short nap & PU/PD

[mommyDL]

Hi,

I just started transitioning 3-4 hour schedule.( I've been pushing feeds out 15 additional minutes each day. ) My LO goes down easy for nap, but wakes 40-50minute s into the nap. I am trying to get her to sleep for 1 1/2-2 hrs. I am using the PU/PD method but she just cries and cries. We had an hour left for her nap before eating and did PU/PD the whole time. She was exhausted after 45 minutes and was starting to fall asleep on my shoulder but the second I put her down she started screaming again. I'm afraid she's using me as a prop. Also that she is not falling asleep on her own but out of sheer exhaustion. ANY help anyone could offer would be sincerely appreciated.

Also, she goes down easy for bed. Wakes once or twice but PUPD seems to work fine then. Not sure why it doesn't for naps.
Also baby is 5 months.

[anna*]

Hi there welcome to the boards

Can you write out her routine (what you're actually getting rather than what you're aiming for) in EAS format so we can see what needs to change? Sounds like she probably needs a bit more awake time.

[mommyDL]

Currently we are on a 3 1/2 hrs feeding schedule. We are transitioning from 3-4.


Today so far....
7:00 E
730-900 A
900-1000 S
(1000-1030 PUPD)
1030 E
1100-1210 A
1210-100 S (put down a little early since she showed signs of sleepiness)
(100-200 PUPD)
200 E
230-350 A
350 S (put down a little early since she showed signs of sleepiness)
(420 -430 PUPD not even close. Took it as a late afternoon carnal and let her stay up)

600 E
630-700 A
700 S

1000 dream feed

Note: she usually goes down for the nap with no problem. I put her down sleepy and she drifts to sleep. And did this for first two naps. Third nap she was sleepy but freaked out as soon as we got to the crib. Turned on her musical mobile which seem to calm her, but I'm worried she's now developing a fear of the crib.

[anna*]

She needs more awake time, which is why she is giving you short naps and having trouble settling. If you have a look here (Average A times- BOOKMARK ME! ) you'll see that at 5 months she really needs closer to 2.5hrs awake time (including feeding) and then her naps should start to get longer. PUPD is rarely successful at extending short naps, to be honest: most often what fixes is it is a routine tweak. So I'd try pushing her awake times and see what that does for her naps

[mommyDL]

Hi Anna!

A big thanks for the quick response. I guess I was worried about over tiring her if I kept her up. But I will definitely give it a try. Thanks for the tip about PUPD rarely working for extending naps and focusing on regulating the schedule. It gives me some hope.

[anna*]

Let us know how you get along