My son is 4 months old and for the most part is a great sleeper. He goes to bed between 8-9 pm (which is perfect since that's what time my older son goes to bed). He usually wakes up around 4 or 5 am, eats, then goes back to sleep until 7 or 8. The only problem is that during the day he only takes 30-60 minute cat naps. He takes about 3-4 of these a day. This is really not too big of a deal but it would make things much easier on me if he would combine those cat naps into 2 or 3 longer naps. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this? I have tried keeping him up longer before he goes down for his first nap but that just throws him off for the rest of the day and then he is cranky. I don't know if it's possible or if I should just let him stick to this routine but any suggestions on getting him to nap longer would be great. Thanks in advance!
I would say leave it as it is. It seems to be working pretty well and seeing that naps and lengths are really just phases, it'll pass and eventually become easier on you. Keep up the great work!
I let mine nap when she needed it. And used a sling to carry her if I had something I wanted to try to get done out and about.
A. H
My baby was born 6/25/08 and is recently doing the same thing! 30 minutes tops! I remember that my older son did that too...it just may be the way his body is right now. I know it did end up switching to longer naps later on, so i know it's not a permanent thing, although it is annoying, youknow!?
Contrary to what the common public will say, the actual doctors and scientists will tell you babies do NOT sleep when they "need" to sleep. They sleep in response to our schedules for them. They are babies, how do they know what they need?? The medical community will tell you that more sleep in one block is better for a baby, cognitively etc, and therefore there is no harm in training them, within reason. No one is suggesting harm to the child. Read On Becoming Babywise, it will help you learn about this training. It can be done. My son slept thru the night at 6 weeks and took 3 1.5hr naps, then 2 2hr naps during the day. He is almost one now and we are going down to one, but that is to be expected. Your pediatrician will also have good recommendations of books on sleep training; they are in favor of mom and baby getting some rest!
Hi Christine. This sounds like how my daughter was. I remember being frustrated with the fact that I couldn't get her on a good nap schedule. There was nothing I could do to get her on a 1 morning & 1 afternoon nap schedule...she just starting doing it when it worked for her. I believe she was about 4 1/2-5 months old when she finally did this. Good luck.
I always just let my daughter sleep when she was tired and let her set her own naptimes. During growth spurts she was like that - sleeping on & off all day in short spurts. Does he nap in his crib? You could try making sure he gets a full feeding then put him in his crib and make sure the room is darkened with a little background "noise" (we use a fan) so he's not disturbed. IDK if that will help, but it's worth a try! I'd say that rather than make him stay awake so he'll sleep longer later, try to get him to sleep longer the first time so he won't need a nap for longer. My daughter always wanted to go to sleep within 2-2 1/2 hours after waking up in the morning. Believe it or not, keeping babies up so they'll sleep longer later almost never works. Still to this day, if I make my daughter skip a nap it interferes with her nighttime sleep. It's like she gets so tired she can't sleep.
Good luck!
Hi Christine!
I read your message and think you have it pretty great right now! He's sleeping through the night and naps during the day! I'm sure it's tough on you to have to deal with the cat naps, especially since you've got a 3yr old running around. I'm pretty sure babies that age need the rest more frequently than older babies...at least that's how my son was. He did the cat nap thing then moved to 2 naps and now is trying to drop the afternoon nap (he's almost 1). Hopefully your little guy will move in the direction of longer naps as he gets older too :)
Sorry hon...but baby dictates when he needs sleep and how much. You can not force a baby to sleep when they do not need it. Babies are very basic people... they eat when they are hungry, they sleep when they are tired.
When my daughter was very young, she did the same. Once she became more mobile, naps became longer. I'm sure it will be the same for your son.
Every baby is different. Some kids are great sleepers, others are not.
I read more people frustrated at trying to change a childs behaviour so for your own sanity I suggest you adjust to cleaning and or napping or whatever in 30-60 minute bursts!
mI would assume that baby will change his schedule as he gets older and will on his own begin to combine naps. some babies never take many day naps anyway especially good night sleepers.
I don't mean to sound snippy, really I don't. But is the concern about your convenience or what's good for a 4 month old baby who doesn't quite yet understand about cooperating with mom's routine?
You chose to have a baby and that means you signed on for the entire package. His needs come before your convenience. You have to work your routine around him. You can't force a baby to take naps for you. You have a 3 year old so this really shouldn't be a surprise for you. Kids first.
Baby's sleep when they need to. HE must still need these naps, he is still young. HE will soon be taking only two naps a day and then not much longer after that he will be taking only one nap.
