

12:15-1:15 tried to get to sleep but failed

2:00 wind down
2:15 sleeping

5:00 wake up

6:00 bed time routine starts
7:00 sleeping

7:45 (loud 4-wheeler woke her up, this has never happened before. Couldn't get her back to sleep until 10:30)

I just wanted say that I realize she is a unique little person and will have her own rhythms and needs for sleep and I want to be conscious of that.
When we started this process we noted that she was both overtired and overstimulated so we really pulled back on what we were doing with her. Now we are trying to find that balance of just enough stimulation for her but I don't really know what that looks like.

I was putting her down at her first  yawn but I have been finding lately that it is taking forever to get her to sleep (sometimes up to an hour, or she'll fall asleep and then 2 mins later her eyes will pop open and that will repeat for the hour). Now I am waiting 10 mins after her yawn when she is seeming more tired and that is working better (so far). I find this the most exhausting part, trying to get her to sleep and she just won't.

I have also tried many things to get her to keep sleeping past the 45 mins including going in to keep her slightly restrained as she goes through her transition and 'jolt', sooth her back to sleep when she wakes up, or just leave her completely alone for the whole nap. Nothing has worked so far.

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs, they are all so different. Hopefully here you won't feel you have to put your LO onto any form of strict schedule but more help with a routine that works for her and you! At this age really, It's hit and miss. Good and bad weeks.

Honestly, it looks like your day was good. I probably would have god for something similar

Do you know your LOs personality? It can help with WD,sleep, A times etc ie my touchy baby (ds1) had a very small sleep window and got OS so easily. But ds2 is less sensitive to this.
The BW "Know Your Baby Quiz"

It's ok to do some naps not in the cot etc if it helps you both too. Prior to 4 months we did a lot of naps in a wrap, some LOs  sleep well in the buggy. And if you need to get the nap and it's getting silly I think at this age it's totally ok to rock her to sleep just keep in mind the end goal is independent sleep. A lot of mums aim for 1 good nap in the cot around this age.

So that in mind, how are her nights? Some LOs like a really short first A time. You could try 1hr15,20 or if after 3 days that doesn't work try a gentle increase, closer to 1hr40 and see if this helps you ge a longer nap

What do you think? X

[annabelles.mom]

Sorry it's taken so long to get back...
I'm so happy to hear that I'm on the right track, that's really what I needed to know.
I did the quiz and it sounds like Annabelle is mainly a textbook baby with a bit of touchy and angel in her, that was really interesting.

Naps have been going fairly well now and nights too, she's been waking up twice every night. I took your advice and have started tl lengthen her A time. But here's the issue. She's been having her 2, 45 min naps on the morning and a long nap in the afternoon (I've been waking her after 2 hours). So she's usually awake between 3-4pm. Then it's the evening that has been challenging everyday. I can't get her down for an evening catnap as she fights it like crazy. I can tell she's really tired but for some reason she doesn't go to sleep. Last night I tried for an hour, and I've also tried wearing her. Her ideal bedtime is 8 (that time seems to work well when all is good), but usually I can't get her there, so it's been more like 7. Her bedtime has been pretty inconsistent b/c of her wonky evening nap situation and she's also super uncomfortable and cranky by the time we can get her to bed. What should I do about this evening nap? Also how do you figure out a bed time?

I really appreciate all your advice, it is so helpful.

[ZacsMumme]

Glad things are improving!
3-6 months is challenging, as much as 0-3
Can you post your day in EAS ie
WU 7am
S 8.30am-10
...

It's great your getting 1 long nap. Tbh I'd be tempted to not wake her from that one unless its been 3 hours.
Evenings are commonly rubbish and wakeful. Does she cluster feed during this time? Or are you bottle feeding.

How are Nights going now?