6 month short nap help!!

[Kerriam]

My son will be 6 months old next week and I'm really struggling with his naps. I'm totally guilty of a lot of accidental parenting while he was colicky and suffering from bad reflux - I did anything I could to calm him and get him to sleep. He is finally over all that and is a happy boy but now we are trying to reverse all the sleep props/associations. He can successfully put himself to sleep thanks to PU/PD but his naps are 26 minutes every time! I've tried adjusting his A times, I've tried wake to sleep, I've tried soothing him back to sleep and nothing has worked! He wakes up screaming after the 26 minutes and I go to him to attempt PU/PD but he'll usually calm down once he sees me and will act drowsy but then just wants to play. I'll leave him in the crib and he'll just play with himself and not go back to sleep. But at the same time, I can't do PU/PD because he's not crying! I know he's not a short napper because he will sleep well over an hour if I hold him. Sometimes after he's awake in the crib for a bit he'll cry out because he gets tired so I'll go in and he'll get to his mantra cry, close his eyes and relax for a few seconds, then wake up and mantra cry for a second, close his eyes for a few seconds, wake up again... over and over again. He's done that for up to 45 minutes before! He's obviously tired but just can't get over that hump to get back to sleep! Any advice how I can help? It's so nice to have a happy baby now that colic is over, so I just hate to see him suffer and get so frustrated over his naps.

[lauradj]

Hi there!  That's super frustrating!  Could you post your EASY?  It may be as simple as a day time routine tweak.  Also, just so you know, we don't frown upon AP when it comes to reflux and colicky babies.  You need to get those kids to sleep anyway you can.  Don't sweat it! 

[Kerriam]

Thanks for the response! I try to stick to the same schedule everyday but it's tough when his naps are so unknown but this what I try to do:

6:30/7:00 Wake and nurse
Activity: he isn't very active in the mornings so some low-key play and usually go for a short walk in the stroller
9:00 Nap - if he sleeps only 26 mins I try to keep him in the crib to go back to sleep (sometimes works and sometimes doesn't)
10:30/11:00 Nurse and solids half hour later
Activity: he's active at this point so lots of play around the house
12:30/1:00 Nap - same as above
2:30/3:00 Nurse and solids half hour later
Activity: play around the house and usually go out on an errand or two
4:30/5:00 Nap - this is his toughest nap as he's usually so OT from lack of sleep all day that he has a really hard time going down
6:30 Bath and nurse
7:00 Bedtime
I let him wake during the night if he's hungry. Typically he'll eat around 10:30 or 2:30 and on rare occasions he'll sleep through the night

He's definitely a textbook baby with a slight touchy side as well. He's a Taurus so stubborn and strong-willed but very social and happy.

For one of his naps today, I miscalculated the timing and was in the shower when he woke up early. I heard him cry as he typically does so I rushed out but was delayed getting to him and by the time I got to the door he was quiet. I checked the monitor and he fell into his pattern of mantra cry for a second, close eyes for a few seconds, mantra cry, close eyes, mantra cry, etc. after two minutes he fell back asleep without me going in at all. Perhaps I've just been intervening too much? I'm interested to see if he'll do that again tomorrow for naps.

[lily_layne]

Laura's away for a bit so I'll be here to help out if you need. I don't have time to read your posts right now but just wanted to let you know that I'll be around.