Length of Naps

[Mom to M&M]

Just wondering how long naps your 2-3 month olds take... My DD (almost 10 weeks) is on 4-hour routine (due to cereal in bottle for reflux) and takes two naps of 2-2.5 hours (one more peaceful than other) and one evening nap that tends to be shorter - one hour if we are lucky. Is it normal for the evening catnap to be restless and a tough one?

[dkjokisch]

Yes, and that's fine.  It's just supposed to be a quick rest to get them through until bedtime.

[Mom to M&M]

It doesn't always seem to be enough though - she's cranky often at bedtime - can't get her changed fast enough sometimes to get her into crib before she melts down - and I have to keep her upright for at least 20 minutes after meal due to reflux! So I'm always looking for a way to get that last night a bit longer or more restful.

Why is this nap so hard for so many lo's?

[dkjokisch]

What is the last interval of her day like?  When does she wake from her second nap, when is the catnap, and when is bedtime?

Dd used to get her catnap in the soft carrier while we took an evening walk.  I can't remember exactly, but I would guess until she was about 5mos old.

[Mom to M&M]

Hi again. I wake her from her middle nap at 3:30 and she is showing tired signs around 4:45 or so. She will usually drift off around 5 but then wakes up and falls back asleep fitfully until 6:15 or so and then I calm her in swing or in bath until dinner at 6:45 or 7 (this is the one that doesn't follow 4 hours but instead 3 to 3.5 at most). She has the bottle by 7 (usually around 6:50) and bedtime is about 7:45 or so (she is almost always asleep by .

I've tried doing the stroller for the catnap (she loves the car seat/stroller for the morning nap, crib for middle nap). Should I try to Baby Bjorn instead? She is getting pretty heavy and it tends to hurt my back if I wear her that way for too long!

[dkjokisch]

At 2-3mos, 1hr-15min of awake time sounds about right.  Have you tried simply moving her last bottle and bedtime up by 15-20 minutes?  That would put the awake time at 1hr-15min.  We've always had a shorter interval at the end of the day.

As for catnapping in the Baby Bjorn, we were fortunate that dd is kind of scrawny (she's 9mos and only 15lbs).  You need to do what works for you.  We started it when dd was maybe 5-6wks (as soon as she was big enough to ride in the carrier).  She was a horrible napper, and by getting a catnap in her in the early evening, she wasn't so overtired at bedtime.

I guess my point is that it's not critical that the catnap be a crib nap.  It will be the first nap you drop.  However, if you get 1hr-15min in the crib, however fitfully, I'd be inclined to move up bedtime a bit before messing with the nap.

[Mom to M&M]

Thx again Deborah. Basically, the catnap is never in her crib already. It's either in her swing or her car seat/stroller. For example, this was her schedule today:

- Wake 7:15
- Eat 7:30
- Activity until 8:45
- Nap (in car seat/stroller while I was running errands, then stayed in there when we got home) from 9-11:20 (I had to wake her)

- Eat 11:30
- Activity until 12:45
- Nap from 1-3:30 (again, I had to wake her)

- Eat 3:40
- Activity until 4:45
- Nap in car seat/stroller while out for a walk from 5-5:45. Woke up and then slept very fitfully until 6:30 (little bits of sleep interspersed with fussing)
- Short bath at 6:30
- Dinner at 7
- Bedtime at 7:40 (she was fussing to fall asleep earlier but had to stay upright)

We don't do DF - am guessing she will wake sometime between 1:30-3:30 (each night varies) to eat.

I actually prefer that only one nap a day be in her crib - or at most two. I want her to be able to sleep other places as well.

She's 10 weeks Thursday and already 13 pounds - my little butterball!

She did seem extra tired today. She had a crazy busy day Sunday (family outing) and missed part of a nap that day and her reflux was bothering her yesterday - so maybe she's just trying to catch up?

Also, if she sometimes is yawning right after getting up from a nap (after being up for only like 10-15 minutes) does that mean she is still tired and should be sleeping longer or is it possibly just waking from the nap?

Should I be adjusting anything? I don't want to make her bedtime too much earlier - especially since the clocks turn back soon!

[dkjokisch]

I know alot of moms who would kill for that schedule, myself included.  Some kids just need more sleep.  I would, however, continue to wake her after 2.5hrs of naptime.  I'd be afraid you'll start losing night sleep over time, and it'll be hard to maintain the four-hour routine if she naps much longer.

If you don't want to put her down for the night any earlier, I think things are fine the way they are.  Keep up the good work.

[Mom to M&M]

Thx. Believe me, I'm not complaining about the schedule - I think it and she are amazing! However, just trying to figure out the catnap issue as best as possible. Why is it that this is such a fitful/restless sleep for most lo's?

Will keep it up in any case!

[Mom to M&M]

Having a bit of a rough day. We've been having some feeding problems as of late and it sometimes now takes so long to eat and diaper change that she is exhausted and cranky shortly thereafter - and sooner than normal. For example, she woke up at 11:10 and ate at 11:15 - but was fussing and pooping in the middle of bottle so by the time we finished it was almost 12 (usually only takes 20 minutes). and started yawning shortly thereafter and now is struggling to fall asleep in crib (sucking fingers/hand, mantra cry, etc). If she does manage to fall asleep by 12:30 and stay asleep, should I let her sleep until next bottle - which would be 3:15 (and 2:45 nap)?

[dkjokisch]

I would, especially if you think she's trying to catch up on her sleep.

[Mom to M&M]

It was a pretty restless sleep for a while so I'll definitely let her go until 3:15 or even 3:30 maybe...

[Mom to M&M]

Bad couple of reflux days... Lately, DD will only take catnap of 20-30 minutes if lucky. Seems really tired still after that and fussy (yawning, moving head back and forth, tired soft "cry")- but only wants to sit in bouncer and smile at us or sometimes take bath (although she then freaks when getting changed after bath). I'm sure she must be overtired at this point but do I do?!