So Long Are the 3 Hour Naps...

my son never took more than a 45 minute nap or slept longer than 4 hours at night until he started crawling. Once he became mobile his sleeping greatly increased. Once he started walking he started sleeping even longer. If I had realized this I may have tried to exercise some sleep into his life earlier. He is my only child and I have trouble sleeping so I just assumed he would too. But I think he just had extra energy the wasn't using. I only breastfed him till he was about 8 months old also. Good Luck. I don't wish a sleepless child on any one!!!

WOW...I am going through the same situation. I have a 4 month old baby and a four year old. This situation happended with my oldest as well. Naps are never really over. My four year old still takes her naps. Your just going to have to enforce it when your baby gets older. Now for my little one, she takes her 20-30 minute naps as well. I know its hard, you want them to take the naps so you can get things done around the house. My advice, is keep the baby occupied. I put my little one in her swing, bouncer, or play pin with toys. I know most moms won't do this but it works for me, while i have her playing, I put on cartoons, usually dora or elmo works, and it keeps her happy. but sometimes, they just want mommy. my little one just wants to play with me. so enjoy your times with your five month old, play peek a boo, or sing to the baby. They grow fast, and before you know, your child is talking back to you. so good luck and let me know what you came up with.

maybe since your baby goes to sleep so late at night then gets up late in the day.. This could be a problem? Its ok that she is taking those power naps.. just means maybe u can put her to bed a little earlier than what she is used to...

Your 3 hour naps are probably history, sorry to say.
I would strongly suggest you getting her to bed at a more reasonable hour too. Midnight is so late for a little one. If you get her in the routine of this now, it will be much harder to break her of it when she starts school and has to be up at 7 am to get ready.
just my 2 cents. :)

Wow your a tough mommy, pumping killed me. Its been my experience with my son & daughter that you cant really tell if the long naps are gone for good. My son did the same thing but when he got a little older he went back to long naps. Of course hes almost 4 now and although he needs a nap he refuses altogether. What really counts is what works for your baby and your family.

Good luck
K.

OH YEA HONEY, those long relaxing naps are history! The good news is that when she gets to be a little older, you can get her into the routine of takeing a 2-2.5 hour nap after lunch. My kids have taken a nap after their lunch since they were one and they are 5 and 6 now.

I have 6 month old. He does not sleep through the night and never has...you are so lucky. I think someone else mentioned changing the time you put them to bed. This might be wise but it also depends on the reason you go to bed so late, if its to spend time together, you gotta do what you gotta do.

My son does not take three hour naps yet, but they will come back I have a two year old that did the same thing. What I do is the concept of a quiet time. When you need an hour or so just work with your child and get them playing by themselves. Use lamaze toys, rattles, black and white soft toys, plush books, music etc. This may sound like you are abandoning them but you are not. I have used this technique to teach them to self sooth. Obviously, don't leave em screaming but just try five minutes and gradually increase to what works with the temperment of your child. Another thing to consider is their personality. Some kids are just more laid back then others. Do what is the easiest fit for your child, your instinct will guide you...Good luck with some you time!!!!!!

My youngest went through the same thing and yes they do come back. He started at about 5 months not wanting to take a good long nap, he would only sleep 30 minutes here and 15 minutes there. When he was around, I think, 8 months old he started to get back into taking his good nap again. Just remember though, they might not be a three hour nap, his would pretty much be about two hours in the middle of the day. But all my kids had their bath at 8:00 and went to bed around 8:30-9:00. And then they would wake up between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning. So I would also think about training him into going to bed earlier. The reason why I got all my kids to go to bed early was so I could spend quiet time with my husband or myself. Good Luck.

The nap schedule will change as she grows. It will varry. Just stick it out, she is still really young.My two kids take a 3 hr. nap in the day(they are 3 and almost 2).I also pumped for both my kids for 1 year.She will then go on two naps a day for and hour or so, then she will go to one nap a day for 2-3 hours. Try to get into a rutine that will help keep the naps consistant. I know i love nap time as well, dont worry it will all work out. She may be cutting some teeth.

Hello!
I have two boys and their babyhood seems like a loooong time ago now that they are 6 and 8 but I do remember that their naps would shift and change. Once I would get really used to one thing, then it would change. Such is the nature of children! I really felt pulled to tell you that bothof my boys in their early years were night owls just like their mother, and they are on perfectly "normal" schedules now that they are in school. Every summer we revert back to late nights. I think that there is a way that they really benefit by being with me during my most creative and lucid times.
Good luck, and hope the long naps find you again!
~A.