4 Month Old Doesn't Nap

Agree with Susan's insight...there are lots of stuff that could be contributing to the waking. My son's used to startle awake during growth spurts and I would just have to soothe him back to sleep, usually with rocking or breastfeeding.

Check out the link Susan posted!

Here's a link:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

A baby this age usually naps 2-3 times a day.
A baby not sleeping well, can be due to many reasons, even just new development, which happens each month.

1) at 3 months old, they have a growth spurt...in which their intake needs INCREASES, and feeding increases as well. IS your son, getting enough intake daily? If not, this is one reason they cannot sleep well... because their intake is NOT keeping pace with their growth/weight gain and they will then basically always be hungry.
So, make sure he is getting fed on demand, at proper intake amounts, and has a full tummy. MANY babies will simply not sleep well, because they are not getting enough calories for their system, which is growing quickly.

2) Is he ill or getting sick? This is another reason a baby cannot sleep.

3) Are you always on the go with him, or do you allow him to nap at home in the same place (ie: his crib), or since he may be on the go all the time at his sleepy-times... he CANNOT get a SOLID rested nap for it's full length. ie: some babies CANNOT get a LONG solid nap/deep sleep, because they are in a stroller or on the go. My kids, would never get a good normal solid nap, if I was out with them... they were not "portable" nappers... but would ONLY nap well, AND REGULARLY if they were home in their crib. So at their nap times, I ALWAYS was home.
The thing is, as a baby grows each month, their "needs" changes too, INCLUDING sleep patterns and needs. Some babies, just need to be put to nap regularly in a place that is not transient... you need to cue into their environment too, for napping. ie: as an adult, could YOU nap/sleep WELL and SOLIDLY for it's full length, if someone were wheeling you around amidst a mall or on the go for errands? Same for a baby... you provide them with a suitable sleep environment... so that they can sleep well and solidly and for a proper amount of time undisturbed

4) His "napping" for ONLY 30 minutes, is NOT a "nap." It is reflecting that he goes to sleep... but then his sleep is interrupted or disturbed and his REM deep sleep patterns are not being let happen and thus, he wakes up. Some kids may SEEM to be able to sleep anywhere... BUT THEIR "QUALITY" OF SLEEP is not good... so, you may need to reassess "how" and "where" you put him to nap... I personally, would consistently only put him to nap at home, in his crib (or with you)... therefore providing him with a static place for sleep... that is undisturbed. IN THE LONG RUN....this will also form a consistent nap pattern in him. And when he gets older, he will learn that naps happen at the same time and same place... because it will "cue" him about that.
He is too young for any "sleep training" BUT, by providing him with a consistent place/time for naps... it really helps a baby/child.

5) Don't wait until he is "over-tired" before putting him to nap. An over-tired baby/child actually CANNOT sleep well and they will wake more. So, know his tired cues, and put him to nap then. After waking, a baby typically gets tired after about 2-3 hours of "awake" time. So this is how you can gauge it.

6) a baby's need for naps is important... it contributes to their immune system, their development, their brain development, and for restoring their body. So, you baby is not really napping... only 30 minutes.

Or, some babies start teething early.

I don't know if you are breastfeeding or not... but, Is your baby a good feeder? Does he latch on properly? Is your breastmilk production ample enough? If "no" to any of these questions, I doubt he is getting enough intake. MANY times a baby also "cluster-feeds" meaning they NEED to feed even every hour, especially at growth-spurt periods.

7) Per his age... I suspect he is at a growth spurt time... and when a baby changes developmentally this ALSO causes them to have a hard time sleeping... but it will pass. Because, they are in transition developmentally and growing.

8) ALso, some babies cannot sleep/nap if they are over-stimulated prior, and not allowed to wind-down first... we need to help them nap/sleep by making the atmosphere calm first and have a routine of it.

If anything, ask your Pediatrician.
BUT, keep in mind that a baby and child's sleep-patterns are NOT static, it ALWAYS changes per their growth and changing needs. Even whenever they hit "milestones" a baby will often get a kink in their ability to sleep/nap.

Just some ideas,
all the best,
Susan

My son did the same thing around that time, he is now 9 months old. Babies just do things sometimes, could be teething, growth spurt, or he just needs a different amount of sleep, and his body is adjusting. Even now, sometimes my son gets 2 naps of 30 minutes during the day, and sometimes he will get a 2 hour nap, and then sleep for another hour later. This doesn't really affect his night time sleep, that's normally the same. I think their bodies know what they need, and are trying to give it to them, and sometimes it changes, even from day to day.

One other thing, when my son was that young and would wake up after a short time, I would get him up, but if he still seemed tired, I would put him back down. That helped a lot, since sometimes he would need more sleep, and could go back to sleep after just 30 minutes of being awake. If I didn't put him back down when he was tired like that, he would be really fussy, then and/or later.

lots of good advice...one thing to try, if you haven't, is a sling....one of my girls only slept in 30 minutes intervals, between nursings & nothing would work, swing, bed, stroller, car seat (after driving around! What a waste of gas!!) I would try just holding her, but if I took a deep breath, dang, she would wake up!! She did it at night, too!! Anyway, I bought a 2nd hand sling & started carrying her in it & she would sleep longer & I could move again. She got to the point of being so comfortable in it that I could lay her down on the bed--still in the sling, use it for a cover & she would stay asleep for a couple of hours. Around this age, most babies start switching their sleep schedule to 1 longer nap in the am & 1 even longer nap in the pm...if you can let them. Sometimes you just have to be home to let them sleep. Inconvenient, but it doesn't last long! About the time you think you have it dialed in, their needs change!!

She got so used to the sling that I used it when she was awake, too...she loved to stand, facing out & help "push" the shopping cart or just watch the world, me cook, do dishes, it was sort of a secure place to be, I think. Good Luck!!

Hi L.,
I don't have any advice, I just want to share with you that my son was the same way!! We use to call him King of the 30 minute nap! And it was 30 minutes to the minute! Not 29 and not 31. Exactly 30. I was very worried too and occasionally the naps were longer, but for the most 30 minutes only. Eventually they got longer as he got to be a toddler and was moving around so much more. He is now 4 1/2 years old, sleeps 10 hours at night and is as smart as can be!

Hang in there!
J.

Hi L., I am a Sleep Consultant and Parenting Coach. Your son is waking after 30 minutes because that is when he is coming into a light sleep cycle and instead of just going back to sleep as he should he is waking up fully. Without you even saying, I bet you are helping him get to sleep by either nursing, rocking, walking, bouncing or using some other sleep aid. When he comes into a light sleep he doesn't know how to soothe himself back to sleep because he has never been allowed to learn. He needs you to constantly help him back to sleep. He is going to have to learn some self-soothing skills in order to become the good napper that he can be. Start trying to put him to bed awake and when he wakes tell him that it is still nap time and to go back to sleep, and then go out. It will only take a day or two to notice a huge improvement,
best wishes,
K. Smith
www.theindependentchild.com

My 4.5 does the same thing. All day he takes a lot of 30 minutes naps. My doc said it was ok. How much sleep dies your little one get a night? I have read they need to get between 14-16 hours right now. I guess it doesn't matter when just as long as they get it. Guess they might just be good power nappers. I was concerned about this but I have seen many posts from other moms that are in the same boat.

You may want to try Verbena from L'Occitane, it is such a wonderful linen mist. It is very relaxing. Also, Whole Foods has lavender essence which you can mix in distilled water to create your own mist. You may also want to have your child try chamomile tea.

Be well.

N.

i remember those days..and my son would not nap in a swing...well only on thursdays..weirdest thing but he would nap in one on thursdays..
it's normal..u just have to try to get him to sleep more..my best advice for moms that have babies is to have one of those electric cribs that rock..
your son is too old now for that ..what i did was i would stand out on the porch and push my son back & forth in his stroller facing him towards the wall til he fell asleep then i would wheel him into the bedroom..
i have his room blacked out w/ a sound machine going..
i would get about 1.5 out of him when i did that.
it's tough..keep trying...u have to be creative

He may be teething and is having a hard time napping. My daughter got her first tooth at 4 months. The natural remedy Baby Bliss really helps her sleep during teething periods and everyone I have recommended it to has spoken wonders. You can buy it at any drug store.
Good luck.

4 month old? believe me, he's going through a growth spurt. VERY COMMON at 4 months. he is hungry that's why he hasn't been napping long. feed him more and as often as he needs, but try still to maintain a schedule. and he should settle right back down to your schedule like before.

i have 2 kids and both did the same thing. i think other moms may tell you the same.

and also, at about 4 months, my kids began to transition to a 4-hour schedule - meaning eating & sleeping every 4 hours. so right now, you can feed him as much as needed, while slowly transitioning him to a 4-hour schedule..

at 4 months, sometimes babies are in between stages of being able to stay awake longer and go longer w/o food, but not quite able to go the full 4-hours... So you can try pushing his sleep schedule little by little until he sleeps every 4 hours. I did this with my kids.

again,. 4 hours meaning: breakfast, lunch, dinner and nightime bottle (i.e. 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm., depends on when his first wake time is). And in between those hours are naptime (i.e. 10am, 2pm., 6pm. then..8pm.-night bottle & down for bed).

i hope this helps.