6mo - is it worth helping him consolidate naps?

[PumpkinPi84]

Hi ladies,

I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences on whether it's worth teaching your lo to consolidate naps?

My DS is almost 6mo, currently EBF but starting weaning next week. He currently naps 3 times a day for about 45 minutes with about 2 hours awake time in between. Occasionally he'll sleep longer (1.5 or 2hours) The first nap of the day is usually in his cot and he can just about self settle, although sometimes needs some cheek stroking. Other naps are rocked in his pram, either in the hallway or out and about.

I've read up on consolidating naps and can see how I could do it but it seems like I would need to stay home from activities for a week or two to establish a routine and getting out keeps me sane.

Is it worth it or will he consolidate them naturally in due course? He seems happy enough on his current sleep but the books make me feel like he 'should' be napping for longer.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

[Lacey2015]

I felt exactly the same way! I went with the routine and stay home when my DD needs her naps. However she let me know that she wanted more sleep she became really cranky lol so I had to. If your DD seems fine the way he is and is sleeping at night/a little in the day I wouldn't worry. At around 6-9 months they tend to create a routine, however it's up to you what you wish to do. Maybe try to be home some days then venture out other days!?

[FATEdestiny]

OP, you make it sound like having a routine will spoil all your fun. The whole point of a routine is that you make it work for you, for your family.

So if you have lots of morning activities you like doing, then incorporate this into your routine and make the times when you are tied to the home the afternoons.

It is true that you need consistency - so either do things in the mornings and have quiet afternoons, or have quiet mornings and do afternoon activities. But you don't need to stop going out completely.

Not sure what you mean by "consolidating" naps? What I have always done is from about 5 months old, try to extend naps by resettling. Not change them, just make them longer. By making them longer they can become established as longer so re-settling isn't needed.

Once sleeping longer, it naturally follows that there will be longer awake between naps and so therefore fewer naps in the day. So moving from 3 naps a day to 2 naps a day is not about actively trying to drop one nap, but making all naps longer.

You don't have to be home to resettle back to sleep - it can be done in the pushchair, carseat or sling. But establishing at least one cot nap is a useful thing to do.

[PumpkinPi84]

Hi ladies,

Thanks for your comments. That's a good suggestion to concentrate on either mornings or afternoons. Most our classes are in the morning and I'm usually home for the afternoon nap. Its also the hardest nap to settle him for so I hadn't really considered working on extending it but it's definitely worth a try.

Thanks!

[starfish12]

My DS is 6.5 months and in the last couple of weeks has gone from napping 45 mins to having between 75 mins to 2.5hrs. I haven't done anything to facilitate this it just happened. I remember this also happening with DS1. He's awake lots in the night too so I wouldn't class him as a brilliant sleeper.

[PumpkinPi84]

Hi starfish

Thanks for sharing - that's reassuring! Do you think weaning is helping him nap for longer?

[FATEdestiny]

I don't think its to do with weaning Pumpkin, just developmental. My children have been around 5 months when this happens, before weaning begins.

[Lacey2015]

Yeah i think around 5/6 months the process in which they go through sleep changes. My DD started going into another phase of sleep after 45mins. Weaning didn't make much difference. At 6 months the "typical" quote typical lol my Dd never went along with this! they tend to have 2 naps morning and afternoon then a short cat nap late afternoon (I always found it good letting her nap out and about at the catnap). Hope this helps xx