Can we do a short napper check in?

[PeepersMom]

I came to this site what seems like years ago with this problem when it was just over a month ago but the problem had been going on for a month.  PJ is now over 5 months and has been taking 30 min naps for at least 2 months.  I have seen about 4 naps that go to 45 min and 1 nap go for 1.5 hours and he woke screaming from fatigue and I soothed him back to sleep for another hour for that one.  I can for usually 2 of the 3 naps a day get him to extend using various methods, but nothing ever works consistently.  Almost everything leads to a crying session.  If I pick him up and get him back to sleep that usually means I have ruined what little progress I made for that week.  But usually about once a week he throws such a tantrum that I can't possibly not pick him up. 

I am wondering if I am just driving myself and him nuts.  But he is such a happier boy when he does get a good nap in - even if he wakes at the 30 min point.  He is almost always awake for at least 20 min sometimes 45 and occasionally an hour.  Sometimes he just never goes back to sleep.  But when he does we have a good couple hours of awake time to follow.  With this type of nap there is never a schedule.  But I do try to aim for a 4 hour easy.

I have posted ad nauseum about this and I always think I know what I am going to do 'next nap' but I never have any progress.  I would probably be happy at this point if they would just at least get to 45 minutes.  It is so exhausting and nauseating and depressing.  And he cries so freaking much.  I know everyone here thinks it is developmental but that doesn't seem to help me very much.  He still isn't napping. :cry:

So all in all naps are not going well. :roll:

Anyone else??

[Mom2katiebug]

DD started these d@mn short naps at 8WO - a little over 2 weeks ago.  Haven't battled as long as you, but I feel like I'm going completely insane over it.  Went through the "I-can-fix-this" stage, then the "just-go-with-the-cranky-baby" stage and now I think I'm at the "I-don't-care-if-it's-accidental-parenting-she-needs-a-long-nap" stage.  If it's truly developmental and she won't grow out of it until she 5+ months old, I'm sure I'll have to be committed! I've had no success extending any naps using Wake To Sleep.  Not often, but sometimes I have been able to get her a "second" nap by getting her up, changing a diaper or other activity for about 10 minutes and then winddown and back to nap.

Why does it seem so easy reading the books?  I've been doing some reading on naps and Tracy says to to PU/PD (am assuming pat/shh for younger LOs) to help them learn to get to the next sleep cycle.  She says to do it until the next feed if you have to.  Really?!?  Has anyone had success with this?

[FreddieEden]

Poor you, Meg.  DS is doing OK at the moment but I know how frustrating it can be and I really feel for you.  You are doing a great job.  I read the books which are full of testimonials from people who have turned everything round in 2 or 3 days and think real life isn't like that.  I  know there is something in the Weissbluth book about a parent of a terrible sleeper who let his son cry it out and the next day he just fell asleep on the playmat.  Yeah right, my DS would never fall asleep on his playmat unless he was drugged!  For what it's worth, I have two friends who were parents of 30 minute nappers (one took 3 30 minute naps a day and the other took 2).  They were neither of them consistent about getting the children to sleep in their beds and they held them or took them in the buggy to get to sleep.  Both of those kids started taking long naps when they started walking.  As you are being way more consistent, then I'm sure it will happen sooner for you.  But either way, I know you will not be the parent of an eighteen month old who can't take a long nap in the afternoon.  It seems like ages now but you will look back on this as an annoying phase.  I know what you mean about them being so much better for the longer naps but some days you just have to decide whether you would rather be stressed by a grumpy baby than by working endlessly on the naps.

Good luck and hang on in there.
Freddie

[Colesmom]

hi there,

Just wanted to come on and give you some big cyber (((hugs))).  Not sure whether that helps, but I found when I was in your shoes that it helped to know others were experiencing the same thing or had in the past (like myself).

I only started BW at 4.5 months.  And it was a rough few weeks I tell you.  I had previously held my DS to sleep for all naps and bed, he had a paci, woke several times a night for a feed etc.  All I knew were short naps so I guess I never went through what some people like you are where you miss the good long naps.  I remember one two hour nap when he was just over 2 months old.  Other than that when he was young they were typically 45 min.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know you're not alone and it will get better.

[Mia & Scarlett's Mummy]

Meg

Just wanted to say I've been where you are now and it was truly depressing and distressing for me (and my dd).

I can only speak for myself but I wish I'd never bothered trying to extend her naps as it never worked and just distressed us both even more.  When she 45 minute napped she was cranky but just not cranky enough to go to a second sleep cycle so I had a wingey, unhappy baby on my hands who cried for most of the day.  But now it's like she's a different baby.

With my dd who is a spirited little soul as soon as she masters a new skill, like rolling over, grabbing her toys or managing to extend her awake time independantly longer naps seem to follow as a matter of course which to me makes perfect sense as she needs that extra sleep time to do all that sorting out stuff in her head.

I know my daughter and although I had to wake her up from a 2.5hour nap today I know sometime in the not too distant future she'll be 45minute napping again until she has a new milestone to get over.  I think it's part and parcel of having a baby.  Or at least a certain type of baby.

Sorry I can't offer any practical advice but I wanted to reply as I really identified with your post.  I know it's probably no consolation but it will get better I promise - just read a few of my posts from a couple of months back, I used to be ripping my hair out.

HTH !!

[PeepersMom]

Thanks everyone for the support.  Sadly when I came here there were a lot more of us checking in.  I guess most have graduated.  I need to pull out the BW book and see what type of baby I have.  I never really could decide.  Maybe now I can. 

I fell so sad for him not being able to sleep because he is the sweetest little guy who's favorite thing isn't a toy, or a bouncy seat, or a car ride.  He loves his Mommy and Daddy and to smile most of all.  So when he is cranky and so tired he cries it just kills me. :cry:

I hate the short nap monster. :twisted:   I wish it would leave my sweet son alone. :x

(Can you tell we've already had one bad nap for the day and he's down again now so I am just waiting for my wake up call.)

[Mom2katiebug]

Meg12 - Another mom who's LO conquered the short nap monster said they struggled with about 4 weeks of short naps and then her DS started lengthening some naps without a pattern.  After about 2 weeks of short naps with erratic long ones, he seems to have settle in with mostly longer naps.  I know she's still struggling a bit with the transition between cycles, but I think she's having more success.