fighting afternoon sleep

[ireneasheard]

Hi

Not sure what is going on. My son has been fighting his afternoon sleep and catnapping. Refuses to resettle. He is 4.5 months old and typically awake 2-2.5 hours atm.

[Scottishmummy]

Hi there!
By his afternoon sleep do you mean his 2nd or 3rd nap?  Could you post the last few days' EASY to help get an idea of what's going on?

There is a big developmental leap between around 15-19 wks, that often through a sleep off too. Do you think he might be working on any new skills? Rolling over or more interest in toys etc?

[ireneasheard]

He has 2 sleeps and a nap at this point. Naps have been typically anywhere between 1.5-2 hours. Nap is dependent on sleep for the day - is he has had 2 solid sleeps I'll give him a nap in the pram in afternoon while I walk and if good sleeps then quite a short nap. If poor then I'll let him sleep whole nap without waking him so that he goes to bed at a reasonable time - anywhere between 6.45pm-7.30pm these days. My son is almost 20 weeks old (tomorrow) so good point about sleep being affected by developmental leap,he has been fighting afternoon nap for a week or 2.

A typical day:
E 7.15am
A
S anywhere between 9.30am-9.50am (dependent on tired signs, he is awake anywhere between 2-2.5 hours at a time)
E 11.15am
A
S anywhere between 1.15pm-1.45pm.
E 3.15pm
A
S short nap. Anywhere between 4.40pm-5.00pm and lasting maximum of 32 minutes (seems to be my son's sleep cycle length is 32 minutes).
A
S anywhere between 6.45pm-7.30pm, no later than 7.30pm though.
E 10.30pm dreamfeed
S sleeps through until woken 7.15am most days.

[ireneasheard]

And definitely working on new skills - rolling and moving. Trying to talk to me more, v vocal and chatty. Picking up and grasping with purpose. V clingy to me atm, doesn't even want Daddy. Cries at strangers but if he warms up is v smiley.

[Scottishmummy]

Ok, so could be the developmental leap, sounds like he's learning lots right now! Or could be the 3-2 transition. Or both!

Just to clarify - is it 2nd (1.30ish) or 3rd nap (4.40ish) that he's fighting?

[ireneasheard]

It's the 2nd sleep at 1.30pmish he is fighting. He keeps catnapping and it affects him all afternoon as tired. I can see he is fighting to transition 3-2 - have posted on sleep board about this... - but he isn't yet staying up long enough to drop that last nap, he's up only 2-2.5 hours atm?

[Scottishmummy]

Hmmm, could be developmental, or could be worth trying a slightly longer A time before the 2nd nap?

[ireneasheard]

Kept my son up until 2 hours 15 today for both sleeps and he seems to have slept through today. It seems to be hit and miss recently as he has been extremely clingy and basically for the time before bedtime he only wants me to hold him. Definitely think it is a combination of what you've said. He gets through afternoon without a good sleep - catnap - but sleeps better at night if he does sleep well during the day. Will see how he goes in the next few days and report back, I noticed as it was only the afternoon sleep that seems to be affected.

[Reethepea]

Hi, I just wanted to say hi. Our little ones are a very similar age(dd2 20 weeks Monday) and seems to be copying your little ones shenanigans 😩. Big hugs x

[ireneasheard]

Hi Reethepea - lovely to hear from you. Things are going okay here, we had a good afternoon sleep today and a nap and into bed tonight easily. Hope things at your end are okay too!