5 month old doesn't nap

[Mrswellyboot]

Our little boy is settled and generally quiet. He will play on his mat etc so I do get things done. However, for his own sake I know he needs to nap. Also will be going back to work soon and I know most babies are expected to sleep for a proportion on the day.

I have the Gina Ford book but it wasnt really for me. I should also add that he still wakes in the night (last night fed at 11.30, 3 and 6) currently FF

Any advice greatly appreciated

[TheGreatHunt]

Does he fall asleep on the go?

[tidyupandeatyourgreens]

does he nap at all in the day? I'm assuming he must sleep at some point during the day? I can't imagine how a 5 month old could stay awake for 12+ hours and be OK/quiet!

[Mrswellyboot]

Hello, he sleeps when we go out for a walk or in the car but doesn't really nap, maybe twenty mins if I put lullabies on. He doesn't fully wake until about half nine or ten and sleeps from about half seven. To be honest there is no routine.

He is very alert and its hard to get him to close his eyes to sleep. Today I put him in the cot at half twelve and he cried a bit and then slept for forty mins so maybe I just need to be a bit stricter.

[TheGreatHunt]

Mine wouldn't sleep without rocking at that age! Putting in the cot would result in much screaming. They did get there in the end though.

[tidyupandeatyourgreens]

I think they naturally tend to sleep in 30/45mins cycles which can be pushed to 1-2 hour blocks if you try a routine and get him napping in his cot more. So he sleeps from 7.30pm till 9.30/10am? I see he wakes 3 times for feeds in the nights so he's probably getting at least 13 hours then which isn't bad....however, at 5 months I would say that at least 3 hours in the day would be beneficial. Have you tried waking him a little earlier and then incorporating naps into the day? I'm not sure how useful I am to you as I am a bit of a routine fanatic and really find it helps! My dd (7 months) has 3 naps a day and sleep 7pm-7am generally although I am flexible. I guess as long as he's OK with not much sleep in the day then there probably isn't much to worry about....it's usually when parents can't cope with their crying/unsettled/overtired babies that they need them to sleep more in the day

[eltsihT]

Ds2 9mo doesn't normally nap for more that 15 minutes at a time usually 1/2 times a day and only in the buggy

Ds1 was the same till he started walking at 10months. He then started napping at 1 for 1-2 hours. He stopped napping at 2 1/2.

Don't panic they will nap when they need it

[Mrswellyboot]

Thank You all.

I don't really have a problem with it but I think I am going to get him up at 7 am tomorrow when dh wakes to give him a bottle. He was sleeping through until he got a chest infection a few weeks ago and that threw out the routine a bit. Only takes small amounts of his bottle.

[PurplePoppySeed]

My 5mo is very similar, I've just about cracked morning napping but she won't sleep longer than half an hour even in her cot! From lunchtime onwards she will not sleep unless she's in the car or buggy and even then its hit & miss! She fights sleep and can go up to 6/7 hours without a nap! I figure eventually it'll click into place (well I hope!)

[BarberryRicePud]

I'm generally not a routine person, but i do think it's v important to give a structure to the day once you're going back to work.

If you're heading back in the next month or 2 I'd start getting him up every day at the time you'll be getting him up for nursery/childminder. I'd also contact nursery and find out what time lunch and snacks are and do those the same too. Makes the transition much easier ime.

The naps will follow, but perhaps not the nice long one for a while yet. DS was about 18m before he slept more than 2x45 mins. Dd is 10m and is just starting to extend from 2x20 mins.

[Pizdets]

My 5mo has stopped napping recently... He took 3 20-30 minute naps the othe day and was so tired by bedtime. I have started to do a 'cuddle nap' where he takes one of his naps in my arms. It's not ideal but the only way to get him taking at least 1 nap of an hour + per day. Once he's napping longer again I'll try him in the cot. Buggy used to work a treat but has stopped keeping him asleep now which is driving me mad!

We don't have any routine really except round naps - I aim for 45mins/1hour about 10am, 1.5-2 hours around 1pm and then if he'll do it a quick half hour at about 4.30 before bed at 6.30pm. If he misses a nap he keeps going but he's always happier if we manage to stick roughly to that routine, not sure if that helps a bit?