Does limiting naps to 2 hours each really work???

[mixtim]

I've enforced the no naps longer than 2 hours rule in BW book (I think it's discussed during the Robbing Peter to Pay Paul section) since my LO was practically born (she's now 4.5 months) and she still wakes up 50% of nights.  I'm starting to wonder if the rule really works or if I should just let her nap longer when she wants to.  I think I'm just afraid if I let her sleep longer it will foul up the rest of our routine for the day and/or she will sleep the day away.

Any thoughts?

[estherofi20]

i do believe it works, even now that my DS is 7MO, i read that he should be napping 3hrs, total, so i have been limiting his nap to 2hr in the mornings and 1hr in the afternoon, and guess what, he goes to bed at 7-7:20 and NO PEEP from him until 6:50-7am!!!!

[Kimberly®]

It does work but at 4.5 months its not unuasual for your LO to wake at night. Keep at it and when she'll start to sleep longer and eventually through.

Remember to an infent anything over 6 hours, or 1 missed feed, is considered sleeping through.

HTH

[mixtim]

Thanks for the reassurance guys.  It's good to know from those with experience that my work on that end won't be for nothing!

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

oh yes, I think it is great rule as we have been down the night/day switching. Oh boy was that hard to break! When Gage first started sleeping on his own he started taking long naps. I didnt want to ruin a good thing, and he ended up sleeping WAY too much. As a result he was up almost all night. With that said, I do let Gage sleep extra long if his first nap was a bomb (20min or less) as he only has 2 naps per day, but that is a rare. But I prefer an earlier bedtime.