6 month old short naps...still !!!!

[lauraims]

Hey again everyone
I'm still having issues with my almost 6 month old dd's naps.
She's consistantly waking up at the 35/40 minute mark. She does ok at night, sleeping 6.30-5.30/6 without waking then usually back down for 1.5 hours straight after a feed. But then naps are horrible !!! She always wakes at that first cycle. she shows obvious tired signs at 2 hours after being up but I've tried 2.30hrs, 2.45hrs, 2.15, 2.20. All without success. She did a 2.15 hr nap on the weekend after being up for almost 3 hours. But we were out and about in that time so she managed to stay awake without having a meltdown. Really unsure if I should push her AT to 2.45/2.50 in the mornings. So scared she'll get overtired and her nights will start unwinding! Do you think 2.45/3hrs is a bit much for a 6 month old. She'll be 6 months on Sunday.
I met a mother of a 4 month old boy who doesn't nap all day and he seems so happy!!! So crazy! 

[lauraims]

Oh forgot to add.  She'll often sleep 35/40 then abruptly wake up for 10-20 mins then sleep for another cycle. Would like her to sleep a solid two cycles as I feel this isn't restorative enough for her as she's not her usual happy self .

[katie80]

Hi, sorry your post hasn't been answered yet!

Yes, it's perfectly normal for a 6mo old to stay awake for 3hr. It's well within the average. Average A times- BOOKMARK ME!   It's also normal for tired cues to be unreliable at this age. They can get fussy and yawn out of habit, because they're bored or overstimulated. You mentioned trying all those A times... did you stick with each for at least 3-4 days before trying another one? It may be that she just needs consistency. If I were you, I'd start at 2h30min, as that's the lowest average A time for a 6mo old and hold for 3-4days. If she still short naps or doesn't sleep through, then add 10-15min and do the same. Keep doing this until she starts to consistently sleep through.

Also, you mentioned she sleeps 11-11.5hr straight at night and then does another 1.5hr. So, she's getting 12.5-13hr night sleep in total, which may be hampering her ability to sleep proper naps. Is she currently doing 2 or 3 naps? You may want to think about keeping night sleep to 12hr to encourage the longer naps... just a thought.

[lauraims]

Hey Katie, thanks for your reply. Funny you say the night sleep lengths effect naps. She slept 11 hours the other night woke at 6.30 so kept her up 2 hours she then slept 1.5 hours straight through, then awake 2.5 hours then slept another 1.5 hours straight through. Then it was 1.45 and she refused the catnap!! Tried to APOP so had to put her in bed at 5.30 as shed been up 3.5 hours !!!!! She then woke once through the night and woke again at 6.30 so a total of 12 hours night sleep. And put her down same time as yesterday and she slept 40 mins then woke talking to herself I've left her but it's been half an hour and she's still awake!!! Ahhh sooo don't know what to do anymore ! Maybe tomorrow try 2.5 in mornings again. She was crying tired at the 2 hour mark today though!

[katie80]

I think you really need to be a watcher of the clock too. I know she was crying tired, but 2hr is really short for a 6mo old. It's so hard when it gives you a good nap one day, but not the next. I'd try to pick her up and walk her around and do everything you can to stretch her as I think that is the only way you'll get consistently longer naps.

Also, have a read through this link, as it looks like you're heading fast through the 3-2... All about the 3-2 transition- 5/6 months

[lauraims]

Thank you Katie   Im sticking with 2.30 1st WT - today it got me a 1.5 straight through...2nd WT of 2.40 - slept 30 mins - woke for 5 mins - then slept 50 mins - woke for 10 mins and is now asleep again - hmmm? but now i can hear her awake again.  what would you suggest here?  If she wakes soon it will only be 3 pm - and then too late for a catnap?? hmmm such a difficult time!

[katie80]

Sorry for my slow reply! Sounds like she could use a bit more A time for the second cycle... maybe 2h45-50?  If she wakes at 3, you could either do early bedtime at 6pm or APOP a 10/15min CN at 5pm for bedtime at 7. Transitions can definitely be frustrating!! How did it go?

[lauraims]

Hey Katie. So the 10 min catnap at 5 wint mean they'll go to bed late ? What sort of bedtime would you go for if you did this option ? Today she did

Wake - 6.30
Awake - 2.30mins
Nap - 1hr 50mins (strange !)
Awake - 2.35mins
Nap - 1hr40mins

Which took us to 3pm and she was asleep by 6pm

How do I get it so she wakes at 7.30? Which would make the stretch from last nap to bedtime not as long ?
Will be interesting to see what time she wakes tomorrow morning.

Would ideally love her her to go bed at 7. But I'm guessing it might take a month or so as she slowly stretches her waketimes across the day?

My question is, is it better to do the little catnap at 5 or so early bedtime ??

[katie80]

I would've done the 6pm bedtime as well.

Yes, basically over the next month or so, you'll push the A times out to about 3hr and then BT will get back to 7pm. Hopefully, wake-up will follow suit as well and get back to about 7am.

My question is, is it better to do the little catnap at 5 or so early bedtime ??

It's hard to know and different for all babies. For lots, with two good naps and a CN, they will have UT NWs, but some may do fine. You don't really know unless you try. It may mean you get a later wake-up, but it may mean more NW. And it could lead to BT resistance too.

[lauraims]

Thanks for all your help ! I think I'll stick to early bedtime and see how she progresses. She woke at 4 am this morn for a feed and back up at 6.30. So a 12 hour night. I actually find she sleeps for longer during the day with an 11 hr night. So we'll see how today goes. 2.30 hr WT this And she woke for about 5 secs at the 35 min mark. Wonder if that means I try push her to 2.40? How long do you suggest holding WTs for? Would prefer her to slowly adjust 

[katie80]

Well, a 12.5hr night really.  I mean, a quick feed doesn't really count that much, I don't think.

2.30 hr WT this And she woke for about 5 secs at the 35 min mark. Wonder if that means I try push her to 2.40? How long do you suggest holding WTs for?

Yes, definitely sounds like she is ready for a push.  Esp as you're working on evening out the day.

[lauraims]

Hey Katie!! So the naps seem to be going ok, two 1.5 hour ones. And EBT of 6. But now her early mornings have become a nightmare !!! She wakes at 4 to feed. Then usually she goes back to sleep for another 2 hours, but the last two mornings she has woken at 4, fed, gone back to sleep for 45 mins then wakes up screaming. It then takes me almost an hour to help settle her as she is still visibly tired. She used to wake up happy and talking not crying. Do you know why this could be? I'm wondering if I need to try the catnap thing at 5...

[katie80]

It could be some OT creeping in.  Is she getting any teeth right now... it could be discomfort as well?

Might be worth the quick CN at 5 if you can get her to do it.  Otherwise, I think your best course of action is to try to increase the other A times a bit.  You might get some longer naps then and with both of those, she'll be better rested by BT.

[lauraims]

Ok thanks for the advice!  Will try for the longer A times. I hope she gets used to it soon ! She's been so grumpy since I've been pushing her A times up. No teeth yet but she's definitely teething I think. Thanks Katie. ! Have a nice weekend

[katie80]

You too! Keep me posted...

I think it's normal for them to be grumpy as you push A times.  Some get really used to going down at certain times.  You can always try to do some less stimulating activities for the last 30min or so.  I don't know where you are, but sometimes a quick walk down the block is helpful, as most babies love to be outside.