*sob*

[brightside]

Shimmer: I just want to give you a big HUG! You are a great mum and don't forget it! My DS is also a 45 minute napper although occasionally he will have a long one but only one in the day and it usually throws everything out of whack!  I battled with w2s and camping out in the nursery and in the end decided to just go with the flow and wait for things to get better at around 6 months-hoping it does actually happen!  When he woke from a 45 minute nap and I couldn't get him back to sleep after a while (20mins) I gave up. If he got really fussy I used to go out with him-either for a walk in the stroller or in the car and then walk round the shops. This way, he might, if I was lucky fall asleep or at least if he was awake he wasn't fussing. I found it so hard to be at home with him when he was like that because nothing would pacify him. He was quite happy to be pushed around in the pram (stroller) though and it also gave me a break too. One tip though, don't do a long journey in the car because there is nothing worse than trying to drive with a screaming baby. Sometimes though, he would fall asleep in the car-bliss! I know walking and driving are considered props and I'm not suggesting that you do this all the time to get her to sleep, its just good to get out sometimes and have a break. My DS actually took his first long nap for weeks in the car seat and after doing that a few times, he did it on his own in the cot. I think he'd just forgotten how to do it. Things are now much better with him. He still has 45 minute naps but he's now quite good with them and a lot less fussy. In fact sometimes, I actually prefer him to have a 45 minute nap! Never thought I'd say that! Hang in there-it will get easier and in the meantime do whatever you can to keep yourself sane. 

[leahbeth]

HI Shimmer!

I couldn't agree more with Kate and Cath! You need to do what works for you  to keep you sane.

During my current battle with the nap monster, if wake to sleep doesn't work and she wakes at the 35 min. mark, I don't do pu/pd anymore. It just didn't work to extend her naps. It was too stressful and it never worked once in 2 weeks. Now, I do what ever I need to get her to sleep longer. If this includes rocking or taking a stroller walk I do. I feel that I'm teaching her to fall asleep on her own for the beginning of the nap and that's all I can manage at this point. Extending the naps was driving me crazy. Like you, I was dreading nap time and felt my entire day with her centered around naps and the clock. It was too upsetting. In the end, a well rested baby is a happy one.And a happy baby is a happy me. As mentioned earlier, the time will fly by and I'm not going to spend it crying in the nursery either!

There will be a time that she won't want to cuddle on me to sleep and that she will be to heavy to rock. I will enjoy this time and I know you will too.
Big hugs to you. Reading your posts and the advice and support other moms are giving has given me a new, more positive,  perspective as well. Thank you!
Leah

[leahbeth]

Me again,

I wanted to show you the 3 1/2 hour EASY I am trying.

E - 7 am
A
S - 9:00 - 10:30

E - 10:30
A
S - 12:30 - 2:00

E - 2:00
A
S - 4:00-5:30

E - 5:30
A - bath at 7:00
E - 7:30
S- right after last feed

I've added an extra E before bed and the last nap doesn't usually last 1 1/2 hours. We will then go for a walk after the 5:30 feed for a short 20min catnap if that's the case. Or, we bump every down a half hour and she will bath at 6:30 and bed at 7:00. My Lo  is getting better at staying up for 2 hours but for the last half an hour I walk around the house with her in a carrier doing odds and ends. This really calms her before I give her a little rock and lay her down!

 ;)Leah