45 minute naps and night wakings

[kjr928]

Hellooooooo,

My lovely little 16 week old DS WILL NOT nap longer than 45 minutes. At night he usually only had one wake up, but that's increased to about 3 night wakings in the last 3-4 weeks. Let's just say I'm getting a little *TIRED*. He is BF'd, and 95% of the time I put him down drowsy but not asleep. (Although once in a blue moon he does get BF'd to sleep but that's rare).

Here is a typical day - basically I try not to let him stay awake longer than 1.5 hours and I try to feed about every 3 hours.

E 8
S 9:30
A 10:15
E 11
S 11:45
A 12:30
E/S 2
A 2:45
S 4:15
E 5
S 6
A 6:30
E/S 7:30
E 2am
E 4am
E 6am

Then the day starts over around 8am again.
Please help! I'm tired and frustrated! Thanks!

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

Short naps are. Very common at this age.  They can just be a phase, or could indicate a need for more a time. I see your ds is very close to 4 months, I suspect he needs to slowly move to a four hour EASY.

[rachaelcole]

I have had some advice on short naps within the forum. We are currently APOPing to get DD used to longer naps again in the hope that she will transition herself through in the long run.

Here's what I'm doing (with success!) at the moment: DD god down for her nap as normal with nap routine (story book & cuddle) then goes in her cot drowsy but awake. After 20 mins I go in (I go in at 20 so she is still in a deep sleep) pick her up out of her cot a pat/cover her eyes/gently restrain her arms. At 35 minutes after falling asleep she starts moving (not jerking) & this continues for 30 minutes-I hold her, pat her & restrain gently for that full time. Then once she has settled again into a deep sleep I put her back in her cot.

She sleeps through the whole time so she doesn't associate sleep with me. We have had 1.5hr naps each time. It's intense & time consuming but I will continue for a few more days or until her movements become less strong & she won't wake herself up.

She has been 30 minute napping for 6 weeks so we have quite a habit to break!!!

Not sure if that will help you but as I say we have had great success so far! 😀