45 mins naps are driving me mad! please help!!

[nattyc]

my 8 1/2 month old lo has always been a short napper but i thought as he got older his naps would lengthen, i was wrong!
hes generally having 45 mins 3 to 4 times a day, and each nap is a battle even though hes obviously tired. I feel im spending my whole day trying to get him to sleep, all for 45 mins, and hes always tired still after, rubbing eyes, grumpy and yawning etc.  im finding im getting frustrated as ive no time to get anything done.
I have tried pu/pd but as soon as he gets wind im there his eyes ping open and he wants to play. im at my wits end.
his routine currently is;
wake 6-6.30am bottle
usually goes back down for 45 mins about 7.30am then breakfast.
he appears tired again by 10am but then the fun starts!
if i can get him to nap its 45 mins but often i end up having to get him up for lunch at 11am as hes still not asleep.
so lunch at 11am then nap if he hasnt previously.
if he has napped he will go back down about 2ish
bottle at 3pm
maybe another nap after
dinner at 4.30-5pm
6.30pm bath, bottle bed for 7pm.
ive tried extending his wake periods but this doesnt seem to make any differance, it just makes him even more tired and grumpy.
please help!!!
thanks

[owensmommy]

My ds is only 14 weeks but we struggle with 45 minute naps too.  I found that changing his sleeping environment has helped a lot.  I moved anything that could catch his attention away from the crib (e.g. mobile, wall hangings) and we keep the room very dark.  I have seen some moms advise hanging blackout fabric over the window to reduce light - we just keep the blinds drawn all day.  I have to be very conscious to not make eye contact with ds while he's falling asleep and the dark room helps him to not see me as easily.  If your lo side sleeps you could try facing him away from you so he can't see you. 

[nattyc]

thanks
il try extending his activity time and see how that goes.
his room is quite dark, we have a black out blind but it does'nt make it as dark as id like! i must try avoiding eye contact too!
hes getting over a cold as well so thats not helping much either at the mo! i cant get him to eat really so thats causing lots of night wakings.
in fact, i will wait til he is fully over his cold before extending his wake times.
thanks

[jacksmomns]

9 week old and struggling with short naps-i just spent 45 min pat/sshhing to get back to sleep but no result-will go for another round after i vent my frustrations. couldn't find the other thread i was writing in.  tried w2s but he just woke up.  I too feel like all i do is focus on naps and no time for anything else.  help me, i feel like i'm going nuts with this.  will his naps ever extend?  aaahhhh      Hilary

[wfabby]

I have been working on extending my 8 mo ds naps.  He was taking 30-45 minute naps.  I was given the advice to increase A time and drop the catnap he was taking in the evening.

I also began w2s last week.

We have seen GREAT improvement in his naps. You can't increase A time too fast or it works against you.  15 minutes at a time.

For w2s, I would go in at the 30 minute mark exactly, just stroke a cheek or arm lightly and place a hand on his body firmly and lightly "bounce" the crib mattress. You have to stay there past the 45 minute mark to assure he goes back to sleep.  Lack of eye contact is key also.  I would then go in again at the next 30 minute mark and start again until the nap was 1 1/2 hours or so.

For two days now, he has slept with no intervention from me for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Not quite the 1 1/2 I want, but we are getting there!

[jacksmomns]

increase A time in 15 min intervals, just one a day? like morning A time only for a few days-or all A times? how do you do it?  thanks Hilary

[wfabby]

Like with me, my ds had no trouble increase his afternoon A time from 2 or 2 1/2 hours right to a 3 hour A time, but mornings are a bear.  I am struggling extending A time 10 minutes!  If I go to long, getting him down to sleep becomes a challenge all over again.

You really need to pay close attention to your baby to see what he can tolerate.

[jacksmomns]

thanks ladies! Feels like there is hope when i get replies! Not sure if i even need to extend A time right now at 91/2 weeks, but might try to see if its the nap culprit-although i think it may be trouble transitioning.    Hilary