Getting my newborn to nap

[lily_layne]

If he's going to sleep on his own and resettling, I would keep doing what you're doing and celebrate your success! That's huge for any small baby, but more so for a spirited one.

[choc]

He has started to settle at the start of the nap but can't resettle after waking at 20 or 30 mins. I can tell resettle him here either. So should I carry on and see if they extend themselves?

[lily_layne]

What did yesterday look like?

[choc]

Yesterday
E 7.30
S 8.30 put down but didn't drop off til at least gone 9am but it was hard to tell if he was awake or asleep. Stayed in bed til 10am trying to resettle after he started crying.
E 10.30
S 11.30 put down on first yawn, not sure if he slept at all, lots of noises but I couldn't tell. Got him up after he cried and tried toresettle but couldn't. 
E 1.30 allowed to fall asleep on me afterwards so he could get a decent nap.
S 2.00 til 4.45
E 4.45
S 6.15  but didn't sleep
6.45 bath
E 7.00
E 1.45 am.
E 4.00 am
Had to wake at 7.45 am

[lily_layne]

It's a bit hard for me to tell how long the naps were. I'm not sure about the morning. Did he not nap at all? Could you post the end time for each nap? Ex: S: 9-9:30

[choc]

Sorry for the delay, we've all been struck down with an awful vomiting bug so have been completely off track the last few days. I can't remember what really happened on the day I posted either so I will post what another day looked like when we are better and back on track.

[lily_layne]

Sorry to hear you were sick. ~~~Get well vibes for you all~~~

[choc]

Thank you, we are on the  mend now . just praying  baby doesn't catch it!
I feel like once we have a short nap then the a times are so long afterwards from trying to resettle etc that the following  naps are all bound to be short from OT. I don't know how to avoid it and keep my feeding routine on track. This was yesterday
E and wake up 8.30
S 9.30 self settled, woke 10.10. I left to resettle but he didn't so I tried til 11.30 and then got him up.
E 11.30
S 12.10 put down and self settled to sleep at 12.20. Woke 12.50. Again left to self settle but didn't, I tried to resettle but couldn't so got him up at 2.15
E 2.30
S 4.20! On my lap. Was the only way I could get him down. I tried basket, push chair, swing but was beside himself with OT and finally got him to drop off on me at 4.20 until 6pm.
E 6.00
Couldn't get him to take a catnap.
E 7.15
S 7.30

Is this what they call an OT cycle? I don't know how else to play it without putting him back down to sleep at the time he should be eating but I know his a times are ending up stupidly long. Also I can never get him to take the catnap no matter what sort of nap/day he has before it.

This morning started well.
E and wake up 7.15
S 8.25 self settled immediately, woke at 9 but self settled, woke at 9.20 and I settled him quickly. Slept til 10.30.
E 10.30
S 11.30 in car til 12
E 1.30
S 2.15 in car and napped on and off til 4.15 on school run
E 4.30
S tried at 5.40 but it wasn't happening.
E 7
S 7.15

[lily_layne]

It could be an OT cycle but you could also have a short napper. Some LO's just don't lengthen their naps until they're older. 

Are you breast feeding or bottle feeding? I can't remember. Either way, I wouldn't stress about feeding at exactly 3 hours. Sometimes feeding does get messed up when naps are short and it generally is no big deal. If you think he's ready to sleep but it's not "time" to eat, I wouldn't keep him up. I would feed him (as much or as little as he wants) and then put down for a nap.

How often is he eating in the nights?

[choc]

He is bottle fed and feeds twice in the night, 1am ish and 4am ish.

[lily_layne]

That's great if he's only eating twice in the night!

If nap times get wonky in relation to feed times then I would just offer a part bottle and see how much he takes and then put him to sleep. I wouldn't keep him up until it's time to eat. I know the BW books say to beware of "snacking" but sometimes it just needs to happen when they're young and unpredictable. If you were breastfeeding the advice would be to feed at least 10-12 times/24 hours so I don't think an extra or bottle or 2 will create a bad habit.

[choc]

Ok, thanks. Now got to try and find a way to get the catnap as he is having a very long A to bedtime at the moment. I can't AP it at all so not sure what to do really. I get him down to bed as early as I can but it's hard as it's dinner time etc for the rest of the family and our only time with ds 1.

[lily_layne]

If it helps, my mom said she can't remember ever doing a CN - just a long A to BT. All 3 of us turned out fine If he just won't take a CN, I would just enjoy your family supper and get him to bed as early as you can. Do you have a swing or bouncy chair? My DD was often content in the swing in a darkened room so at least she got some rest.

[choc]

That's good to know. I tried the swing in the dark but he wasn't having any of it!

[lily_layne]

Then put the swing near the table, pop him in and enjoy your family supper!