Nap Suggestions for 3.5 Month Old

while you're trying to figure out this schedule. keep in mind that it is likely that in about a 1-2 weeks or so..your child will be 4 months and experience a common a growth spurt at that age... in which he will not nap much but be hungry often.

i suggest that if this happens, you feed him as much as he needs, as often as he wants (probably whenever he's awake) and don't make any drastic changes to his schedule...keep it as consistent as you are able to...

he should fall back to the original schedule soon enough.

You could trying slinging him while you're at home during that "fussy" 3:30-7pm time. I found I was able to do most things around the house with the baby in a sling, especially those pocket slings that you can slide around so the baby is on your back. Then the baby tends to be calm and possibly doze in and out of sleep.

Once he's holding up his head well (around 5 months usually), you can get one of those Ergo baby carriers. That thing was an absolute lifesaver for me, whether for using at home while I bustled around getting stuff done, or out and about - I used it at least 10 times as often as a stroller! (And you can use it until they're 35 pounds!)

Oh, and learn from my mistake - NEVER try to cut onions with a baby in a carrier. Just about any other household chore is possible, though.

What time does he wake up? 5-6:00 am? Is there any way grandmother can get him down for nap at 12:00? That way he can be awake by 2:00 and YOU can give him his snack in the car, pick up brother, let them play, have dinner and bed by 7:00 for the littlest one..

Why does he wake up when you get home? Is he excited about seeing his brother? I remember my four sons remaining sleep at 3.5 months old as I took them out of the car. Even if they woke up from me moving them, I comforted them, laid their head down on my shoulder and immediately laid them down when I got in the house; and told the other kids to be quiet. Is there anyway when you get home you can put him in a quiet room to let him finish sleeping? Would you prefer he napped until 5:30 or what will happen if on those days you fed him and put him down at 5:30? And then what would be the ideal time for him to go to bed for the night? And what is his schedule the other days of the week, if this is only a one day a week event? I ask all these questions hoping you will be able to find the ideal solution as you answer them. But if this is the only day he has a messed up scheduled, don't be hard on yourself. If he is at his grandmothers by 7/8am he should have had a good nap or two by the time you pick him by 2:30. The only other question: is grandmother's house out of the way if you pick your son up from school 1st before picking the baby up? This will also give the oldest son opportunity to see grandmother once a week. This arrangement may mean that yor meal selection will have to be light becasue you arrive home later, but overall it is not the worst situation. We can't make life so easy for our children that they expect it from the world. Life has some chaotic days. Just comfort him as much as you can without over doing it. He willeventually adjust tothose days. An Essential Practical to Family Living is available on www.destroyingyokes.com

I find with my babies the trick is to figure out the feeding schedule and everything else falls better in place.

Does he nap after feeding? When is he napping at g'mas? Does he have too much stimullation in the am?
You can do things like wake him up in the morning if he's sleeping too much for a diaper change and/or feeding. You could also too - feed him right before you pick him up; will he fall asleep in the car? then bring him in keeping him in the pumpkin seat for his nap.

Good luck.