Why are naps so hard?!

[Chloevalentine]

My lo will be 6 months next week. We've struggled with naps the entire 6 months! Just when I thought we were on a good new routine it gets all messed up. Most recently he was handing 3 hours A time in the morning because he has to with school drop off but that only lasted a few days. Now I'm getting 20 min naps or no naps or sometimes an hour! He cries before every nap. Why is naptime so difficult. There must be something I'm missing. Maybe he's A times are off? I've got to get him to nap and on some kind of routine.

[Scottishmummy]

Big hugs. I found naps and routines very unpredictable for both of mine for the first year. It's not anything you're doing or missing, it's just the way little babies are, constantly changing and developing so nap times and routines keep changing too. The short naps might just be a blip due to a developmental leap, or teeth or some other baby reason. Those A times sound about right for his age. I'd hang on in there, and keep the times you had. I think the better naps will return when whatever has thrown him off right now has passed.

[Chloevalentine]

We've had a few days now where he wakes around 630/45 and falls asleep in car as we are almost home. I transfer him to crib but he only sleeps 20 mins. Then he goes down 2 hours later. Yesterday he slept For an hour was up by 1230 but then I tried to put him down at 330 and he wast falling asleep not tired I tried again a bit later but think he was ot by then and did bedtime at 6! He's only been doing two naps so trying to get three is hard.

[Chloevalentine]

Same day as yesterday. I can't get him to nap this afternoon and he's miserable.

[Scottishmummy]

Could he be in 3-2 transition? He's at right age for it? Some LOs need an AP-ed 3rd nap when they are at this stage. Is that possible? I think I tried to be out in the afternoon with my 2 and on the way home around 3rd nap time so I could get DD to take it in buggy or car.

[Chloevalentine]

But he's only taking one nap in the morning!

[Scottishmummy]

Sorry, from your last posts it sounded like he was taking 2 naps and resisting the 3rd.

Could you post his typical routine, or last few days in EASY format?

[Chloevalentine]

Hi typical routine is up around 6/630

A6/630
E depends  on wgat time he woke during night to eat but every  4 hrs solids hour later
S 930-1030/11
A11-2/3 solids hour later or so
E 2/3
S can't get him to sleep here I've tried 2.5-3 hrs A time it's always a struggle lots of crying and takes forever sometimes I bring him downstairs and try again in 20-30 mins if he does sleep it's 30 mins to an hour but it's a struggle. Any suggestions

[Chloevalentine]

 I can't get him down before four hours A time in the afternoon.  And then sometimes he only sleeps a half hour. Today I can't get him to nap at all this afternoon! Any suggestions?

[Scottishmummy]

Hmmm, not sure. Does he settle easily for his first nap?

Some people find that a short-long routine works for their little ones.  You could try capping first nap at 45mins and see if that helps get an easier, longer pm nap? Probably after around 3hrs A time after waking?

I hesitate to suggest that though as he's young for nap capping & it could mean more OT if he doesn't take a longer 2nd nap but maybe try it for a few days but stop if you feel it's not helpful.

[Chloevalentine]

Yeah I don't think I'm willing to do it lol. Is 4 hours A time long before second nap?

[Scottishmummy]

It is a longer than average A time for a 6mo, but if he WO 't settle before then, what can you do?

My DD would do 4hrs from end of 2nd nap until BT and wouldn't go to sleep at night with any less than 4hrs after end of 2nd nap.

[Chloevalentine]

Oh my that's a long time ! Today he was up around 12 from his first nap I put him down at 330 for second nap a lot less crying but he's just awake in there up on his elbows a bit of complaining. Could he not be tired? How much later of a nap can I do?

[Chloevalentine]

 He settled and fell asleep around 345  I wonder if I should wake him by 430 in order to be in bed by seven

[Scottishmummy]

Good to know that he will sleep given time.

Up to you when you want to wake him.  4.30 sounds reasonable though.