Hysterical crying with daytime naps

[Karen99]

Hope you have some advice on this. My DS is 6.5mo and has always been a bit hit and miss with daytime naps, but he would usually go down within 5 mins for two out of his three daytime naps (the third about 30mins crying/cuddling). Night-time sleep is no problem (she says cautiously so as not to jinx anything! ).

However, about four days ago he now SCREAMS HYSTERICALLY in his cot as soon as he is put in it for any nap. This does coincide with me dropping from four breast feeds to three, plus three solid feeds. But I'm sure he's not hungy. Plus he's just decided he only wants two 45mins naps a day rather than three (he's never managed to sleep past this time in the day). I think this is too little sleep, but he does go down easily (most days) at 7-7:30pm and sleeps through until 6:30am.

He has mastered rolling over in his cot, but can only go backwards once on his tummy. So if I leave him to cry for more than a few mins he's wedged himself at the end of his cot and the crying gets worse. I have tried pu/pd but it takes on average about 7mins to calm him down once I've picked him up and then the screaming starts again when I put him back in. I did this for an hour this morning and we were both so upset I got him up for good for another hour.

Any thoughts? Do you think it's a phase cos the bf has been dropped (he has gone from five to three bf's in two weeks)? I have tried letting him play beforehand, lots of toys in his cot, but once he gets fed up the crying starts and soon escalates. Plus I've tried putting him down at different times to see if I'm getting the "tired signs" wrong. HELLLLPPPP!

[bluecow]

At 6 months I think my son was having only two naps a day. 45 mins wasn't unusual but they have got longer if that's any consolation (he's now 15 months and sometimes has up to 2 hours in the morning). He sleeps well at night too.

It's a puzzle - perhaps he's thirsty for a drink but you could give him water instead? Again, my son still has four milk (bottle) feeds a day and it may be your ds still wants for feeds - maybe for comfort if not for hunger.

I'm wondering if he's got any teeth coming through? That can make them really grizzly and grumpy!

Sorry - dunno if this is much help!

[Karen99]

Thanks bluecow. I think you may be right about the feeds. Today he's just constantly burying into my chest. He got his first teeth at 4mo1wk! and I've been waiting patiently for the top two to come in - so maybe they will make an appearance soon.

Perhaps I've just cut off too much too soon. Plus maybe he is hungry as I haven't increased the portions of his food to perhaps as much as he needs. I saw a "from 7 months" jar which was huge, he's probably getting half to 2/3rds that, so I'll up the quantities and see if that helps.

Thanks for the info about the naps, wasn't sure what he should be having at this age. He clearly wants to stay up.