3.5 Month Old Not Sleeping Enough

Have you tried wearing him in a sling during the day? I found that my first daughter didn't do long naps alone but in a sling she would stay down longer and would sleep more often.

The movement and warmth and comfort of being closer to you can really help to soothe and calm your baby.

If you need a break from a sling-- sometimes the swings can help.

I didn't find that any kind of "schedule" worked for us. I found that responding to their cues worked better and for my kids-- those cues would come at different times on different days

Hi Melissa -

Just wanted to let you know that I'm in a similar situation. Our little girl is 14 weeks and her sleep habits are very similar, but not as restless at night. I'd also echo the suggestion to swaddle. We still swaddle our daughter and she definitely sleeps in longer stretches at night and stays where we put her.

Her naps are also very short. I'm in a new moms group and this seems to be a common theme, so I think it takes longer for naps to organize themselves. I'm trying to keep with her nap routine and just hope that the naps start to stretch longer and longer. I had been rocking and sleeping with her to help her nap longer, but now that I'm back at work, that's not possible.

We're also avoiding CIO - I've heard you should wait until 4 months. If we're still in the same boat at her 4 month appointment, we'll discuss it with her pedi. I wouldn't want to do it without discussing it with a doctor at any rate.

Sorry it isn't more helpful - but thought it might be comforting to know that there are others in the same boat - it may just be where he is developmentally.....

Same advice I give everyone on sleep...swaddle him up tight and see if that helps! Good luck!

My 5 month old is doing the same thing. He sleeps pretty good at night only because he is in our bed, but barely sleeps during the day. I have been meaning to read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weisbluth, but with the 5 month old and a 3 year old running around, I haven't gotten around to it. What they say though, is that the reason for all the cat naps is because they are overtired. We try to let him cry for 5 or so minutes. If he isn't asleep by then, we get him. I'm not ready to let him CIO any longer than that.

Try a sound machine, pitch black room and temp between 66-68 degrees. My friend swears by it, she did it with both of her kids. My sound machine is on the way so I don't know if it works just yet. Also, you can try The Baby Sleep Book by Dr. Sears for some other suggestions. My guy is not the best sleeper either and I am also not a cry it out believer. I have been able to get him to nap around specific times though, to be on somewhat of a same "schedule" as my 22 month old but I had to do whatever it took consistently, mostly napping with him and nursing him anytime he woke during the desired times. Anyway, hang in there!