20 Minute Naps... Please help!

[scarletts mum]

Dear All

I really hope someone can help.. my dd is 10 weeks old.  She is bottle fed and sleeps very well at night.  From 7.30 to 4.30 - feed - then back to sleep till around 6.30/7.00am.

She is swaddled at night but not during the day as I stopped this about ten days ago and I am not sure if this is the problem?? 

She is on a four hourly EASY and I have no problems feeding.. she is currently taking about 5oz per feed.  She stays awake for about 1hr 40 after feed.. even though she gets tired after an hour... we keep playing.. and she is happy to do this as she doesnt get cranky, just yawns. 

She goes off to sleep no problem but after 20 mins wakes up and it can take an hour of crying etc to get her back to sleep again. I dont pick her up during this time I just pat shush her on her tummy in her cot and put her dummy back in. She does have a dummy but she is not entirely dependant on this as she will happily spit it out at night times when she is ready to go to sleep.  She doesnt self soothe just yet, though she has found her hands!

Do I need to go back to swaddling??  I keep being told this is not good for her...She will sleep for two hours undswaddled in her pram.

I cant believe she needs more food as we have just put up her bottle amounts during a recent growth spurt?

She used to sleep for 2 hours twice a day and at least 1 1/4 hours before bath, bottle and bed time...

What am I doing wrong!!!

All help most gratefully received!!

Thank you

Lizzie

[Onewoman]

Just a quick reply from me. I think she is overtired/overstimulated and up way too long for her age. My 19 week old can only do 1 hr 40 including her feed. Getting her to bed when she first yawns should sort things out

[scarletts mum]

Thanks for that.. will try that, she yawns after an hour or so will put her to bed then..  Do you think I should try swaddling her again to stop the jump after twenty mins?

Lizzie

[Will and Liffy's Mum]

Hi Lizzie

According to Tracey's book at 10 weeks old she should be on a three hourly EASY - that could be why you are battling there.

You are meant to go on to a four hourly EASY at four months and I think that 1hr 40 is a bit too long for her.  My two are four and a half months and can only do about that.

I would go back to swaddling if she is waking herself with the "startle" refex - I didn't swaddle my two but they didn't seem to wake themselves.

Anyway good lick - am sure the mnoderators will give you some advice.

Cheers,

Niki

(Mum to William and Olivia, 4 1/2 months)

[scarletts mum]

Hi

She has been on 4 hourly easy since about six weeks old.. she is a very good feeder and just isnt interested in eating at 3 hours, I have tried before but she will take barely an ounce of feed and I dont want to force her.  She is very spirited and so today I have put her down to sleep at first yawn (an hour and fifteen mins after waking) and she is swaddled.. been 30 mins so far so fingers crossed!!

Thanks for the advice.

Lizzie

[nicola f]

Hi my daughter Carsen is 10 weeks old and is the same as your little one remember it is a guide and every baby is different some need more sleep some need less if she's not being grumpy and crying  she is happy relax  and enjoy having this time with her  :lol:  nicola f

[chell]

Yep, I agree with all the other advice. Sounds overtired o/stimulated. Swaddle, get her in bed at or before the first yawn. at that age my lo couldn't stay up past 40mins.

[Matthew's Mommy]

Hi there..

Yep, look at the swaddling.  That helps the jolts.  The Aussie swaddle really helps with this (General Sleep Board Announcement).  I cut a bedsheet in half, since my little guy was too big by 10 weeks for a receiving blanket.

Overtiredness and overstimulation was mentioned.

Don't worry about the feed cycle length. Some babies have bigger stomachs and can go longer.. my little guy was on a 4 hour by 6 weeks, he just wasn't hungry at 3 hours. 

Let us know how it's going.. take care!

[scarletts mum]

Hi All

Well yesterday was a great day!  We had two two hour naps (she woke up after an hour but went back to sleep) and one 45 min nap before bedtime.  We went back to the Aussie swaddle and putting down at first yawn.. We are getting EASAEAS etc.. but as she is on 4 hourly I am not too concerned about that..

Today was a different matter..!!  Went to sleep woke up after 45 mins.. 30 mins pat shush and bribing with her dummy and then sleep for another 45 mins.. This afternoon she has slept for a total of an hour...!!! But by this time she was so overtired etc all I could do was stick to her normal routine and hope for the best!  I am guessing she is making up for being such an angel yesterday!!

I noticed that she is dribbling a lot and sucking her hand manically... so I felt her gums and they feel very hard.. wondering if its the onset of something I have been dreading!!  Plus she is coming up to the 3 month mark which I understand causes some sleep problems?

Ho hum.. tomorrow is another day... isnt it so cruel that you have a bad day after such a good one!!

thanks to you all for your advice.

Lizzie

[Kitsmom]

I am dealing with the same issue.  Mine is 13 weeks and napping only 20 minutes at a time.  He does not stay swaddled.  He used to love it.  Then he started to cry when put into it and fight it.  He is about 14 lbs and very strong.  Not even the miracle blanket or the aussie can keep him in.  I used a bed sheet also.

He also seems to have hard gums.  So, thinking of trying orajel to see if that helps. 

I have tried putting him down for naps after shorter awake periods.  I put him down after an hour - no help.  I tried 45 minutes.  Still didn't work.  I even tried 30 minutes.  That caused naps to be even shorter (10 minutes).  Could this be a phase?  Two days ago, he slept for 3 hours in the afternoon.  That was by far the longest nap he has had in a few weeks now.  But, the last few days he has been back to his 20 min or less naps.

His night sleep has been all over the place.  Sometimes he manages to sleep from about 7:30 to 5 or 6.   But sometimes he wakes anywhere between 1 and 3, eats 8 ounces then is difficult to get back to sleep.  When he gets back to sleep, it is usually only for a short time (an hour or hour and a half).

I am going insane.  I just keep hoping that it is something in that little brain of his that is developing and he is going to snap out of this in a few days.

[corrina01]

my lo is the same age, she is feeding every 3.5 hrs because she isn't interested at 3 hrs.  She was napping fine, but all of a sudden she is only napping 30 mins at most in the morning, for her midday nap she is sleeping somewhere between 20 mins to 45 mins at one go. I get her up at 2.00pm then feed her at 2.30pm. We have a little talk for 30 mins and then she goes to sleep for (at last) 1hr 10mins and then I talk to again, she goes up for her bath about 5.30pm and 6.15pm we have a feed and then I put her to bed she goes to sleep at 7pm we dont hear a peep out of her until 11pm, when she has a dream feed. I am up with her again at 4am to give her a feed again.

[scarletts mum]

I just dont know if its when they are approaching or around this three month period.  We have gone back to full swaddling with the Miracle blanket as opposed to Aussie swaddling, she is not hungry, and I know she is tired... she is getting put down at first yawn.. but STILL  the most we managed today is 30 mins...

I too am hoping her little brain will soon twig that its okay to sleep during the day...!!

The only way I can get her to sleep for longer is to put her in her pram in the garden and rock her to sleep that way... fine when its dry!!! 

Lizzie

[corrina01]

Today I have a dream baby (may it continue).  This morning we were up at 7am.  She went to sleep at 8.20am so I took her out for a walk in her pram until 9.45am and she slept the whole time bar 5 mins.  I fed her at 10.30am and she went sleep from 12pm and I am now going to wake her (2pm).  But I have read on the nap forum that by putting your hands on them at the 40min mark does the trick.  I tried that today and it works  hurrah.  Like I say I hope it continues.   

[Missy Norment]

Kitsmom-
My baby sounds identicle to yours!  3 1/2 months old, 20 minute naps.  He is on a 3 hour EASY and is also teething.  I cannot get him to take a long nap except in his swing!  I'm going crazy because I barely have enough time to eat and get dressed.

I tried putting him down at first yawn, but as soon as he knew it was time to nap, is wide awake and not the least bit interested.

Sleeps pretty well at night, usually getting up once.  I am wondering if it's a 3 month thing, a teething thing, or just my fault that I cannot train him properly.  I don't have the pu/pd thing going yet.  He gets hysterical if I do that and chokes because he cries so hard.  I am still rocking, marching him to sleep.  I've ordered a new hammock bed for him so waiting for that to arrive before I start training him to sleep on his own.

He sleeps in his CARSEAT because he has reflux.  God help me!!!!!  Does anyone else have this problem?  He also turns over during naps and agitates himself.

[Kitsmom]

I know what you mean about not being able to do anything.  I have a 19 month old also, so I never have me time.  It is a crazy house right now.  If I could just get him to nap. 

It could be teething.  I tried orajel (with docs okay).  It made him so mad. :roll:

It could be a reflux thing.  Mine had reflux also.  They do eat more during the day which may explain why they have a nap issue but sleep better at night.  I may try napping mine in the carseat - or starting up his meds again to see if this makes a difference. 

Yet, I can't help but think that it was triggered by the 3 month growth spurt.  Maybe he became more aware and is less interested in naps.  Whatever it is, I hope that it works itself out soon or my husband may check me into the funny farm. :lol:

[Missy Norment]

Kitsmom-
did you 19 month old grow out of the reflux and start sleeping better?  I'm wishing there is hope and that this doesn't last forever.  Any advice?

[Matthew's Mommy]

Let's look at how he is falling asleep.  Could you give us a rundown of how he falls asleep.. ie. wind down routine, does he use a soother, is he falling asleep in his bed, or is he falling asleep prior to and then being placed into the bed?  Also, what happens at the 20 min. mark? Does his eyes fling open or does he cry out?

Thanks,

[Missy Norment]

I wind him down with soft music, fan on for white noise, dark room, then I rock him to sleep on my chest because I haven't faced doing pd/pu yet.  He went hysterical when I tried it.

So it takes about 15 minutes to fall asleep, then at 20 minute mark yesterday and today I put my hand on his chest.  It worked.  Only slept until 40 minutes, then hand on the chest doesn't work.

I think now he only sighs at the 20 minute mark, but the 40 is my goal.  I tried pu/pd but then found out he had reflux so didn't know if cries were pain or agitation.

any thoughts?

[Kitsmom]

To answer your question:
My now 19 month old did have a rough start in life.  Probably had milk sensitivity and a bit of reflux.  But, it was not diagnosed.  Doctors called it colic.  The first 3 months were hell.  She never slept more than 20 min at a time during the day or for more than 45 at night before waking up crying until she was close to 3 months.

3 - 6 months was much better.  This is also the time that I weaned her off the breast and started giving her Nutramigen which may have helped with the milk allergy and reflux.She started sleeping through the night (4 months) - but still had nap issues.  At around 6 months she got better at napping and better mannered.  Now she is a delightful little girl at 19 months.  She naps about 2 hours a day and sleeps around 11 hours at night. 

So, yes - It always gets better.

Jon has the same milk allergy - but this time I pressed the issue and it was diagnosed.  He is on soy.  After putting him on soy, he did not need his Zantac anymore. He is a delight.  Except he does not nap!

Jon rolled over for the fist time yesterday.  Perhaps he has been resisting naps to work on this skill? 

I do a short wind-down routine.  Bring him in his room.  Say happy nap to the birds and the neighbors.  Give him a session with his binkie.  Put him down awake (but drowsy) with binkie and he falls to sleep.  This is all I can manage with my 19 month old running around.

He falls asleep easily.  And until today - he woke up crying.  Today he is chatting for a while before crying.

How is everyone else doing?

[Matthew's Mommy]

Missy,

Keep doing what you are doing to get passed the 20 min. mark.  When you have seemed to have conquered the 20 min. mark then I would start rocking him less to sleep, so instead of rocking him to sleep, just rock to calm him down, and when you see the drowsy look upon his face (eyes kinda staring, yawning) lie him down on the bed and keep your hands on him like you do to extend the 20 min. mark.  You can use your hand to shield his eyes from visual stim.  It may take a few naps to get into this new groove.. but I would start weaning the rocking to sleep sooner than later. 

Hope this helps,

[Missy Norment]

Jane,
Thanks!  I'm on the verge of insanity.  My husband told me to go to a hotel and he's going to "break the beast" for the next few days with this method.  I hope it works!!!!  We also just got him an amby bed for his reflux and used it last night for the first night.  When he moves around, it bounces him, so in essence, he's rocking himself to sleep.  I just put him down in it a few minutes ago awake and it took him 10 minutes of stirring before he fell asleep.  OMG!!!  Just slept past the 20 minute mark too, so now I'm going to check him at 30 minutes.  Hope this works!!!
Missy

[Kitsmom]

Well, time seems to be the cure.  Jon is doing much better.  Starting to sleep 30 or so minutes.  Since yesterday morning, he has had two 1 hour naps. 

Haven't changed a thing.  Just when I was about to start him on his meds again tomorrow, he seems to have broken through.  I am sure glad that I haven't been obsessing.  Hee Hee.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.